(2015 update: “Durham County” can no longer be found on Netflix, but it is available to Hulu subscribers.)
Detective Mike Sweeney and neighborhood psychopath, Ray Prager, in Durham County
The series stars Hugh Dillon as Mike Sweeney, a homicide detective who has just moved his family to town for a new start. Sweeney’s work partner in Toronto was recently killed, and his wife, played by Helene Joy, is recovering from breast cancer. Their arrival coincides with the murder of two teenage girls. Sweeney is immediately thrown into the case; more crimes follow.
As it turns out, the neighbors across the street have past history with Sweeney. Ray Prager, played by Louis Ferreira, knew Sweeney in high school and is one of the creepiest, most manipulative characters you will see on television. Sweeney has his own issues and is more in need of anger management classes than Elliot Stabler on “Law & Order SVU.”
In “Durham County,” the children suffer for the sins of their parents. Sadie Sweeney and Ray Prager, Jr., Laurence Laboeuf and Greyston Holt, are the most sympathetic characters in season one. Sadie, inspired by her father, plays amateur detective; Ray, Jr. is torn between his two parents. As teenagers, they are also capable of bad decision making, though no worse than the adults in this series.
Teenage friends and neighbors Sadie Sweeney and Ray Prager, Jr.
Though there are no heroes on this show, ongoing hope that people will come to their senses and the worst of the criminals will meet justice keeps you watching. Flashbacks and visions are used effectively and contribute to an ongoing feeling of unease, not unlike The Returned. All three seasons, eighteen episodes total, of “Durham County” are available on for streaming on Netflix instant viewing. There will not be a “Durham County” season 4. Click here to read our review of season 2, and add this series to your Netflix TV shows list.
