Review: Prime Video's On Call

Dick Wolf has built his career on the TV procedural. The Law & Order universe is an institution that has filled living rooms and has employed New York-based actors for decades. He recently branched out to Chicago with the first responder trio, PD, Fire, and Med. And he even jumped to another network with the sprawling FBI franchise on CBS. After conquering broadcast, the maestro of the TV crime drama is venturing to the ad-free TV-MA streets of streaming with Prime Video’s On Call.

The show follows a rookie officer paired with a 12-year veteran on Long Beach’s police force. Throughout the young officer’s probationary period, we experience the duo responding to daily calls, from the mundane to the more intense. The variety is a nice change from the elongated case-a-week format. The episodes are also a half-hour, perfect for bingeing. While the episodes are built to simulate a regular day on the beat, there is a solid season-long narrative that unravels. This touch of familiarity will hold Wolf fans more used to the linear procedural style of storytelling.

Performances from leads Troian Bellisario and Brandon Larracuente are solid, accompanied by a small but mighty supporting cast that includes TV vets Lori Loughlin and Eriq LaSalle, who also directs several episodes. Technically the show looks great, on par with Prime’s other series. Certain production choices — like the body cam view — assist in grounding the series. While some known cop show tropes appear, some moments raise the focus beyond just catching bad guys.

The show shines best when examining our protagonists’ struggle to remain morally astute. Post-BLM sentiments and calls for reform are prevalent throughout the series. While these points aren’t new, they normally appear in special episodes where viewers are guided to root for the officer — right or wrong.

Overall On Call is a worthy addition to the Wolf catalog. While its conscious awareness isn’t groundbreaking, it doesn’t come off as preachy or self-righteous.

All eight episodes of On Call are available on Prime Video today.