The Red Line (TV series)
The Red Line was an eight-episode American drama limited television series created and written by Caitlin Parrish and Erica Weiss premiered on CBS on April 28 and concluded on May 19, 2019.[1]
| The Red Line | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Created by |
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| Starring |
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| Composer(s) |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
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| Running time | 42 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
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| Distributor | Warner Bros. Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
| Original release | April 28 – May 19, 2019 |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
It stars Noah Wyle, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Aliyah Royale, Noel Fisher, Michael Patrick Thornton, Vinny Chhibber, Howard Charles and Elizabeth Laidlaw. The title refers to a rapid transit line in Chicago, Illinois run by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) as part of the city's "L" system.
Premise
The Red Line's plot involves a white cop in Chicago who mistakenly shoots and kills a black doctor. It follows three different families with connections to the case: the victim's husband and their adopted daughter; the daughter's birth mother, who is running for city council, who is married with a young son; and the policeman, whose brother is a paraplegic ex-cop and whose father is a retired police captain.
Cast and characters
- Noah Wyle as Daniel Calder, a high school teacher whose husband, Harrison Brennan, is mistakenly shot by a Chicago Police Department (CPD) officer
- Noel Fisher as CPD Officer Paul Evans
- Michael Patrick Thornton as Jim Evans, Paul's paraplegic brother and former CPD officer
- Aliyah Royale as Jira Calder-Brennan, Daniel and Harrison's adopted teenaged daughter
- Vinny Chhibber as Liam, Jira's literature teacher, Daniel's colleague and emerging love interest
- Emayatzy Corinealdi as Tia Young, Jira's birth mother, campaigning against the CPD's responsibility for the city's nearly 600 annual murders
- Howard Charles as Ethan Young, Tia's husband, a motorman on the Chicago Transit Authority’s elevated Red Line
- Elizabeth Laidlaw as Victoria “Vic” Renna, Paul's police partner
- Enuka Okuma as Suzanne Davis, Tia's sister and campaign manager
- Glynn Turman as Nathan Gordon, incumbent alderman and Tia's opponent
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "We Must All Care" | Victoria Mahoney | Caitlin Parrish & Erica Weiss | April 28, 2019 | T33.01004 | 4.80[2] |
| 2 | "We Are Each Other's Harvest" | Kevin Hooks | Shernold Edwards | April 28, 2019 | T33.10302 | 4.80[2] |
| 3 | "For We Meet by One or the Other" | Aurora Guerrero | Sue Chung | May 5, 2019 | T33.10303 | 3.88[3] |
| 4 | "We Need Glory for a While" | Matthew A. Cherry | Aaron Carter | May 5, 2019 | T33.10304 | 3.88[3] |
| 5 | "One Day We May Be More Than a Body" | Sheelin Choksey | Fawzia Mirza | May 12, 2019 | T33.10305 | 3.47[4] |
| 6 | "We Turn Up This Music Louder Than a Mother's Cry" | Kevin Hooks | Brendan Kelly | May 12, 2019 | T33.10306 | 3.47[4] |
| 7 | "I Must Tell You What We Have Inherited" | DeMane Davis | Sunil Nayar | May 19, 2019 | T33.10307 | 3.23[5] |
| 8 | "This Victory Alone Is Not the Change We Seek" | Thomas Carter | Caitlin Parrish & Erica Weiss | May 19, 2019 | T33.10308 | 3.23[5] |
Production
Development
On February 5, 2018, it was announced that CBS had given the production a put pilot commitment after multiple networks had shown interest. The pilot was written by both Caitlin Parrish and Erica Weiss who was expected to executive produce alongside Ava DuVernay and Greg Berlanti. Production companies involved with the pilot were slated to consist of Berlanti Productions, Array Filmworks, CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television.[6] On March 1, 2018, it was announced that Victoria Mahoney would direct the pilot.[7] On May 11, 2018, it was announced that CBS had given the production a series order.[8] A few days later, it was announced that the series would premiere in the spring of 2019 as a mid-season replacement.[9]
