In its sizzling season premiere, The CW’s Wild Cards, starring Vanessa Morgan and Giacomo Gianniotti, sets up a dynamic romance destined for loads of fun banter and all the angst. As a network with multiple series focusing on the dramatic side of relationships, it wasn’t hard to decipher what the new show would be judging by its trailers. But what’s undeniable is that the scorching chemistry in the pilot episode could result in one of the most pleasing new series.
Morgan’s Max Mitchell is a con artist, while Gianniotti’s Cole Ellis is a cop dealing with his own baggage and heartache. An unforeseen situation and a busy station bring the two of them together, leading to solving a case she expertly has intel on. In true crime drama fashion, The CW’s Wild Cards dabbles with some of the most delightful tropes, even throwing in an undercover kiss to seal the deal.
However, it’s the episode’s ending that makes it something worth watching because if the cards are played right, we’re headed toward a “started as a ruse, but oops, we’re falling in love” kind of romance. There are bound to be makeups and breakups, angst and betrayals, but sometimes, these are the very relationships that lead to something memorable as they explore human complexities. Both characters are already dealing with a plethora on their own, and if the future combines quieter moments of vulnerability with the heightened stakes, we’re in for one heck of a ride.
At the same time, we have to break down the post-kiss change that happens, resulting in Cole’s inability to come back from it right away when she’s the one who initiated it in the first place. Something about a stoic man begrudgingly coming undone because of a spunky woman kissing him always, always hits. The scene sets up whether or not they’d physically be compatible, but their moment at the docks affirms these two could be each other’s safety net. Before he tells her what’s happening, Max, observant as she is, realizes that the cat and boat belong to Cole’s brother, resulting in the episode’s most truthful moment. It’s after this (as well as the joke about their song being “Just the Two of Us”) that it becomes even more evident that should the series continue, the scheme will become so much more than either of them predicted.
It’s not hard to tell where The CW’s Wild Cards is taking Max and Cole if you’ve watched and read enough romances, but what’s unpredictable is whether the series will be given enough time to last. With cancelations constantly looming over, it’s never easy to invest in something knowing it’ll be axed at any moment, but maybe, just maybe, this one could last. The chemistry between Morgan and Gianniotti is already electric, the premise is thrilling, and the upcoming angst promises a good time. There’s something here that, if nothing else, could be a load of fun for romance lovers. And if there’s an eventual happy ending, then we’re in for something great.
Wild Cards is now streaming on The CW: What are your thoughts on the set-up and pilot episode?