Detective Grace Hanadarko is back (Oh, yeah, Saving Grace is back, too)

I’ve had a very hit or miss relationship with Det. Grace Hanadarko of Saving Grace. In the beginning, I followed the show, despite the fact that I thought it was pretty inconsistent. The, well, ah, saving grace, of the show was Holly Hunter’s powerhouse portrayal of the titular character. The show picked up steam, and tackled some pretty heavy storylines over the two seasons. I had the opportunity to screen the first two episodes of the third season, which premieres next Tuesday (10/9c on TNT), and it promises to build on the themes we’ve seen developed over the previous two seasons: redemption, faith, and kick-ass pranks.

Last season, we finally saw the death of Leon Cooley, the death row inmate that shared Earl, the last chance angel, with Hanadarko. Grace’s relationship with Cooley was not exactly normal, but then again, none of the interpersonal relationships on this show are anything close to ordinary. She, however, came through for him in the end, and both she and Earl were with him when he died. His death has repercussions into the upcoming season, as Grace becomes involved with another of Earl’s charges in the premiere. Whereas Leon “introduced’ Earl to Grace, I think she will now take that role on herself. It will be interesting to watch how Earl will continue to affect the way Grace lives her life.

Let me clarify that: Grace Hanadarko will always be the hard working, hard drinking, hard … “partying” … firecracker she has always been. She is a product of her experience. She was molested by a priest at an early age. She lived through the catastrophe and aftermath of the bombing of the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City, an event that, amidst myriad horrible stories, claimed the life of her sister. She has looked into the face of evil as a homicide detective. Who she has become is how she handles these horrors. As she accepts what Earl has in mind for her, little of who she is will change. She will find her own way of accomplishing what her angel, or his boss, have in mind.

How Saving Grace has handled its exploration of faith has been interesting. Leon Cooley found Islam in prison. Hanadarko was raised Catholic (though it would be wrong to say that she is still completely faithful). Despite these differing religions, Earl is  constant. To Earl, and his boss, how you find your faith isn’t as important as the act of having that faith.  The road to redemption for Grace, and others in the show doesn’t necessarily follow an organized track.

One of the best aspects of Saving Grace is the family relationships. Not just Grace’s blood family, but her adopted one, as well. The squad of detectives is as close as any family I know. They comfort each other in the bad times, and play incredible practical jokes on each other in the good. The first couple of episodes of this season are no exception. Hamm’s ornithophobia (I could translate, but that would be telling), Greta’s lottery cards, and of course, the Oklahoma/Texas football rivalry all come into play. There is one prank that you don’t see coming until it hits you in the face, and it’s accompanied by a bit of good news for a favorite character.

Saving Grace has come a long way in two seasons. Grace herself is seeing things in a different light, and has developed a faith I don’t know that she expected to have again. Hanadarko is as complicated a character as you will find on TV today. The third season promises to be an exploration of how that faith will become a intertwined with her lifestyle, and how it will affect her relationships with those she loves. Knowing Grace, it will be a kick-ass ride.

Clacked by Ivey West
on Jun 10, 2009 @ 12:00 EST5EDT