Wild Cards (2024– ) User Reviews

Genuinely surprised at the good writing for a Canadian show

[charmapethedragonite · 8/10 · 29 February 2024]

Wild Cards appealed to me because I was already a fan of cop procedurals. The show reminds me of Castle, White Collar, and a bit of Leverage. It has the "will they won't they" aspect from Castle and the "can the criminal really be trusted" theme from White Collar.

There was one episode so far where there was a flashback of how the con was really orchestrated, something Leverage was known for. There was also one time Max had to climb through an air vent which reminded me of Parker from Leverage. While one can argue this show isn't doing anything special and just recycling previous shows of the genre, I still recommend it because of the quality of the writing. At first I thought Ellis's character was going to be very one-dimensional because the backstory behind his character was eerily similar to Beckett from Castle. Also the acting from Gianniotti felt a bit stiff but the details of his backstory were revealed quickly and he becomes a very relatable character who doesn't fall into the stereotype I thought he was going to be. The amount of banter between Max and Ellis every episode gives the show a very light-hearted tone. If you are looking for a dark and serious show, this isn't for you.

I think the show makes use of its side characters well. Max's dad George has a significant presence in the show and I think he's going to be a fan favourite. Ricky the butler is the smart guy who is always available and is great at computers. Simmons and Yates haven't had much development so far but they've been slowly becoming less adversarial to our main characters. J. J., an unassuming minor character, was surprisingly later featured in episode 7 and that episode has been one of my favourites so far.

The CBC isn't exactly known for producing great shows but this one is definitely an exception. The budget seems to be significantly higher than the early seasons of Hudson and Rex (comparison only because they're both Canadian cop shows from this era). The set designs, scenes and editing look modern and polished and it didn't look like they had to cut any corners which is different than a lot of Canadian shows I've seen. Looking forward to future seasons!

Hudson and Max

[robbarteaux-69393 · 8/10 · 2 February 2024]

It's pretty much Hudson and Rex, swap out Rex for Max. Instead of a police dog, an attractive troublemaking potential love interest. A Murtaugh/ Riggs type buddy cop show with a fish out of water twist. She's an experienced con-artist, who got in hot water with the police... major crimes... and the police are letting her work off her jail sentence by solving crimes. On a trial basis. He's on thin ice with his job/ superiors also, could get back in good grace by solving crimes with his wisecracking criminal partner. It's not even vaguely realistic, it's totally over the top... imagine Hannah Montana solving crimes with Thomas Magnum. In Canada. Harmless/ mindless fun.

Comedy And Crime

[atlasmb · 8/10 · 14 February 2024]

This series pairs a police detective with an unusual partner, like many other shows before it. In this instance, the detective has been working an undesirable beat and needs to get back in the chief's good graces. His partner is a con artist who is street smart, clever, and possesses unique skills. Giacomo Gianniotti plays the cop, Cole Ellis, who is ordered to team up with grifter Max Mitchell (Vanessa Morgan) after circumstances throw them together and the results are good.

What makes this show is the writing. Max is witty and quick on her feet. Morgan does an excellent job of delivering the lines that drive the humor. She is also beautiful, which contributes to the potential chemistry between the two unlikely partners. Gianniotti plays the straight man---a reluctant recipient of her barbs and her ingenious methods, which sometimes break the rules.

"Castle" had a similar vibe. The characters in "Wild Cards" are affable and very watchable. And there is a synergy from teaming the two.

The cases they work on are interesting and the action can be fast-moving as they decipher clues and solve crimes.

White Collar for the New Gen

[anicho01-944-812539 · 9/10 · 21 January 2024]

I loved the escapist fantasy of buddy cop tv in the early 00s from Castle to Psych to White Collar. No one was as cool as Neil, as well dressed as Neil, as slick as Neil, as well versed in the arts as Neil, or as smooth a con artist as Neil.

Enter Max, basically the secret love child of White Collar's Neil caffrey and his sleek landlady June, with a Robin Hood twist. Max is sleek, well-dressed, and uber confident. She unabashedly uses her criminal connections and upper level friends to benefit both herself and her less fortunate friends.

Vanessa Morgan SPARKLES as Max from her charisma to her walk to her accents. Max is clearly the smartest, hottest, most cunning person in the room and that's okay.

This show features the hottest most established cast with Vanessa Morgan from Riverdale, THE original Daddy Jason Priestley, Jessica Jones' Terry Chen, and Schmigadoon's Karin Konoval. And, yes, Giacomo Gianniotti looks like a young David Gandy. I feel the producers demanded anyone incredibly hot who starred in super trendsetting shows in the past 5 years.

