‘Whiskey Cavalier’ romps way into TV tradition Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson), ‘The X-Files’
Armed to the teeth and with tongue firmly in cheek, ABC’s “Whiskey Cavalier” breezily asserts its membership in a beloved TV genre: the “romp-com,” a cop/spy action-adventure series fronted by partners whose bickering and bantering masks an underlying romantic chemistry.
Or, as a prisoner of FBI agent Will Chase (Scott Foley, “Scandal”) and competing CIA operative Frankie Trowbridge (Lauren Cohan, “The Walking Dead”) observes: “A lot of sexual tension in the car.”
In “Whiskey” (Wednesdays, 10 EDT/PDT) – the title refers to Will’s code name – he’s the vulnerable wreck, pining over the end of a relationship, while Frankie is hard-bitten, rejecting attachment.
Where will this relationship go? To get an idea of the possibilities, let’s look at the long history of combative crime-solvers who have kept TV’s shipping industry in business for decades:
Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo), ‘NCIS’
(CBS; 2003- ) Fans are still pining over the separation of this couple, who long teased a romantic relationship, but got only as far as a parting kiss in Ziva’s 2013 farewell – at least onscreen. Tony’s 2016 goodbye episode, which featured news of Ziva’s death, revealed the couple had a daughter. With a recent episode suggesting Ziva may be alive, hope springs eternal, although Weatherly is busy with “Bull” and he’s got his own off-screen baggage that may make a reunion problematic. (Fox, 1993-2002; 2016-18) Fox Mul-
der is the believer and Dana Scully the skeptic who initially bump heads as FBI investigators of the paranormal. But that oil-and-water relationship eventually softened, yielding combustible chemistry and a romantic and sexual tension that drove fans crazy. They eventually got together and even had a child, although with this show, you’re never quite clear what’s real and what isn’t.
Kensi (Daniela Ruah) and Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen), ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’
(CBS, 2009- ) These law-enforcement partners have long jostled competitively, with feelings developing underneath. True love eventually triumphed, and “Los Angeles” will feature the couple’s nuptials in Sunday’s episode, “Till Death Do Us Part.” Expect it to be a bit more life-threatening than your average wedding.
Booth (David Boreanaz) and Brennan (Emily Deschanel), ‘Bones’
(Fox, 2005-2017) In the oppositesattract category, there’s wisecracking FBI agent Seeley Booth and brilliant but socially inept Dr. “Bones” Brennan, both extremely capable but approaching life from different perspectives. They had plenty of conflicts, but the fire flickered and sparked a relationship. They had a child and eventually a wedding, despite Brennan’s philosophical opposition to marriage.
Beckett (Stana Katic) and Castle (Nathan Fillion), ‘Castle’
(ABC, 2009-2016) This one started rough: Beckett was an able, by-the-book homicide detective and Castle a bright but immature best-selling mystery crime novelist who brought an unorthodox but often successful investigative approach as he shadowed her for book research. Over time, Castle and Beckett learned to get along, and eventually developed feelings for each other. Offscreen, however, the relationship between the two actors was far less cozy, forcing Katic’s departure shortly before the show’s cancellation.
David (Bruce Willis) and Maddie (Cybill Shepherd), ‘Moonlighting’
(ABC, 1985-1989) “Moonlighting” luxuriated in the seething sexual chemistry between rumpled, wisecracking investigator David and classy former model Maddie, owner of their detective agency.
The 1980s dramedy was hugely popular, but its rapid decline often is cited as a cautionary tale of yielding to fan demands to stop the tease and bring the romantic partners together. Yet the demise of “Moonlighting” may have had at least as much to do with the declining shared screen time between Shepherd, who had had twins, and Willis, who had success with “Die Hard” and was focused on a film career.
Jennifer (Stefanie Powers) and Jonathan Hart (Robert Wagner), ‘Hart to Hart’
(ABC, 1979-1984) The Harts were a rich, happily married couple with a lot of time on their hands, so they found themselves solving crimes with the help of their rough-edged, raspy voiced chauffeur. Crime-fighting was good for their marriage, although it did require occasionally dodging bullets.
Laura (Stephanie Zimbalist) and Remington (Pierce Brosnan), ‘Remington Steele’
(NBC, 1982-1987) A relationship based on deception and fraud? Well, it wouldn’t be the first. Many women would find this setup relatable: Laura Holt isn’t taken seriously as a detective until she invents a male boss, Remington Steele, and then takes on a con man who assumes the identity and a piece of her agency.
His arrival understandably creates conflict, but this being the 1980s, romance eventually ensued.
As networks constantly mine their vaults for remake possibilities, “Remington” might be worthy of consideration, if problematic: A man taking credit for a woman’s work would seem even more infuriating today.