The Red Line is a show created by Caitin Parrish and Erica Weiss. It starts with one of today’s most harrowing problems: A black doctor is killed in a convenience store by accident because he LOOKED like a suspect.

Full set up: Story begins in a convenience store. Black man in a hoodie grabs a quart of milk sets it on the counter to get something else. Second black man walks in the store, pulls out a gun… hits the attendant behind the counter in the head with the gun, demands the money from the register, flees the scene.

Black doctor goes over to the counter to help the attendant and attendant is being uncooperative. Police enter store and see black doctor at counter, attendant bleeding and immediately shoot black doctor in the back.

Story unfolds from there…

Story: The subject matter is critical. The story is absolutely necessary to tell. So much of this dialogue is real, real, real. So many of these scenarios are real, real, real. It is so refreshing to see a show that speaks to the issue of diversity from the inside looking out.

So much of what we see in the mainstream is watered down in the name of political correctness or in the name of protecting the innocent or in the throws of an investigation so details must be withheld. This show is putting it all out there as fiction… but not fiction…

The writing for this story is good, but, there are parts that are a little baited. By that I mean the writers are using dialogue to force the viewers into an assumption. There are scenes when I feel like the moment is being forced on me. BUT, these are isolated moments. And I understand why the writers feel the need to force the moment…

Characters: The adopted daughter of the slain black man is good. Her birth mother who is now running for alderman is great. The husband of the slain black man is overly dramatic… un-believable at times, but, pretty good. His fellow teacher for whom he’s obviously his object-of-affection is great. The police officer who shot the black man is great.

There are many great performances in this show. Emmy’s all around when the time comes…

Visual: Chicago. Trendy. My thought is because Chicago is currently a lightning rod, it makes for good television. AND, with the numbers in assault on black men as a demographic being so fore-front, this is a money maker.

It’s also the opportunity to shine a light on several social issues: Police brutality, profiling, political corruption, same-sex marriage, interracial marriage, adoption. It’s a plethora of dysfunctional urban problems…

Rating: A-. I am riveted by this show. It only falls short in isolated moments and I get past those quickly. I find it to be so spot-on in addressing the social issues. The dialogue sounds the way people talk about these issues, not on television or in movies. It sounds different from what I’m used to hearing. Bravo The Red Line…

Sunday at 8 on CBS. Watch it…