This past week Steven Seagal’s Lawman debuted on A&E with back-to-back episodes. This review picks up where my last review left off.
First, the good news for Seagal fans — according to The Hollywood Reporter website, both episodes that aired this past Wednesday attracted 3.5 million viewers. Other news accounts have the Lord of Whoopass setting an A&E debut record for the 18- to 49-year-old demographic. What does this mean for his legions of fans? At minimum it probably means Lawman will be renewed and if we are really lucky it could mean that a studio will give the green light for Under Siege III!
Once again Reserve Deputy Chief Steven Seagal hits the streets with his team of law enforcement officers. Much like the first episode, Seagal and his team prowl the streets of Jefferson Parish in their spooky, black, unmarked SUVs.
In this episode we see fewer guns but we are treated to Seagal's Zen-like bionic eye. While on patrol Seagal uses his slow motion bionic eye to spot a suspect who may have pocketed a pistol. In “The Way of the Gun,” Seagal warned us that he was clairvoyant. Well boy, he wasn’t kidding! Seagal’s team swoops in and the suspect runs. During the chase the alleged suspect drops his gun and his cell phone, proving once again that the Mojo Priest truly does know all. Somewhere along the way to our enlightenment we are treated to the first of many priceless Seagal quotes: “If you can’t anticipate an attack, you can’t defend against it.”
Well said, Steven, well said!
It must be Seagal’s clairvoyance kicking in because the foot chase prompts Steven to worry about his team’s ability to grapple with criminals. So the very next day our hero decides to give his team an aikido lesson. What follows is a crash course in aikido wrist locks that concludes with Seagal throwing his aikido demonstrator to the mat. After that Seagal quips, "Looks easy. It’s not easy. It takes a lot of practice." Typically four or five years of practice to be exact, which is probably why law enforcement academies don’t have the time to teach formal martial arts to their officers! But there I go digressing again.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Pete Malloy
I never in my life thought anyone could come close to William Shatner's realistic role in T J HOOKER until I had the great pleasure of seeing LAWMAN. Seagal's realistic portrayal of daily policework should win him the Medal of Valor with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's office.
2 - Rodney King
This clown makes Dog The Bounty Hunter look like Sergeant Joe Friday in Dragnet.
3 - Bob Patterson
Pete - Ha! I forgot all about the great T.J. Hooker!
Rodney - I may have to quote you in my next review!
4 - Tom Steele
After watching the show, I find that ita starts to reveal the daily activies of an officer. After 19 years of law enforcement I'm glad to see someone like Mr. Seagal taking an active part in his community. As a law enforcement officer you place your life on the line everytime you put the uniform on. The criminals don't care if you are an actor/deputy or regular deputy, they are going to continue to commint crimes.
5 - Bob Patterson
Tom,
Thanks for your comments. Seagal is never without controversy -- it will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
6 - John Edgar Hoover
Does anyone realize Steven Segall was disqualified as an applicant for reserve police officer or deputy sheriff from numerous police departs in California?
The fact that he had to go way down south to a small unknown Sheriffs Departmet where the hiring requirements and length of background aren't as stringent, as say, some fully-fledged law enforcement agency. This is not meant as a condescending remark toward the Jefferson Parish Sheriff department.
Mr. Seagall is an actor-plain and simple. And not a very good one at that. He's a washed-up action "hero" from the 80's, an icon for the juvenile filmgoer.
If steven Seagall wanted to really get his hands dirty by doing real police work, he would be a reserve police officer in the lower-income suburbs of Los Angeles, like Bell Police Department, Huntington Park, Compton, South Central Los Angeles, Long Beach, etc.
7 - Bob Patterson
JEH,
All good points!
-Bob
8 - Scott
JEH, maybe you are unfamiliar of the crime that exists in the Orleans/Jefferson parish area. Do you even know where Jefferson parish is?
9 - DACON9
YO HOOVER, when the police put their life on the line to protect idiots like you, is their life worth any less because they work in jefferson county versus other counties?
and are the citizens poor but innocent any less also in jefferson parish.
I CALL YOU A VERY INSECURE PERSON WHO JUST WANTS TO SHOW HOW LITTLE YOU KNOW AND HOW LITTLE YOU RESPECT PEOPLE DIFFERENT FROM YOURSELF. I respect y as long as you remain sedated.
