If you’ve been craving that very specific kind of “blue sky” TV—the kind that feels like Psych crossed with Northern Exposure—then The CW’s Good Cop/Bad Cop might be exactly what you need right now. Here's my thoughts on the first season.
I just finished the eight-episode first season, and what started as a breezy, comfort-watch procedural quietly turned into something that left me staring at my screen and immediately Googling, “Okay, but when is Season 2?
The show is set in Eden Vale, Washington—a rainy, slightly odd small town that immediately feels lived-in. At the center is Detective Lou Hickman (Leighton Meester), a capable, charming local cop who knows everyone and everything… because she grew up there.
Enter her estranged brother, Henry (Luke Cook), who comes back from Seattle with a big-city attitude, a rigid rulebook, and absolutely zero small-town patience. The sibling tension is instant—and honestly, kind of delightful.
Oh, and one more thing: their boss is their dad. Chief “Big Hank” Hickman (Clancy Brown), a grizzled lawman who feels like he’s been done with this job for years and would much rather retire and enjoy his girlfriend Nadia’s Russian cooking than referee his grown children’s arguments.
For a good chunk of the season, Good Cop/Bad Cop settles into a comfortable rhythm. It’s very much a “murder of the week” show, with Lou and Henry clashing over cases, methods, and unresolved childhood baggage. Along the way, Henry reconnects with his ex, Marci, in a surprisingly sweet second-chance romance, while Lou flirts (sometimes awkwardly, sometimes adorably) with rival county detective Shane Carson. It’s light, funny, and honestly kind of cozy—like a show you throw on after a long day and don’t expect to emotionally wreck you.
Which is exactly why the finale hits so hard. The season closer, titled “Skeletons,” earns its name. A cold case from 1987 resurfaces, revealing that Big Hank—and other town leaders—covered up a murder to protect Eden Vale’s reputation. Yes. That Big Hank.
The season ends with Lou and Henry facing an impossible choice: turn in the father they’ve spent their lives idolizing… or stay silent and carry a secret that could destroy their family and their town. It’s a dark turn that completely reframes everything that came before it.
Good Cop/Bad Cop is a warm, comforting procedural that sneaks up on you emotionally. It lulls you in with charm and banter, then reminds you that even the coziest towns—and the people we trust most—can be hiding something.
Leighton Meester and Luke Cook Are the show with the sibling chemistry here is spot-on. Their bickering doesn’t feel like “TV siblings”—it feels like the kind of sharp, familiar sniping that only comes from growing up together. Meester’s warmth and ease balance Cook’s tightly wound, socially awkward energy perfectly.
Clancy Brown brings real weight to Big Hank. He’s funny, gruff, and oddly endearing—right up until the show asks you to sit with the idea that your favorite small-town dad figure might not be who you thought he was. His scenes with Nadia are also a highlight, especially as she gleefully sidesteps the usual “evil stepmother” trope.
And the town itself is a big part of the charm. From the tech-whiz Szczepkowski to the quietly dependable Officer Ray, the supporting cast makes Eden Vale feel like a place you recognize—even if you’ve never been there.
But the show isn’t perfect. A few jokes lean dated, and the first couple of episodes lean a little too hard on exposition. But once the series finds its groove around Episode 3, it smooths out and becomes an easy, engaging watch. And that finale? Yeah. I’m going to need answers. Overall, I give Good CopBad Cop season one an 8.5/10.
So have you seen Good Cop/Bad Cop? What did you think of the series? Is Big Hank a good cop who made one terrible choice, or is there more to the story? Let’s talk in the comments.
You can catch Good Cop/Bad Cop availbe on The CW app, Prime and Netflix.
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