Backstrom
Season 1 Episode 4: “I Am a Bird Now”
Written by Leif G.W. Persson (author)
Created by Hart Hanson
Starring Rainn Wilson, Beatrice Rosen, Page Kennedy, Genevieve Angelson, Dennis Haysbert, and Kristoffer Polaha
FOX
Air Date: Thursday, February 12, 2015, 9:00pm

Last week’s Backstrom 1.3 “Takes One to Know One” was the most hilarious episode to date (although the young woman murdered was not funny). Backstrom’s ex-fiancee (guest star Sarah Chalke) showed up to question him at his hearing.

Backstrom 1.4 “I Am a Bird Now” review: A drag queen is murdered. Is it a hate crime, or a crime of passion? Backstrom suspects the latter, but perhaps that’s because it will get him a postponement from The Civilian Oversight Committee hearing about the guy he shot a few episodes ago. His health problems seem to be getting worse, which is worrying his ex, his team, and especially his doctor.

This episode, while good, was not as exciting as the previous two. Now it may be that the formula needs to be shaken up a bit, or that there was more development of the side characters. Moto had a crisis of conscience, not knowing how he should testify as the only witness to Backstrom’s misstep.

Valentine (Thomas Dekker) is delightful as always as the roommate/son(?) of our cantankerous lead character. He really could be his own show.

Fox’s press release:

BACKSTROM AND HIS TEAM INVESTIGATE A HATE CRIME ON AN ALL-NEW “BACKSTROM” THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, ON FOX
THU FEB 12 9/8c

Backstrom and the team at the Special Crimes Unit investigate the murder of a prominent member of Portland’s LGBT community – a drag queen Internet blogger named Jenna Rose. Backstrom declares the murder a hate crime, and the investigation takes an unsuspected turn when Backstrom’s tenant, Gregory Valentine, becomes a suspect. Meanwhile, Backstrom has to testify in front of the Civilian Oversight Committee, regarding his shooting of a suspect from a previous case. Heading the newly formed committee is his ex-fiance, Amy Gazanian (guest star Sarah Chalke), all of which results in severe anxiety attacks for Backstrom in the all-new “I Am A Bird Now” episode of BACKSTROM airing Thursday, Feb. 12 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Backstrom 1.4 “I Am a Bird Now” promo: