Rookie Blue: The Complete First Season

To cut costs and bolster ratings, U.S. networks have begun importing Canadian series in lieu of summer reruns or new homegrown programming. A perfect example is the cop show/soap opera Rookie Blue—as generic as the title and the anonymous city setting—which follows five callow rookies (three women, two men) just out of the police academy, who struggle to prove themselves when they are partnered with more experienced cops. Dedicated, but also prone to making dumb mistakes (such as accidentally outing an undercover officer), the quintet also contend with the usual life baggage. Andy McNally (Missy Peregrym), for instance, hails from a family with a long history in law enforcement; but her dad left the force under a cloud, and she's determined to clear his name. The others are macho thrill-seeker Dov (Gregory Smith), ambitious politico Gail (Charlotte Sullivan), by-the-book pretty boy Chris (Travis Milne), and tough-talking Traci (Enuka Okuma), who is trying to balance the rigors of the job with the demands of single motherhood. Mixing standard street action with rote personal drama, the series compiles all 13 episodes from the 2010 first season. Extras include four behind-the-scenes featurettes. A strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)