Kevin Corcoran (Corky) is an Irish cop in 1864 New York City during the waning days of the American Civil War.  Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson have created a complex series filled with mystery, intrigue, and corruption.  Corcoran returns from the Civil War to find his daughter murdered and his wife missing.  He searches for news of her every day while doing his job as a cop while living in the immigrant neighborhood of Five Points.  He is friends with Robert Morehouse, the son of a wealthy businessman (who is dealing with both sides of the war), and Matthew Freeman- an African physician (who helps Corky with examining the corpses from crimes and he also saved Robert’s life by cutting off his leg during the war).   Corky fights for a just police system ripe with corruption as the Rebels plot to make New York City burn. 

 

The detail that went into creating this series from costumes to sets is amazing.  Hats off to the production and costume designers.  I love how the plots weave together and continue during the course of ten episodes.  The writers threw a few twists I wasn’t quite expecting.  I love Franka Potente as the owner of a brothel and her affair with Corky (and I hope they find a way to push it somewhere in season 2 given the big reveals at the end of the first season).  I also wonder how the plot line with the girl that Corky has sworn to protect will shape up for season two.  COPPER is one of the best dramas I have seen this year and you should check it out too.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

FROM THE CREATORS- three mini-featurettes (with Play All option): THE STORY, BEHIND THE SCENES, and THE CREATIVE TIME

FONTANA IN FIVE POINTS featurette- Tom Fontana tours the modern day 5 Points as he tells the history of the real 5 Points in 1864.

 

BEHIND THE BADGE: THE MAKING OF COPPER is a great 45 minute making-of documentary that goes into great detail in how 5 Points was created on a sound stage, how the costumes make the characters get into the part, and the cast and crew talk about the series and times (when the series is set).

 

Also included on the set are cast audio commentaries for various episodes which you can skip, eleven mini-featurettes focusing on the behind-the-scenes of the series from the sets to the costumes to the characters and the history of 1864 which is woven into the show, and Character Video Profiles focusing on seven of the major characters.

 

FINAL ANALYSIS: COPPER is an excellent series with wonderful production design and complex plots.  It is definitely a series worth watching.  I can’t wait to watch the second season which is airing on BBC America right now with a DVD and blu-ray release planned for Fall 2013 or Jan 2014.

 

This DVD review is (c)7-7-2013 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com