On June 7, 2019, The Red Line will not return for another season following its limited run and due to the cancellation.[10]
Casting
In February 2018, it was announced that Noel Fisher, Michael Patrick Thornton, Noah Wyle, Vinny Chhibber, Howard Charles and Elizabeth Laidlaw had joined the pilot's main cast.[7][11][12][13]
Reception
Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 72% based on 18 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "If not always graceful, The Red Line is never less than empathetic, effectively applying tried and true storytelling techniques in its attempts to untangle complicated cultural issues."[14] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 65 out of 100, based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[15]
Ratings
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "We Must All Care" | April 28, 2019 | 0.4/2 | 4.80[2] | 0.2 | 1.09 | 0.6 | 5.89[16] |
| 2 | "We Are Each Other's Harvest" | April 28, 2019 | 0.4/2 | 4.80[2] | 0.2 | 1.09 | 0.6 | 5.89[16] |
| 3 | "For We Meet by One or the Other" | May 5, 2019 | 0.4/2 | 3.88[3] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 4 | "We Need Glory for a While" | May 5, 2019 | 0.4/2 | 3.88[3] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 5 | "One Day We May Be More Than a Body" | May 12, 2019 | 0.3/2 | 3.47[4] | 0.2 | 0.91 | 0.5 | 4.38[17] |
| 6 | "We Turn Up This Music Louder Than a Mother's Cry" | May 12, 2019 | 0.3/2 | 3.47[4] | 0.2 | 0.91 | 0.5 | 4.38[17] |
| 7 | "I Must Tell You What We Have Inherited" | May 19, 2019 | 0.3/1 | 3.23[5] | 0.1 | 0.89 | 0.4 | 4.13[18] |
| 8 | "This Victory Alone Is Not the Change We Seek" | May 19, 2019 | 0.3/1 | 3.23[5] | 0.1 | 0.89 | 0.4 | 4.13[18] |
References
- "The TVLine-Up: What's Leaving, New and Returning the Week of May 19". TVLine. May 18, 2019.
- Welch, Alex (April 30, 2019). "'American Idol,' 'The Simpsons' adjust up, 'The Red Line' adjusts down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- Welch, Alex (May 7, 2019). "'American Idol' adjusts up: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Welch, Alex (May 14, 2019). "'American Idol' adjusts up, 'The Red Line' adjusts down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
- Welch, Alex (May 21, 2019). "'American Idol' adjusts up, 'America's Funniest Home Videos' adjusts down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- Andreeva, Nellie (February 2, 2018). "'L.A. Confidential', Eric Holder-Inspired 'Main Justice' Among 4 CBS Drama Pilots From Top Producers". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- Petski, Denise (March 1, 2018). "'Red Line': Noel Fisher & Michael Patrick Thornton Cast In CBS Drama Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
- Andreeva, Nellie (May 11, 2018). "'Magnum P.I.', 'God Friended Me' & 'The Red Line' Dramas Get CBS Series Orders". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
- Petski, Denise (January 15, 2019). "'The Code', 'The Red Line', 'Ransom' Drama Series Get Midseason Premiere Dates On CBS". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- Petski, Denise (June 7, 2019). "'The Red Line' Canceled By CBS After One Season". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
- Andreeva, Nellie (March 6, 2018). "Noah Wyle To Topline CBS Pilot 'Red Line' From Ava DuVernay & Greg Berlanti". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
- Petski, Denise (March 8, 2018). "Christine Ko Joins CW's 'Dead Inside'; Vinny Chhibber In CBS' 'Red Line'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
- Petski, Denise (March 9, 2018). "'Red Line': Howard Charles & Elizabeth Laidlaw Joins CBS Drama Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
- "The Red Line: Season 1 (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- "The Red Line: Season 1". Metacritic. CBS. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- Thorne, Will (May 13, 2019). "Live+7 Ratings for Week of April 22: Canceled 'Whiskey Cavalier' Among Biggest Gainers". Variety. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- Thorne, Will (May 28, 2019). "Live+7 Ratings for Week of May 6: 'Agents of SHIELD' Premiere Sees Solid Gain". Variety. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
- Thorne, Will (June 3, 2019). "Live+7 Ratings for Week of May 13: 'Big Bang Theory' Finale Hits 24 Million Viewers". Variety. Retrieved June 3, 2019.