Caught (2018) User Reviews

Love the retro 70's & 80's era but don't take this show too seriously - Miami Vice it is not

[Ed-Shullivan · 7/10 · 27 February 2018]

I enjoy the look and feel that Caught provides (and especially the hit songs from the 1980's such as Creedence Clearwater Revival) with renegade near-to-retirement Detective Roy Patterson (Paul Gross) delivers while driving around the country in his (now defunct) hardtop Pontiac Bonneville. Not to be outdone in the 80's fashion department is the drug lord and jackal Brian Hearn (Eric Johnson) who escaped the lawman while his partner in crime David Slaney (Allan Hawco) was nabbed more than five (5) years ago and sent to prison.

The story gets interesting when we discover that renegade Detective Roy Patterson actually deceived the imprisoned David Slaney by convincing him to pretend to escape out of prison in this first episode, but no one knew it was a "pretend breakout" except Patterson, Rodd Murrin (Roger Cross) and Slaney. After escaping from prison David Slaney puts all of his effort in to catching up with his old traitor partner the jackal, Brian Hearn, who is hiding out in Mexico while both the Canadian and U.S. drug enforcement officers are looking to put Hearn in prison for the past five (5) years.

There are a half dozen or so cast members from the previous successful cop show (2010-2015) Rookie Blue, and all of them contribute in a positive manner to this retro 80's style drug dealing, prisoner on the run, crime/drama. I can't say that it compares favorably to crime shows such as the actual 1980-85 Miami Vice with Crockett and Tubbs, or more recently with the epic 2002-08 The Wire with Jimmy McNulty and Bunk Moreland, but this 5 episode series is good enough to keep me guessing and enjoying the acting and the cool hit songs of the 1980's era.

I like it and I give the series a 7 out of 10 rating

So far so good....

[trackhouse · 7/10 · 12 March 2018]

Watched the pilot seems good so far. Interesting characters and the plot looks like it will be entertaining

It's alright

[nico_o_hill · 8/10 · 19 June 2018]

I did enjoy watching this series. It got more and more exciting and while in Mexico I think the colors got so beautiful just wanted to jump in to the screen. Caught has a certain charm to it, old friends who became enemies. I'm definitely waiting for a season two..

How is hawco allowed to act or write?

[tert72 · 1/10 · 9 December 2020]

Typical bad acting from hawco, and the writing is atrocious! I keep reading how he is this good actor, and watched republic of Doyle, either he is the only guy left in town, or the women are amazingly desperate!!! And to find out he also helped write this show, my oh my.... Not a good actor, even worse writer... The dude was born in the 70s,but was a teen in the 80s, maybe the writers got confused about the decade.. And no not everyone smoked in the "70s"! Yes you could smoke pretty much anywhere, but plenty of people didn't smoke.

No, it's not the plastic, artificial trash of Miami Vice

[canadian_pontiac_guy · 10/10 · 17 March 2018]

Ten leagues above it. I don't care what decade that the songs came out... where is it written, that every one of them had to have been released on the very day in time that is depicted ? Good music is timeless, and this TV show, of all things.... has the best music soundtrack EVER put to film, let alone television. So, lay that to rest.

There's the multi-layered stories... none outdone by the incredibly compelling estranged relationship / inescapable feelings between Slaney and the lovely woman and her child.

There's the real to life characters. Paul Gross.... just ROCKS ! No, definitely not a perfect hero cop... a true imperfect human being.

My favourite television program of all time, is of course, "The Fugitive" from 1963 - 1967. CBC's creation of "Caught"... is a VERY close second !

Forget the fake reviews, this stinks

[andrewrye-06535 · 1/10 · 2 March 2018]

For a start it doesn't know what decade it's supposed to be. The music is 1970s (not 1980s as Ed-Shullivan says - Around the Bend CCR was released in 1970). The jean jacket and jeans is the other giveaway plus Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1975 hit Saturday Night Special and Spooky Little Girl was originally released in 1967 with The Zombies version not long after. There was also a picture on the wall of Jim Morrison to emphasise the time. Music is usually used to set the time line of the story. So, why was one of the main characters dressed like Crocket from Miami Vice? collarless shirts, no socks and shoes and a gold watch that would sink a ship? It didn't make sense and the flashbacks which were about 5 years should have taken them back to late 60's or very early 70s but no flared jeans? Time slips aside and there were a few, makeup was shocking. Hair extensions and glued on mustaches look well.......fake. They looked like scarecrows with hair sticking out all over the place. At one stage a close up of the fake mustache and you could see where he had shaved under it. This all distracts from the story which was shallow enough to begin with. Apparently everyone in the 70s was a chain smoker and smoked everywhere. Hint - take some lessons on how to smoke. Non-smokers are not convincing smokers and not everyone smoked. And I do mean everyone. How does everyone automatically know phone numbers without either looking them up or being told? There were no caller displays in the early 70s and the calls were to pay phones? The story felt wooden and lacking in direction, the end of the first episode brought welcome relief. Acting was terrible, there was no flow and I couldn't feel anything for any of them. Save your time, go watch reruns of Starsky & Hutch or Miami Vice.

