On Call: Season 1 Episode 2 – Recap and Review | Soft Power Is Still A Form Of Power

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Quick Recap

As the hunt for Maniac and others in the East Barrio gang continues, Alex must note the politics he is slowly creeping into. Specifically, he stands between Sergeant Lasman and Harmon, who have different takes on being a cop in the modern age.

Harmon, generally speaking, prefers soft power. She is already a cop, has a weapon, and is an authority figure. With that, she doesn’t seek or may even want to exert that authority to have it tested. She’d rather talk and make deals that don’t cost her or force anything to make progress.

On the other end of things is Sergeant Lasman, who is old school; he is about whipping ass and taking names if a civilian tests him and if they lay a hand on him or the cops? It seems Sergeant Lasman wouldn’t be against a Rodney King-styled beatdown.

Alex, as a man under Harmon’s tutelage, you see the push and pull. While leaning towards Harmon’s influence now, you can see Sergeant Lasman slowly drawing him in. But whether the young man who talked to someone in episode 1 about getting clean can steer clear of eventually snapping is hard to say.

Episode Details

New Character Descriptions

Sergeant Lasman

From what it appears, Sergeant Lasman is no friend of Harmon’s. With his influence, he pulls Alex towards the dark side of the force, willing and encouraging the use of hard power over soft, to let civilians know he is in control and has authority. But, as with everyone else, between body cameras and cell phones, Sergeant Lasman is aware only so much can be done, but if he can justify it and argue the need, he isn’t above testing the limits of this new soft power era.

Review

Trajectory (84/100): Climbing

What is pleasing me about “On Call” right now is that with there being anywhere from 3-4 calls an episode thus far, you get a sense of what patrolmen and women go through and aren’t pressured or guilted into admiring them, but do so because the situation invites it. From people doing donuts downtown and being told to just sit and observe to avoid escalating a situation to having to determine as a cop when to exert your authority or stand down, imagine how taxing that is?

Now, this isn’t me trying to defend or seek sympathy for bad players who abuse their power, but with what you see, you can understand why cops often form a blue wall and protect each other, and feel the need to do the most. If people were so against you, they would test and push you, knowing if you even escalate a little bit, you are in the wrong; imagine how that would feel.

Alex gets punched in the face and can’t even chase and arrest the guy, or at least is discouraged not to. When a woman is cursing at a gang leader who is trying to protect his rep, no one says anything, and when Alex steps in, despite knowing the gang member has caused death and chaos, no one backs Alex or seems to care about him or his safety. Yet, if he pulled his gun, he’d be the one potentially doxed and treated as a monster, and in many ways, it is nonsense.

Yet, as shown when Harmon was working that field, talking to the homeless, addicts, and other eccentric characters, while some may work well with hard power and being fearsome figures in the neighborhood, that doesn’t work for everyone and doesn’t necessarily win you friends, allies, snitches, or people who think you can be cool. Harmon, within an hour, is able to get information on a severed head, talk a homeless man into letting her see someone’s cut-off hand, and she doesn’t have to raise her voice, threaten violence, none of that.

But, as has been pushed for a while, police are dealing with a culture shift. As much as some appreciate and miss the old ways, the new ways are here to stay. While some are adapting with ease, others seem ready and willing to take things old school and take a suspension for a hot minute. Which for newbies like Alex, knowing what could happen makes you wonder if he can walk the tightrope or if he will firmly choose a side.

Highlights

• Soft Power vs. Hard Power
• Cop Politics
• Incremental Progress In The Season’s Case

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