Murder in the First is an Americancrime drama television series that originally aired on TNT. The series was created by Steven Bochco and Eric Lodal, and stars Taye Diggs and Kathleen Robertson. Set in San Francisco, the show follows a single case across an entire season. The series aired for three seasons from June 9, 2014 to September 4, 2016. This series was the last produced by Bochco before his death in 2018. On October 11, 2016, TNT canceled the series of Murder in the First after three seasons.
Overview
In the first season, Homicide Inspectors Terry English and Hildy Mulligan investigate two seemingly unrelated murders only to learn that both victims have ties to a Silicon Valley prodigy who is darker than anyone realizes. In the second season, as San Francisco recovers from a school bus massacre, English and Mulligan investigate the death of a fellow officer and uncover a conspiracy that shakes the city to its core. In the third season, English and Mulligan juggle investigating a football player's murder and dealing with their respective personal issues while District AttorneyMario Siletti reels from a tragedy that jeopardizes his career.
Cast and characters
Main cast
Taye Diggs as Inspector Terry English: a homicide inspector with the San Francisco Police Department who struggles to cope with his wife's death.
Kathleen Robertson as Inspector Hildy Mulligan: English's partner and a single mother who juggles raising her daughter and doing her job.
Ian Anthony Dale as Lieutenant Jim Koto: the squad's no-nonsense supervisor
Raphael Sbarge as Inspector David Molk: a philosophizing SFPD homicide inspector
Lombardo Boyar as Inspector Edgar Navarro: a dedicated SFPD homicide inspector, Molk's partner
Mimi Kirkland as Louise Mulligan: Hildy's inquisitive eleven-year-old daughter.
Supporting cast
Jamie McShane as Justin Burnside: a forensics technician from the Medical Examiner's office.
Camille Balsamo as Kami Keefer: the homicide squad's technology expert who has a crush on Hildy Mulligan.
Jamie Luner as Cassie Siletti, Mario Siletti's wife
; Season 1
Tom Felton as Erich Blunt: a young Silicon Valley prodigy who is suspected by the SFPD of murdering his biological father and his latest personal mistress.
Steven Weber as Bill Wilkerson: Blunt's long-time friend, chauffeur and pilot whose marriage is put in jeopardy following Blunt's arrest.
A. J. Buckley as Inspector Marty "Junior" McCormack: a special operations officer and Hildy's brother, who transfers to Homicide from Vice
Mo McRae as Anthony "Suger" Cascade: the kingpin of an African-American gang, dealing with the accidental death of a member of another gang during an unsanctioned warehouse heist.
Mateus Ward as Dustin Maker: one of two high school boys participating in the bus shooting before being captured by the SFPD. He is later given the death penalty for his role in the crime.
Jimmy Bennett as Alfie Rentman: the second boy participating in the shooting, who escapes capture but is later killed.
Spencer Garrett as Dr. Frank Rentman: Alfie's father, a psychiatrist who diagnoses Alfie's mental illness.
Adam O'Byrne as Det. Kaleb Peat: a member of the squad and Walt Martins's partner, who commits suicide after Martin's funeral.
Inny Clemons as Det. Walt Martin: a member of the squad, and Peat's partner, who is presumed to be shot by Alfie Rentman, but was actually shot by a cop.
Jade Tailor as Alyssa: a stripper with whom Det. Molk becomes involved.
; Season 3
Kim Delaney as Dr. Nancy Redman: Inspector Terry English therapist.
Tiffany Dupont as Serena Parrish: A sports blogger with whom Lieutenant Jim Koto becomes involved.
Michael Gaston as Alfred Arkin: Defended suspended DA Mario Siletti in his DUI trial.
TNT ordered 10 episodes on September 19, 2013, which premiered on June 9, 2014. On September 12, 2014, TNT renewed Murder in the First for a 12-episode second season, which began on June 8, 2015. On November 12, 2015, TNT renewed Murder in the First for a third season, which was set to premiere on June 19, 2016, but was pushed back to the following week due to the delayed third season premiere of The Last Ship.
Critical reception
Murder in the First scored 68 out of 100, in its first season, on Metacritic based on 20 "generally favorable" reviews. Its second season scored 67, based on four reviews. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes currently reports a 73% "certified fresh" critics rating with an average rating of 6.8/10 based on 22 reviews. The website consensus reads: "Murder in the First fits happily into the over-arcing season-long murder mystery mold, offering pleasurably typical twists and natural, attention-grabbing characters".
