You’ve probably seen the trope a thousand times. One detective is a loose cannon who smashes chairs; the other is a saint who offers coffee and sympathy. But the Good Cop/Bad Cop tv show—which hit screens in early 2025—doesn't really care about those old clichés. Honestly, it’s more of a family therapy session disguised as a police procedural.
Set in the fictional town of Eden Vale, Washington, the show follows Lou and Henry Hickman. They’re siblings. They’re both detectives. And they both work for their dad, "Big Hank" Hickman, the local police chief. It’s basically a recipe for disaster, or at least some very awkward Sunday dinners.
What is the Good Cop/Bad Cop TV show actually about?
The premise is pretty simple but effective. Lou (played by Leighton Meester of Gossip Girl fame) is a seven-year veteran of the Eden Vale PD. She’s the "good cop" in the sense that she’s sunny, resourceful, and actually likes the townspeople. Then you have Henry (Luke Cook), her brother who just crawled back from Seattle after failing to get a promotion because, well, he has the social skills of a cactus.
Their dad, played by the legendary Clancy Brown, is the one who forces them together. Big Hank is the kind of chief who redraws town borders just to keep his crime stats low. He wants his kids to get along, but Lou and Henry spend more time bickering over childhood grudges than they do chasing suspects.
It’s got that "Blue Sky" era vibe. You know, like Psych or Monk.
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It’s not trying to be the next True Detective. It’s funny. It’s colorful. And yeah, it’s a bit weird.
The cast that makes it work
- Leighton Meester as Lou Hickman: She’s the heart of the show. Lou is scrappy and uses her local knowledge to solve crimes that the big-city cops would ignore.
- Luke Cook as Henry Hickman: Cook plays Henry as a "socially inept savant." He’s tall, strange, and terrified of horses. Some viewers find his "Sheldon Cooper-esque" energy a bit much, but he plays off Meester really well.
- Clancy Brown as Big Hank: He’s the anchor. Brown brings a lot of warmth to the role of a father just trying to keep his family from imploding while running a shoestring-budget police department.
- Devon Terrell as Shane Carson: He’s a detective from the neighboring county who has a better budget, better tech, and a massive crush on Lou.
Where was it filmed? (The Pacific Northwest lie)
Here’s a fun fact: Eden Vale, Washington, doesn’t exist. And even though the Good Cop/Bad Cop tv show looks like the lush, rainy Pacific Northwest, it wasn't filmed anywhere near America.
The whole thing was shot in Queensland, Australia.
They used the Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim, and the Village Roadshow Studios to double for Washington State. They even brought in pine trees and clever set dressing to hide the fact that it was actually sunny Australia. Most of the supporting cast is Australian, too, though you’d barely notice with the accents they're pulling off.
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It’s a massive co-production between The CW, Roku, and the Australian streamer Stan. This "global" approach is why the show feels a bit different from your standard network procedural. It’s got an international polish but a very specific, small-town American heart.
Is there going to be a Season 2?
The first season wrapped up with an episode called "Skeletons" on April 9, 2025. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say creator John Quaintance left some massive knots to untangle.
The show has been a bit of a sleeper hit. It even bagged a jury prize at the 2025 Monte-Carlo Television Festival. However, because it’s a co-production, the renewal is a bit of a "juggling act" between networks. Executive producer Jeff Wachtel has hinted that while The CW has been cutting back on scripted shows, streamers like Amazon or ITV might step up to keep the Hickman family in business.
Honestly, if you liked Wild Cards or The Rookie, you’ll probably dig this. It’s "cozy crime." You get a mystery of the week, some sibling rivalry, and a lot of jokes about how incompetent small-town government can be.
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How to watch it right now
If you missed it during the original run, you can find the Good Cop/Bad Cop tv show on a few different platforms:
- The CW & Roku Channel: This is the primary home for US viewers.
- Stan: If you’re in Australia, this is your go-to.
- Amazon Prime Video: The full eight-episode first season hit Prime in July 2025.
- Netflix/DIRECTV: It has started appearing here in certain regions as part of licensing deals.
Final verdict for your watchlist
This isn't prestige TV that’s going to change your life, but it’s a solid 45 minutes of entertainment. The chemistry between Meester and Cook feels genuine—probably because they’ve become close friends off-screen. It’s refreshing to see a cop show that focuses more on the messiness of being a family than the grit of the "mean streets."
If you’re looking for a new binge-watch that won't give you nightmares, give it a shot. Start with the pilot, "Peace in the Valley," and see if the Hickman family's dysfunction wins you over. You’ll know pretty quickly if the humor lands for you or if Henry’s quirks are too much to handle.
What to do next:
Check your Roku Channel or Prime Video app tonight. If you’re into shows with a "quirky detective" vibe, add it to your queue and start from the beginning. It’s only eight episodes, so it’s a very low-stakes commitment for a weekend watch.