This show is a throwback to old school CW when it represented everything young, hot and sexy with smart, funny scripts and awesome casts to match.

I cannot talk enough about the positives of this pilot episode. CW set a super high bar. I hope it continues to support such a great show with an awesomely diverse cast. I absolutely LOVED The pilot episode. The cast meshed SO WELL. The writing was so smooth. The locations were amazing.

Honestly, it is light-hearted action fun but with that grown n sexy vibe that White collar did so well.

Update: After having watched three more episodes, the budget has drastically reduced since the pilot. It is now less White Collar's sexy adult crime territory and more in Psych's quirky crime solving territory. Although I have no idea why they'd use a high class con artist to solve local murders a la Jessica Fletcher, it is still a ton of fun.

Entertainment as TV Should Be!

[Bellatext · 14 March 2024]

I value how a show leaves me feeling at the end of it -- and this one romps it in as feel-good, so only low-stress vs nail-biting suspense, a crime so some whodunnit-like mystery, not too complex, and of course never forgetting a bit of sweet romantic push-pull and tension! Add in some hints here and there of other interesting components that provide food for thought ... like ... about what integrity and character really "look like," no matter what the law technically says ... what privilege really is, and perhaps equally, its lack, and how such questions can come up for deeper consideration if desired (but not required, just that there is a possibility available to delve into the realms of philosophy if you want).

But mainly, it is a fun program to watch! Entertaining! It is a good hour of TV and a very agreeable interlude I look forward to each week, what I prefer given life already holds so much dark and nasty stuff so I can do without also seeing that played out again, and worse, on my TV. There is a new story and combo of things happening each time here that keeps it fresh. And this is notwithstanding the two main characters' dynamics together that are, yes, formulaic. The show capitalizes on the 'tried and true' of the genre, because it works. And as a result, and like most of my TV, I don't mind some of the stretches thus required of me, that indeed every now and again (just like the basic premise altogether, let's just admit) some details to continue propelling the show forward may of course contradict "how that really works" outside the bounds of the fiction this show is.

I am a fan, in short! That includes not just the show at large, but the leads' for their often stellar performances, and how I respect significant parts of some shows especially for the writing, as well as really admire so much of the camera work. I hope enough others do too, so that season 2 will be approved without delay.

UPD: Not bad actually

[elena-kucheryavenko · 6/10 · 6 February 2024]

UPD after ep 2 & 3: not bad actually. Easy to eye, not so bad plot, norm actors work, nice scenery.

___

Simple, rather week. But good during late supper. Even enjoyed it. Of course if not for cinema strikes and long hiatus - wouldn't.

No comparison to White Collar of course. Someone wrote about daughter below - no, not even close, not even long-long-long distance relative. But actors are nice and easy to eye, plot not irritating, scene quite pleasant, so it's good as background when you just want to relax.

Now i'll be writing the next 162 simbols of required review lenght, so you may skip it. Compared to Rookie offspring - FBI. There also is a self-absorbed heroine in the center, convinced, that everyone wants her. But Max is not so irritating, she's even cute in this.

Only watched because of Vanessa Morgan

[gregorybates-71071 · 10/10 · 24 January 2024]

This tv is pretty good. The 1st episode had a very great twist at the end. If Vanessa Morgan wasn't in it then I wouldn't of gave it a chance. She is very much the attraction and eye candy. I'm excited to see where this TV show will end up and is going to go. In the age of cancelations after 1 season, I really hope this show does not get canceled after one season. It seems all the fun shows get canceled and the garbage shows gets renewed. I hope the fans will get behind this because we need more good shows on the market like this. I really also hope these two can stay partners. Not every show with a male and female lead needs to lead to romance.

Best show from Canada. Easily a 9.5 for me.

[bobbysandfeld · 10/10 · 17 January 2024]

When I saw the trailer, I knew this was gonna be good. Vanessa Morgan (Riverdald) is doing a great job along with Giacomo Gianniotti (Grey's Anatomy). I also saw Jason Priestley (90210) in the show. I saw the pilot yesterday and got easily hooked. Couldn't be waiting till Wednesday for the show to come to America. This show is like the 2020's version of White Collar, the plots are highly similar but I think Wild Cards does it very better. I also like how it's filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia. Final words to say: Wild Cards is going on my brand new 2024 watchlist. My new favorite show...!!

Everything in the show has been seen better elsewhere

[En_Novy · 3/10 · 20 January 2024]

It was clear that the series wasn't going to reinvent anything groundbreaking and was produced more as light, easy entertainment. Everything in the series has already been seen elsewhere. But it doesn't have to be a bad thing to give familiar things a fresh coat of paint. The combination immediately reminded me of the Show Take Two.