Great show so far!

[Enigm4 · 9/10 · 20 March 2018]

I've watched the first 4 episodes now and so far this is one of the better shows I've seen in a while. There are some little niggles here and there but over all I think it's very entertaining, too bad it's only a one season show.

I BEG of you...download just 1 episode and decide for yourself

[Pizzaowner · 3/10 · 8 October 2018]

I can only presume that the positive high-score reviews are 'fake' and done for $ or friends of the cast/crew/producers etc. The show is terrible. The senior actors...PG etc are WELL below par and struggle to give this any kind of realistic 'tough guy' persona.....terrible and the newer...young actors are well out of their acting depth as they SERIOUSLY over-act and present performances closer to a high school level drama class. The writing is positively abysmal and the clichees come thick and fast and read like something from the black and white era. If you can download and watch JUST the first episode you'll save yourself a lot of time and $....it's not really worth more than a casual glance and I wouldn't normally giver it even a passing mention but it's new and I hope this review will save some wasted time and encourage Mr Gross to look at the script before he looks at the pay cheque...reputation is such an easy thing to damage.

Love it!

[popculture-55630 · 10/10 · 25 March 2018]

Firstly, its not a documentary. The clothing/hair/make-up and music I believe are extensions of the characters persona not so much the exact time and day of the era. A flashback is how someone remembers it, again not an exact replica of the position of the sun on that specific day in time. How ppl easily forget fiction often reaches beyond the borders of realism to illuminate the context. Keep up the great acting!

God awful POS, truly!

[rogernclarke · 1/10 · 27 March 2018]

This is a -likely because it was on CBC - taxpayer funded POS. I actually watched and just finished all 5 episodes. I went right to the end - thank God there weren't more, kicking myself, because I could not believe such usually fairly good Canadian talent would engage is such dross. It is unbelievably, literally predictable, over and over again, and chock full of memes designed - you should forgive the term - to appeal I suspect to millennials. If I am correct, I fervently hope that they see it for what it is, trash of the lowest order. I shudder to think that this is what passes for creative on CBC these days these days. It deserves a speedy death.

Couldn't Stop Watching!

[creampuff-13588 · 10/10 · 20 May 2020]

I got so caught up in this 5-part series, I couldn't stop til the end. I thought the format was fitting for the retro atmosphere of this fugitive on the run/cop with skeletons/revenge thriller/bad guy's got it coming drama. Paul Gross did a superb job as the haunted-by-the-past, something to prove cop. Eric Johnson...I hated his character...great job being the bad guy, Eric! Allan Hawco killed it as the "ticking time-bomb fugitive" that I couldn't wait to go off! And the soundtrack...well...if your a rock & roller, black-light poster loving "head" from the 70's...you're in for a good time! Worth you're time. So grab a brew, some party favors, and your lava-lamp...you're in for a kick-ass ride! And when you're done with this one, you MUST SEE Allan Hawco's Republic of Doyle. The UK gives it 5 STARS so trust me...watch the first episode and then decide for yourself...Yes b'y!

Bad wigs and hair

[kimstausholm-82834 · 4/10 · 2 September 2018]

What a shame. The wig maker and hairdresser on this show is not any good. Poor job and it looks fake and it shows on the actors that they are wearing a fake hairpiece most of the time. What The Deuce on HBO and you see the difference. Here they tried to hard and it almost feels like a caricature or something

Caught shows you the dark side of the 70's

[anita_alarie8 · 9/10 · 8 March 2018]

70's clothes, 70's music, hot girls, hot guys,action, phones with cords, and the underbelly of life in that time that we may not have known about,that's what you're going to find in the new series Caught! Two friends, David Slaney (Allan Hawco) and Brian Hearn (Eric Johnson) decide to go into the drug running business together. Slaney gets busted but doesn't rat out his friend. After 5 yrs in the pen, he escapes with the help of a broken cop (Paul Gross), who wants nothing more than to take down Hearn, who has fled Canada and has set up shop elsewhere supplying North America with drugs. Things go from bad to worse when Slaney ends up hooking up with his old partner for one more big score! Adapted from the book of the same name, Allan Hawco, Perry Chafe, and John Krizanc, script a series worthy of the book itself. Produced by some of he same people that brought us Republic of Doyle, Caught is a multitude of action, bravado, betrayal, love, loss, and lots of weed! Slaney is a character, that despite his actions, you believe that despite everything he's a good person and you can't help cheering for him. The cast is phenomenal and each breathes life into their characters that you can't imagine anyone else portraying them. This show is a wild ride that I most enjoyed!

Yikes

[bdmccurdy · 1/10 · 28 March 2018]

This chick in the bikini....she's been wearing it for 5 weeks. Is their budget sooooo low they can't provide her with a change of clothes. Sad, sad series. The acting was horrendous and this coming from establised actors, Hawco, Gross etc.

Geez, can't see this making the 2nd round.

Then again ????

