What’s Worth Watching: Surly Crime-Solving on Backstrom

Backstrom, “Dragon Slayer” (Thursday, Jan. 22, 9/8c, Fox)

After spending nine seasons on NBC’s The Office as Dunder Mifflin’s assistant (to the) regional manager Dwight Schrute, Rainn Wilson steps away from a cubicle and into the shoes of Everett Backstrom, a detective with a knack for solving cases as the leader of Portland’s Special Crimes Unit. But his own self-destructive behavior, including his penchant for overindulging in sweets and alcohol, threatens to sideline him from the action unless he can obey the doctor’s orders: make a new friend.

In tonight’s season premiere, Backstrom and his team investigate a college student’s apparent suicide, but quickly discover his ties to an underground drug ring. While Wilson’s transformation into Backstrom is particularly effortless, the players surrounding him—including newcomer Genevieve Angelson as his partner Det. Nicole Gravely and Kristoffer Polaha as Sgt. Peter Niedermayer—quickly establish a chemistry. Case closed.