In the show, on the other hand, you can clearly see the priority in the cast from the very first seconds. Pretty faces and bodies, little personality. I guess many men could no longer concentrate on the plot because they would like to see the leading actress in the role without clothes. None of them are likeable or even the slightest bit realistic for the role. Far too flashy, far too slick. His background story is unrealistically contrived. I actually had to stare at Vanessa's upper lip the whole time because something went wrong with the fillers. The only highlights of the series for me were the the seeing Terry Chen and Jason Priestley again. I usually really like these different investigator duos and would give the show a chance and watch several episodes but actually I would just like to see the cat again in this show.

Did not expect this

[b4blue · 10/10 · 11 January 2024]

This came up as a new show in my list and I decided to just glance over but then could not stop watching. It's your usual unusual male-female pair with vastly different backgrounds, solving crime together by utilising those differences to make a perfect team. It's been done already, you might say, but this works perfectly. He is not too stiff in his stiffness and she isn't too quirky in her... Sure, cases are solved too quickly and every idea is a good one, but the story flows effortlessly and it makes a good show to watch when you just want to relax. Inconsistencies don't stick out too much and hurt your intelligence and protagonists don't try too hard to be likeable. And there is the cutest cat in the show. But, this isn't a show for people who like a narcissist as a main character or someone that is over the top righteous so they could feel superior for liking it. You know, shows like "Lie to me", "Sherlock", "NCIS" etc.

NOT White Collar

[ilovefreddiem · 4/10 · 2 February 2024]

This show is so boring. I couldn't pay attention. Even the actors being pleasant to look at didn't keep my attention. The acting all around is average. THIS IS NOT ANYWHERE NEAR COMPARABLE TO WHITE COLLAR. The plots are far from interesting. I tried to get through 2 episodes but it was a ridiculous show compared to everything else I could be watching. I wouldn't say it's an easy to show watch and that it's enjoyable because it was kind of annoying. I definitely prefer shows that require some thought. I am sure many people will enjoy this show for various reasons, maybe think it's fun but it doesn't interest me at all.

Great show, the CW finally got one right.

[temp_emailbox · 10/10 · 14 March 2024]

I loved this show, it had just the right combination of crime and relationships for me. I found it both interesting and easy to watch, a fun way to spend an enjoyable hour of streaming.

I really don't watch much any more, because it seems more shows are focused on sending some sorta message, than entertain me. I'd parted ways with the CW, when many of there shows started following the whole DEI/ESG formula. Not surprisingly this is on CW by way of Canada & not from their studio - good choice CW.

Thank you Wild Cards, for entertaining me (I've missed that). Obviously my taste in Rom-Crime may not be the same as yours, but I suggest you give this series at least a look, I doubt you'll be disappointed.

A Fun Show Full of Chemistry

[Roseybaby63 · 8/10 · 16 March 2024]

I gave it a chance because the ads looked interesting. I've watched CW shows forever. I've watched every episode of Supernatural. Anyway, it looked like a fun show. I'm glad I watched. I like the premise since it manages to put those two together. The whole cast has great chemistry, not just the leads. The story lines are interesting and often have humor to them. The two leads have great chemistry although I hope they don't have a romance. I'd rather see them as close platonic friends. More like a brother and sister relationship. I wish there were more than 10 episodes for the season. I have to mention, I'm 61 and have watched a decent amount of CW shows since it was the WB. That came out weird, but I think you can make sense of it.

LOVE IT

[rashadheywardusertesting · 10/10 · 3 February 2024]

I'm so happy to see Vanessa Morgan and Giacomo the star on their own tv show. The pilot episode was incredible. I couldn't believe how fast it pulled me in. After the pilot I was left with wanting more! I love how it's a new case to solve every episode but they also have their own storylines going on. I really hope this show gets renewed, because I can see this lasting for many seasons!! Overall the show is just FUN! I love how there is a twist to every story that I never seen coming. This show is like a mix between castle, and white collar. Of course the show can stand on its own, I just wanted to compare it to something else more popular. If they license this show to Netflix, I KNOW this show will be a HIT!

Terrible, Cliched yet "strangely" watchable.

[seven-johnson · 2/10 · 20 January 2024]

So, I have no clue what network this is on - I caught this on "streaming" sight - legit "honest".

Just wanted something easy and background-y to stick on and thought I'd laugh at this in an ironic way ...and I did. It's terrible, neither of the stars can act, none of the supporting cast can either.

