The hook of "Sheriff Country" lies in its portrayal of a sheriff whose biggest challenges lie outside the realm of conventional law enforcement. While Edgewater, a small town akin to Gibsons in "Murder in a Small Town," may boast its share of garden-variety crime, Mickey Fox has those issues mostly in check. Instead, it's her spiraling personal life that constitutes the real drama, a melange of predicaments including her bid for the position of Sheriff, a criminally ex-con father named Wes, an ex-husband, Travis, who has struck up a relationship with her colleague, and an addict daughter, Skye, who seems to continually find herself in trouble.
This spin-off of "Fire Country" doesn't feel strictly like a continuation, which is ultimately a good thing. Set in the same town but devoid of familiar faces, it immediately creates an intimate circle that feels complex without relying on cameos for its charm. On its own terms, "Sheriff Country" is a standard procedural of high quality. While I'd love to see it evolve beyond that, I also appreciate its solid foundation.
Mickey is a fairly standard character so far – a by-the-book officer who has done everything she can to better herself after growing up in challenging circumstances, given her father's criminal past. Mickey was left to the care of the foster system, but those experiences only solidified her faith in Edgewater and its people, which is why she's so eager to protect them as Sheriff – even though she doesn't really want the job. This dynamic is somewhat clunky at times, especially when it's revealed early on in the pilot that her protege, Cassidy, is in a relationship with her ex-husband, Travis.
Travis is a lawyer, and I'm sure we'll see more of his role as the series progresses. He isn't antagonistic; instead, he's quite reasonable. He and Mickey disagree over how best to parent Skye in light of her addiction issues and bad influence boyfriend. The Cassidy situation is awkward, but Travis is among the enthusiastic townfolk who gather for Mickey's big Sheriff speech at the end of the episode.
That speech is the clear endpoint that every element of "Sheriff Country" Episode 1 has been building towards. There's another subplot about Mickey's partner, Boone, betraying her to run against her for the Sheriff position. It's lightly explored to facilitate a climactic moment where he realizes she's the right woman for the job after all – largely because of a stupid mistake he himself made. The moment works well, but it's worth noting how obvious the path is to get to it.
Boone's decision is so heinous that it borders on villainy, and at the end of the episode, he fixes Mickey with a look that hints at a more antagonistic presence than his withdrawal from the Sheriff's race would suggest. We'll have to wait and see, but the possibility is definitely there. And the show isn't afraid to delve into its darker side. The case-of-the-week in the pilot, about a seemingly loving couple who are abusing their children, almost ends with those kids plummeting off a cliff, leaving a lingering sense that it might go for some heavier stuff (despite the dodgy CGI).
For parenting advice, Mickey turns not to Travis but to her father, who employs unconventional methods to teach Skye a lesson about her boyfriend's glaring lack of responsibility. But just when it seems like Skye has extricated herself from her boyfriend's foolishness – with a Fire Country cameo thrown in for good measure – she ends up with literal blood on her hands. Now Mickey must weigh the trust in the system and the town she loves so much, or the possibility of following in her father's footsteps and ensuring her daughter's protection by any means necessary. It should be an interesting ride.
