Shades of Blue

:

Season 1
  • Network: NBC
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 7, 2016
Season #: 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 217 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 174 out of 217
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 217
  3. Negative: 30 out of 217
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User Reviews

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  1. jeremyp
    Jan 23, 2016
    6
    This series has great expectations considering the two leads. Unfortunately they get a B grade script. Take the stars out and it's mediocre indeed. By episode 3 the "will he or won't he" theme has worn thin of drama, and the FBI guy is as shallow a character as in most prime time cop shows. Throw out the script, rewrite it, ditch the FBI guy, and the DA, make Liotta straight (not thatThis series has great expectations considering the two leads. Unfortunately they get a B grade script. Take the stars out and it's mediocre indeed. By episode 3 the "will he or won't he" theme has worn thin of drama, and the FBI guy is as shallow a character as in most prime time cop shows. Throw out the script, rewrite it, ditch the FBI guy, and the DA, make Liotta straight (not that there's anything wrong with a gay cop, but here it's just meant to wake us up) and maybe it can be rescued.… Expand
  2. Ripandread
    Jan 11, 2016
    5
    “Shades of Blue” is a later day version of “Public Morals.”

    Jennifer Lopez and Ray Liotta are the bookends that hold the show together but viewers have to wonder how long this cat and mouse game can play out as the head of the crooked team of cops (Liotta) finds out who the FBI informant is.

    As for Drea DeMateo, her character should be delegated to a guest-starring role.
  3. ScienceAdvisor
    Jan 8, 2016
    6
    A middling procedural with nothing new to offer except that it has Lopez & Liotta in it, and they are not enough to see the show renewed, except that Lopez is one of the Eight (!) Executive Producers. A good general rule of thumb, is that if it takes more than five EPs to get a show made, chances are it is not long for this world. When one is an extremely rich star, that speaks to herA middling procedural with nothing new to offer except that it has Lopez & Liotta in it, and they are not enough to see the show renewed, except that Lopez is one of the Eight (!) Executive Producers. A good general rule of thumb, is that if it takes more than five EPs to get a show made, chances are it is not long for this world. When one is an extremely rich star, that speaks to her comittment and belief in her own show.

    Overall it is just standard NBC-fare, as Salke & Sanders continue to run the Network into the ground. They distance themsevles from the productions (and reality), making decisions based on paper and numbers alone. The result is another show with AAA stars that sounds great on paper, but two days on the set would have resulted in some serious changes to the rest of the team (director and writers). For some reason S&S simply cannot be bothered to find good showrunners, just people that act like one.    … Expand
  4. boneshaker34
    May 31, 2016
    5
    The rookie cop needs to die already...if you want to see a good cops on the fringe show, then just check out The Shield or Chicago PD. They need to stop making Ray Liotta's character so dumb...and JLo should have already put a bullet in the fed who's handling her. I'm just saying.
  5. pythag0ras
    Mar 27, 2016
    5
    Its ..ok. Its basically The Shield except for the screw-ups they make in every episode (no spoilers) . Things just tend to happen alot that make you say "oh come on , that would never happen". Ray Liotta is great in this , but Jlo is just ..meh. If you can shut off your brain enough to overlook the missteps, its decent. the gay stuff didnt bother me because im not a homophobe, just likeIts ..ok. Its basically The Shield except for the screw-ups they make in every episode (no spoilers) . Things just tend to happen alot that make you say "oh come on , that would never happen". Ray Liotta is great in this , but Jlo is just ..meh. If you can shut off your brain enough to overlook the missteps, its decent. the gay stuff didnt bother me because im not a homophobe, just like any other sex scenes IMO… Expand
  6. stu771
    Apr 8, 2017
    4
    The acting is fair at best which is surprising with such a talented cast. The story line is very hard to swallow especially for anyone who knows anything about NYPD procedures which makes it totally unbelievable and unwatchable. I don't know who their NYPD consultants are but they need to be fired.

Awards & Rankings

37
#37 Most Discussed TV Season of 2016
50
#50 Most Shared TV Season of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 30
  3. Negative: 2 out of 30
  1. Collider
    Reviewed by: Chris Cabin
    Jan 21, 2016
    40
    Unfortunately, the truth of the matter is that Shades of Blue has no shading in character or story, and is more interested in reiterating transposed views of family values than dealing with the tough and often very ugly subject matter it purports to confront.
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  2. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Vicki Hyman
    Jan 20, 2016
    75
    Yes, this is "The Shield," with more gloss and less shock, and the story starts to strain as Harlee's FBI handler Warren Kole (Robert Stahl) shows an unhealthy interest in his undercover agent and the series worryingly starts to veer into "Enough"/"The Boy Next Door" territory. But the increasingly fraught dance between Harlee and Wozniak is absorbing and even occasionally nail-biting, and certainly reason enough to give Shades a shot.
    Read full review
  3. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Jan 8, 2016
    80
    The whole cast is pretty much perfect for the story Shades of Blue is trying to tell. Lopez makes a fine lead--she's tough and unsentimental here, and even though they've made her look gorgeous, you don't necessarily think of her as a glamorous character. But it's Liotta's show.
    Read full review
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