A wonderful mystery drama series on Fox

There's something comforting about returning to some of the most classic genres. Fox's latest drama, Murder in a Small Town, is based on the Alberg and Cassandra mysteries by LR Wright and adapted by Ian Weir. In the only episode made available to critics, it combines mystery and romance for a thoroughly entertaining experience. Set in the beautiful coastal community of Gibsons, British Columbia, the series is a no-nonsense story about new police chief Karl Alberg (Rossif Sutherland), who has a keen eye for detail and solving the crimes that plague the town and its residents. Karl doesn't expect to fall in love with Cassandra Lee (Kristin Kreuk of Smallville), a librarian whose bold behavior both unsettles and excites him. Charmingly predictable and with a dash of snark, the series is a crowd-pleaser (again, with an entire episode).

The 90-minute premiere of Murder in a Small Town begins on a seemingly quiet day in Gibsons. An elderly man, George Wilcox (guest star James Cromwell), is watering his plants. Another gentleman is seen delivering an item to a neighbor. Elsewhere inside a house, a loud argument is heard. Shortly after, an unseen assailant hits a man on the head and watches as blood pours from his wound as the man falls to the ground dead.

Elsewhere, a determined Cassandra walks into a restaurant for her date with Karl. The pair initially met on a dating app, but this first in-person rendezvous goes smoothly. Viewers learn that while Karl is in the post-divorce phase, Cassandra wants to keep things fun and casual. Although the duo only meet in real life, their banter is engaging and adds some much-needed depth to the cliched plot.

Almost immediately after the date ends, Karl finds himself at the crime scene. He learns that the deceased victim is Carlyle Burke (RH Thomson), a longtime resident of Gibsons who was not particularly well-liked. Karl's team, Corporal Edwina Yen (Mya Lowe), Sergeant Sid Sokolowski (Aaron Douglas), and Constable Andy Kendrick (Fritzy-Klevans Destine), are all capable. However, the police chief has a knack for spotting the tiny clues that others have missed. In a rather retro-looking film style that also includes quick panning shots, the audience is forced to view the crime scene through Karl's keen eyes. Almost as quickly as he scans the room, he notices something is wrong.

The crimes depicted in Murder in a Small Town — in the one episode — aren't huge, unsolvable mysteries. In fact, any viewer paying a little attention will probably solve the case before halfway through the episode, given such obvious clues. But that cheesy familiarity makes the series entertaining, despite some truly confusing script choices (particularly some bizarre mentions of race).

The series centers on the budding affair between Karl and Cassandra. Although the pair maintain an intense relationship, their opposing personalities—he gentle and patient, she no-nonsense and brash—intensify the narrative conflict as they get to know each other. The series also has no interest in slow-burning. A heated disagreement toward the end of episode 1, “The Suspect,” illustrates the potential couple's opposing worldviews and hints at possible discord in the future.

Despite its cheesiness, Murder in a Small Town is entertaining. Its leisurely pace is why shows like Netflix's Virgin River are so successful. The tension between Cassandra and Karl, both sexual and otherwise, will entice viewers to keep tuning in, if only to see how their relationship develops. Although each episode covers a different crime, questions surrounding Karl and Cassandra's past give Murder some much-needed structure.

Murder in a Small Town isn't revolutionary. From the romance to the all-too-obvious murder cases, the series has no interest in being clever or sophisticated. But because it knows exactly what it is and doesn't try to be otherwise, the show hits the nail on the head as an entertaining crime series with a '90s feel.

“Murder in a Small Town” premieres on Fox on September 24th, with new episodes airing weekly on Tuesdays.