Intense, Action packed, Thrilling

[celticknot-50093 · 10/10 · 11 March 2018]

The ability to take the written word to screen and have it become achingly alive is a tribute to the writers. Some unexpected twists in the plot leave you upset and wanting revenge. You know that what they are doing is wrong but can't help hoping Slaney will get away with it this time; feel the intensity and join in the thrill of the chase. The contrast between Hearn with his riches and Slaney's grittiness is obvious and poignant. Hearn and Slaney were best friends but are they destined to be enemies? The lighter side of the 70's with head bands, flower power and bell bottoms are what I remember growing up. Caught shows us the underbelly of society that we want to pretend wasn't there. This series is going by too fast!

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong

[chinabeach4 · 2/10 · 16 February 2019]

What a disgrace!! Time period is wrong, music is wrong, clothing is well, wrong. The only reason I'm giving it a score of 2 is 1 for the cast and 1 because it's Canadian. Both of which are a total embarrassment. The story line isn't worth mentioning. So disappointing.

Caught makes you contemplate the true meaning of a real criminal

[taylorkidd-32102 · 8/10 · 6 March 2018]

This show has caused me to contemplate a seemingly grey area between the line of guilty and/ or innocent. The need to resort to alternate methods of income acquisition in order to efficiently provide for loved ones is a relatable yearning. This show effectively depicts the inner conflicts and outward criminality and judging of marijuana. After watching the first episode I was hooked and continue to be.

Weak production

[bdmccurdy · 1/10 · 18 March 2018]

Going past the horrible hair, the chain smoking, etc., I found the acting weak. This oh so tough as nails female cop, the typical drunken Mountie, the ridiculous smirky drug dealer and this chick in the bikini that (so far) doesn't make any sense. The idea that track his ex-girlfriend down and she instantly is ready to jump his bones. Seriously. I'd like to see that happen in real life. Anyway, I could go on and on, BUT, just not worth it. Very poor.

Everything to lose while Everything to Gain

[stephanieferreira-73300 · 10/10 · 11 March 2018]

Caught is a thrill ride.The characters are very real as they face dilemma and conflict .From Business mixed in with pleasure , you will need to buckle up.Plot is full of twists and turns .The cast brings this story to life with heart racing scenes .Whether you read the book first or are tuning in , you will be put back into the 70s with some hits from the day, costumes are colorful and the story will bring you the viewer as someone on the inside.Friend or Foe , bad guy or good guy ,you won't know who is who. No one can be trusted .#JustTrustMe as we see #OldWounds you won't know until #TheBreak. #GetHustling #GetEven #GetRevenge

is it suppose to be late 60"s ? 70"s ?

[courig · 3/10 · 8 March 2018]

Sounds fake, not credible enough, bad wigs,..is it suppose to be late 60"s ? 70"s ?too much smoking

WELL PRODUCED

[jimmiemac-45879 · 10/10 · 28 February 2018]

Caught is going to be an action packed hit. Cannot wait for the continuation and outcome. Love the actors and actresses.

Don't waste your time

[flash-70634 · 1/10 · 7 April 2018]

Horrid, bad acting, predictable storyline. If it wasn't for tax payers money Hawco would be unemployed. Classic Canadian crap

Picture a "realistic" version of Miami Vice, but much better

[bsdsolarux · 10/10 · 29 March 2018]

Well, "Caught" is it, and it comes with all the early-era smuggler's cove's deadly trappings of their day, and there's no boring filler's in this mini. So far, so good. The 70's music, of it's time, fits perfect, and gratefully, WITHOUT that 80's plastic, or phoney pastel zoot suits. They, (CBC), have a chance to make a great ending for this series, I hope they don't "blow" it. ;)

Binge Worthy

[m_a_c · 10/10 · 23 June 2020]

This series is addictive. OK, yes I'm biased. I think Allan Hawco is brilliant. He writes, he produces, and and he is an incredibly gifted actor. That he is easy on the eyes can't deter from his amazing talent.. Caught gives him an opportunity to run through a gamut of emotions that all remain under the surface. And yes, every actor in the series is terrific. If I had any problem at all with the series it was the pacing. 70's pacing in the 21st century takes a minute or five to adjust to. It took me the first episode to gear down and just pay attention. But every episode ends on a cliff hanger that compelled me to keep watching, and with every episode the intensity of the characters' situations grew. The plot is just scaffolding for a series that is character driven. By the time I reached the end of the season I felt that the actors had built a massive edifice. I also was appreciative of the fact that the production did not rely on 70's stereotypes. Bell bottom pants were a teen fad that caught on with the college crowd. No self respecting male over 30 wore them, and certainly not the type of adults these characters represented. There was just enough nod to what was and was not a part of the decade to keep it anchored without causing distraction. I pay very little attention to the music in a dramatic production unless it is out of place. A good score adds to the moment without drawing attention to itself, and I felt that was exactly what this score did. I wish there had been more than one season of Caught. I may have to read the book just to find out where it might have gone. I'll have no problem visualizing the characters. They are etched in my mind.