Tommy

Tommy is a groundbreaking American crime drama series that premiered on CBS in 2020. It was intriguingly built around the compelling character of Abigail "Tommy" Thomas, a former high-ranking NYPD officer who becomes the first female chief of police for Los Angeles. The Emmy Award-winning actress Edie Falco brilliantly brings to life the role of Tommy, a woman breaking barriers in a profession dominated by men, while balancing her personal and professional life.

The show, which consists of a single season of twelve episodes, is as much an exploration of Tommy's complex personality and the challenges she faces in her new role as it is a tense police procedural. Tommy, a recently divorced woman and an unrestrained mother who's not affraid to speak her mind, has had her fair share of personal and professional challenges. Yet, she remains committed to making LA a safer city while demonstrating her leadership, courage, and unflinching commitment to justice.

High crime rates, political corruption, public scrutiny, and the pressure of managing the second-largest police department in the US are the daily realities Tommy has to cope with. The cast features a variety of characters, each with their unique personal and professional storylines that intersect with Tommy's. This includes her estranged daughter, her new team of detectives, her superiors, and her adversaries. The diversity of the cast provides an additional layer of richness and authenticity to the show, reflecting the multicultural fabric of Los Angeles itself.

The series focuses heavily on the unique challenges that Tommy faces as the first woman to lead LAPD. Her gender and outsider status are met with skepticism by a mostly male-dominated workforce struggling to accept her authority. However, Tommy uses her resilience, cleverness, and experience to win over her colleagues, tackle corruption, and prove that she's capable of leading the department effectively.

Racial tension, homophobia, immigration, drug crimes, and sexual misconduct are just some of the issues covered by Tommy, offering an incisive lens into the social issues shaping modern-day Los Angeles. The nuanced and realistic representation of these themes lends depth and complexity to the narrative, grounding the series firmly in the ongoing discussions involving policing and societal concerns.

A standout feature of the show is its commitment to exploring the humanity and vulnerability of its characters, not just their heroism. Tommy herself is not portrayed as a flawless character but as an imperfect human who can make mistakes, feels fear and frustration, has relationship troubles, and fights her battles. This humanizing approach, in turn, provides viewers with a unique, engaging, and relatable take on a strong female character in a position of power.

Tommy is also exceptional in its focus on the mundane aspects of police work and leadership. Instead of focusing solely on dramatic, high-octane crime solving, the series also illustrates meetings, paperwork, community relations, and office politics within the police department. This narrative choice not only anchors the drama in reality but also provides an often overlooked representation of the daily grind within law enforcement.

To say Tommy is a show about a police chief navigating the complexities of her position wouldn't do justice to the many layers that the series successfully manages to portray. It's a series that delves into the intersection of personal and professional life, presenting human relationships just as prominently as high-stakes crime-solving. It showcases the internal and external pressures a woman faces in a male-dominated profession, and presents a personal and intensive examination of power, politics, gender, and law enforcement.

Tommy is truly an insightful and engaging series that adeptly weaves together personal narratives, social issues, and compelling character development with the tension and drama of police work. Its outspoken protagonist, meaningful subject matter, and exceptional cast make it a must-watch for any fan of contemporary crime drama. This CBS series delivers a uniquely compelling narrative that continues to resonate with viewers, long after the final credits roll.