10 - Devin
If anyone doesn't really know Steven Seagal's background they will make idiotic comments towards him and what he has done and is currently doing.
Whether you think he is a good actor or not, you should respect him. This is just my opinion of course.
He holds the rank of 7th Dan in Aikido which is remarkable, and was once recruited into the military's special forces. Also he was the first white man to open an Aikido dojo in Japan. Oh yeah he plays the guitar, sings and can play the double harp.
He is no joke...please show some respect.
11 - Bobby
John Hoover...you make some good points, but when you spell the guys name wrong it hurts your credibility!
12 - BigBrutis
Steven Seagal has done a great thing for the community, and is a man of great knowledge of the martial arts. His acting ability is what it is. The show is great and has a great insight on what to expect on the terrible streets of that city and county. I have been involved in law enforcement as a correction officer and know what officers deal with on a daily basis. Hats off to Seagel and the county, be safe and keep up the good work.
13 - judy
Steven Seagal --- wow --- to remember a line from Under Seige --- the safest place on this ship is behind you --- hats off to Mr. Seagal he is one of the few actually taking time to try to make a difference.
14 - doxie mom
I personally rank Steven Segal right up there with Chuck Norris both are very very knowledgable in their respective martial arts styles while Mr. Norris portrayed and Texas Ranger who not only used his martial arts for good also worked with children. He in real life does work with children in his community. Now Mr. Seagal is making his community better by being a law enforcement officer. I think anyone who take the oath of office to protect and serve deserve the utmost respect if they are doing a good job. Yeah... I know there are bad cops out there but there are more good ones and they are the ones that deserve our respect. If these guys are able to use their acting background along with their martial arts for the betterment of their communities then I say more power to them.
15 - yungin from 91
1st off may i just add wit all-do-respect sumone shoot mr.edgar Hoover in da beck! im 18teen & as far back as i can remember i have been a diehard fan of Da great Seagall from undersiege to the role he played as Gno and just to add is anybody hip to latest DVds that he has put out. i mean just get realist hands down dis guy better than VanDam Billyblanks Wesly and who ever else you may add get real Mr.John Edgar
16 - AA mom
JEH please go away.
This man has made many great films and has chosen to do this show in New Orleans. If you have ever been there you know that crime and poverty in LA are far worse than in CA. Even before Katrina there was a serious problem with crime...now the problem has escallated out of control.
I wish Mr. Seagal the very best in this endeavor and thank you to A&E for being brave enough to show it!!
17 - Carolina Gal
I've always liked Steven's movies, but
couldn't help but notice all the weight he
put on year after year. Come on, Steven, you've a nice looking man, but try and lost
some of the weight, O.K?
18 - flashbazzzbo
Jet LI would put an unholy smackdown on the Zen master's ass!
19 - Chuck Kongo
"If anyone doesn't really know Steven Seagal's background they will make idiotic comments towards him and what he has done and is currently doing."
You mean like his "background" in domestic violence and his pathetic fanboyish attempts to cozy up to mafia types like a starstruck groupie?
And he was was never recruited into the "military special forces" or the CIA or any of that other nonsense he spews to make himself seem "mysterious".
He's as big a fraud with that hooey as Frank Dux was.
20 - LIVED SOME
MR KONGO-MR.JEH UNTIL YOU HAVE LIVED SOME YEARS DON'T PASS JUDGEMENT ON SOMEONES BACKGROUND. NO MATTER WHAT A MAN HAS DONE OR NOT DONE JUDGE HIM FOR WHAT HE IS DOING NOW. WHAT ARE U 2 DOING TO MAKE A DIFFERANCE
21 - Jordan Richardson
Chuck's just jealous because Seagal wouldn't be his "Mojo Priest."
22 - wes
The show is fun and remember the critic never counts!
23 - Kiki
Love the show and doubly love Steven Seagal!! How many other actors .. good or bad are out in any community doing something for themselves first and maybe the community second? How about NONE! There are lots of do gooders in Hollywood when the camera is on them, look at Brad Pitt, playing it safe.
24 - Bob Patterson
Don't get me wrong -- I LOVE the show! That being said Seagal IS getting paid and A&E is making money by selling advertising. So this isn't all rainbows and gumdrops.
;-)
Bob Patterson
25 - Dale
Fantastic intro. presentation for another "Bad Boys" Cop Show. Only this time it's a real "Bad Boy" who takes his job serious.