Season 3: The fate of Riggs explained in episode 1

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Wesley Cole says he can never replace Martin Riggs, but Seann William Scott has already taken over from Clayne Crawford. Following a series of production problems related to a fractured relationship between Crawford and Damon Wayans (which, unsurprisingly, ended with the more famous face), the premiere of season 3 kills Riggs for good – as was strongly involved in the final of last year.

Now Fox's TV show "Lethal Weapon" is back, and it's a brand new ball game … except it's exactly the same. The tradition of replacing one partner with another has been performed by programs such as "NYPD Blue" and "The X-Files". Everyone has their own tips for helping an audience get into the new world, often based on star parts, but the "Lethal Weapon" team has made savvy decisions to appease everyone who has been (naturally) attached to Riggs for two seasons.

The change was smooth and on screen because it was rushed and noisy. Under pressure to keep fans on both sides of the conflict happy, the first episode was facing a daunting task. "In the Same Boat" needed to introduce the new viewers and viewers to his trip, while explaining what had happened in Riggs with the same comfortable structure of the time – a case of the week tackled with jokes and sneaks. solid actions. A heated fanbase had to be quieted, and apart from the #TeamClayne, the fans might not have felt a marked absence in the hour back. It's thanks to the subtle art of exchanging tracks, and here's how writers Joe Smith and Matt Miller have succeeded.

Damon Wayans and Seann William Scott in "Lethal Weapon"

Ray Mickshaw / FOX

1. Make Seann William Scott your case of the week

Like many police procedures, "deadly weapon" episodes usually begin with the case of the week. An unlucky schmo undergoes a test and the hero cops intervene after the titles to clean up the damage. The first season of season 3 begins with Seann William Scott as Wesley Cole, a CIA Special Operations Officer stationed in Syria. He jokes with a kid who helped him find a hard drive for this group of bad guys.

Yes, it is clear that this kid is going to die, but it does not really matter. What matters is that it's impossible not to feel a guy who blames himself for the death of a child, and that's exactly how Agent Cole is presented. Miller and Smith connect his scenes to the current plot, ensuring that their tragedies unfold on the same day.

But that's how Cole is portrayed as an endearing character, and not why the episode is so easy. The public is used to seeing a person they have never seen before at the beginning of "lethal weapon" episodes, so it's the structure that puts viewers into a familiar world. That this new face is proving to be the new track can be a pleasant surprise for anyone who has his head in the sand in recent months, but it is not distracting whether you know what is happening or not.

Damon Wayans and Seann William Scott in "Lethal Weapon"

Ray Mickshaw / FOX

2. Seriously crying the loss of a track

After being shot by his missing brother to finish season 2, Riggs is rushed to hospital by his partner, Murtaugh (Wayans). But instead of a long battle with death, the surgeon on guard passes to Roger, distraught: "We will do everything we can" in less than 25 seconds. With these two words, Riggs left forever, but the rest of the episode spends every second to honor his memory.

On the one hand, Murtaugh's entire plot goes around mourning. His family wants him to go from the front (on the couch and in the shower); his boss wants him to move on (out of force and at retirement); yet, he is obsessed with a theory of self-taught plot that the murderer of Riggs is still at large. Regardless, the brother committed suicide after killing Riggs. Murtaugh is convinced that he is on the right track, until he realizes what everyone already knows: he keeps the case alive, he does not have to deal with the death of his partner.

This leads to a mini-therapy session with staff psychologist Maureen Cahill (Jordana Brewster) and later to give her a promotion to Scott's Cole as a detective. But everything is not going well with Roger. He still feels the loss of Riggs, like everyone else – as the many people who told Murtaugh tell us, "Riggs is also missing." Damon Wayans does not have to convince you that it's sad that Crawford is gone, but he must force viewers to believe that Murtaugh is torn apart by the loss of Riggs. The comic does an admirable job; so much so that Riggs' spirit will not go away anytime soon, even if it seems like a giant step towards a new life.

Seann William Scott, Damon Wayans and Keesha Sharp in "Lethal Weapon"

Fox

3. Establish a definitive future easy to conceal

This new life is quite clear and familiar enough. Murtaugh and Cole are partners now. Murtaugh is still sorting out his reasons for continuing to work, as well as the fear of losing another partner (without a doubt). Cole, we are told, is trying to do well for her daughter for the first time. He may have an ex-girlfriend to win back, and he really focuses on the detective business. Moreover, he tries to accept the idea that "chaos" follows him – a concept as beneficial for a series of actions as for a police officer on the straight line. (Riggs being addicted to chaos was much easier to believe, since he was a self-saboteur who was most likely suicidal.)

Yet the momentum is back in action. After 43 minutes tight, two cops are back on the case, all support players are lined up to help, and the story was dramatic enough to win laughs next week (without putting all the dark stuff aside because it can still be used to drive future plots). Some may reject this kind of writing as a hack job of the assembly line; a band of writers trying to save the pieces of their series by bringing a big name (for this show) and putting his character in the most empathetic position possible.

Of course, there is an emotional manipulation going on here, and yes, there are jumps in the logic that you simply have to follow. (How did Cole become a police detective to an aging detective? Everyone hopes that he will shut up and retire?) But saving a profitable franchise is never easy, especially when some fans can only give one "Lethal Weapon". episode to see how they like the new duo. The first season of season 3 has been busy and the result is impressive. The producers of Warner Bros. TV may be developing a procedural police procedure, but what they have done here is their own art.

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