It's ~maybe an "edgy" daytime tv/filler show.

The thing is, it's kinda got anachronistic dialogue that makes you unsure if it's supposed to be ironic and playing to the cliches. It's "strangely watchable" and by that I mean Vanessa Morgan is hot - I'm British, so pardon me if I use the wrong language - zero offence is meant, but she's... I hope there's a swimsuit/beach episode - that IS on the cliche list.

There's a boat, a cynical police chief and the mis-matched pairing, will they/won't they? Kinda thing and even though, she IS a terrible actress, Morgan's kinda sparky, like a Latin/Latina/LatinX???? (I don't know).

She'd be an awesome Elvira and she's great at running round, being cute and "sparky".

The male actor's terrible, but kinda watchable too, but not my field of interest and his limelight has been the victim of a buxom heist.

Surprisingly good. Light hearted drama with a lot of fun dynamics

[DeathbyExile · 10/10 · 10 February 2024]

I didn't actually know what to expect when I started this show. It featured a lot of Vancouver and had two characters with their own motives. But after seeing these actors play out the show, I am hooked. The writing is actually pretty good. It's self-aware on a lot of things that one might point out (i.e. "WAIT! The police procedures can't do that), so they address it in the same episode.

The creator of the show intended it to be more light with a taste of dark. The actors have good chemistry and I really like them. I didn't know much of Vanessa Morgan, but she REALLY works well as that character who doesn't follow by the rules.

And this show really flourishes with her performances. Gianncarlo (Cole) is also FANTASTIC. I really like the emotions he displays. He's not simply a wooden character. There's a lot of depth that hasn't been explored yet.

Love the show.

Mild Cards is Stunningly Uninteresting

[kellybeaverton · 2/10 · 15 February 2024]

Mild Cards would be a better title for this bland bit of fluff. It plays like a Hallmark movie - but with way less excitement, dramatic tension and sexual chemistry.

Vanessa Morgan tries so hard to be "edgy" but fails miserably at every turn. She is full of ticks, and twitches and bad line reads. Her performance is annoying. The male lead should be called "Cedar" he is so wooden and bland. Both of these individuals lack enough personality to lead a series - even a low budge Canadian one.

Normally, with leads this unappealing the producer adds in some zany sidekicks/neighbors/friends but in this case the entire cast is boring and unappealing.

Piller/ Segin strikes again.Keep it coming!

[fullertonmike · 10/10 · 1 February 2024]

Same winning formula as The Private Eyes, down to and including Jason Priestly. Two likeable characters, attracted to one another, smart story lines, and good use an attractive setting. Ensemble cast is excellent. Everyone seems to work well together. I hope this series lasts. Entertaining escapism. Just what I want. Same appeal for me as Magnum PI, Castle, NCIS Hawaii, Sydney etc etc.

Not as stylish as Miss Scarlet and The Duke but it'll definitely do.

One of its appeals is the back-story. I like the way it is incorporated into the plotting. I appreciate the writers taking their time and integrating it into the plotting and character development.

So far, it looks as though the characters have avoided falling into the ho hum repetitive schtick, going for the cheap laugh at the expense of more honest cast interactions.

Hope that character relationships are allowed to organically grow and develop realistically, not forced. That careful disciplined relationship growth was a major part of The Private Eyes and Castle (another of my favourites) success.

Quirky

[c-85776-74329 · 9/10 · 8 March 2024]

I think this show is really rather good I mean granted it's pretty just like most of the other little cop shows and trying to figure out things. However, with that being said, think she's quite spunky, I like her style I'd like the fact that she's a woman that has a thought process other than what generally people think we should think. I give this rating a nine only because of fear of given 10. Great show definitely would recommend. I think that the character of the male is a little bit too harsh. I think he needs to understand that with his new partner he has somebody he can trust. He's needing to learn that it's OK if it's a little bit on the gray side as long as it doesn't tip over his anxiety is about his brother. That's his issue he needs to get over it. I kinda like that but again I feel that her character is a lot better more needed more med and I like her father.

Another cookie cutter cop show

[wlschipper · 4/10 · 13 March 2024]

I give a new TV show three episodes before deciding good or bad. This show is just another cookie cutter cop show. The same format as other detective and police shows.

The typical who done it is first open with the wrong person being charged with a crime. Second more evidence against the wrong person. Third, evidence points towards another suspect . Fourth second suspect cleared. Fifth, evidence points to the right person. Sixth , person is confronted. Seventh, person either charged or confessions.

Wildcard follow this pattern to a tee. The same ole patterns from the cop show of the sixty, seventies and eighties. Still waiting for a show to think outside the box.