You can’t trust everyone. That seemed to be the theme of Tuesday’s Golden Boy. With just two episodes under its belt, the new series already stands apart from others in its genre.
I’ve never really been one for cop dramas. Sure, I’ll watch them here and there, but I don’t feel the need to watch those shows week in and week out. Until now. Golden Boy is unlike those other crime dramas. Yes, like others, it has a different case every episode, but there’s a bigger picture here. It’s a cop’s story of how he was the fastest person ever to achieve Commissioner status in the department’s 170-year history. This part is told through flashbacks, with Walter William Clark Jr. reflecting on those past seven years. His journey wasn’t a breeze either, as you can’t expect to get ahead so quickly and not step on any toes.
While people in other crime dramas typically seem to get along well, such is not the case for Golden Boy. There has been tension between Clark and Detective Arroyo ever since Clark’s first day in the homicide department. The tension stemmed from Arroyo feeling threatened that Clark would outshine him and has since grown into a mutual loathing. Somehow, these two always work the same cases, even though they’re not partners, and it’s exciting to see what sorts of shenanigans Arroyo will pull to screw Clark over.
In Tuesday’s episode, “Price of Revenge,” there were serious issues at hand, but the guys couldn’t see beyond their own little animosity. This delayed the solving of the investigation and only made things more serious between the two. The boys kept trying to one-up each other, but in the end, it was Clark and Owen who solved the case, further angering Arroyo.
Clark wanted to help out Natasha, a kid from the wrong side of the tracks, so he gave her $1,000 from the evidence, which she claimed she made by working for Frank. It wasn’t shown, but it was evident that Arroyo told Natasha to ask Clark to give her that money, fully knowing that he would give in to her. If Clark did take the evidence money, then he technically committed an illegal act. However, Natasha reminded Clark of his own sister, so it’s understandable that he would want to help her.
Arroyo thinks he’s so slick, but part of me thinks that the joke’s on him. We don’t know for sure that Clark took the money. After watching the first two episodes and getting to know his character a bit more, I wouldn’t be surprised if that money came out of his own pocket. He’s a good guy and only has the best intentions at heart.
At the end of the episode, we joined Clark in the future and he was standing in front of a grave — Natasha’s. It wasn’t made clear how she was killed, but I think it could have something to do with her recording the conversation for Arroyo.
It wouldn’t be a stretch if Arroyo was behind Natasha’s death. Not only did he threaten her, telling her not to open her mouth to anyone about what he made her do, but he also slapped her right across the face. Whenever a woman gets slapped on camera by a man, it makes me cringe. This one was so raw, it made me hold my cheek, just as Natasha held hers.
The series is only two episodes deep and I already have so many questions. How did Natasha die? Clark hinted at something going down between Owen and Arroyo. Did Clark give Natasha the evidence money? Answer me, Golden Boy!
Golden Boy airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on CBS/CTV.
How do you think Natasha died? Do you think Golden Boy is different from other crime dramas? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!
