Based on Nevada Barr’s extensive book series, USA Network’s new original drama “Anna Pigeon” follows a law enforcement ranger who trades her career as a Broadway stage manager for the lush grounds of Montana’s fictional Glacier National Park. Hyper-focused on her job and running from the life she left behind, Anna Pigeon (“Chicago P.D.” alum Tracy Spiridakos) pushes through her pain (literally) to solve crimes in the park. However, despite an absolutely breathtaking backdrop and a stellar lead performance, “Anna Pigeon” feels like a dry, monotonous rehashing of Netflix’s “Virgin River.”
The 10-episode first season (critics received six for review) opens in the early hours of the morning, when Anna is startled awake by a phone call. Her supervisor, Geoff Miller (Ryan Northcott), is concerned that another Glacier ranger hasn’t checked in. This call kicks Anna into action. Untangling herself from the hunky man in her bed, she starts brewing her coffee, determined to find out what happened to her missing colleague. The audience is quickly made aware that Anna’s job goes beyond the scope of a typical park ranger. Armed and tenacious — almost to her peril — she also enforces the rule of law. Hyper-focused on tracking down the lost ranger, Anna ignores Geoff’s guidance, sage advice and the concern from her mentee, Zoey Bear Child (Paulina Alexis), to determine what happened. She also goes behind Geoff’s back in her investigation, involving FBI Special Agent Frederick Stanton (Ronnie Rowe), who’s an old friend, which eventually puts her in the crosshairs of Jeremiah Paulson (Kim Coates), a creepy, wealthy landowner who has little patience for Anna’s meddling.
Spiridakos is terrific as the no-nonsense ranger who refuses to let herself be crushed by her past or present. Still, her stellar performance can’t elevate the series beyond its dull monotony. Subplots involving ranger Manny López (Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz) a recovering addict, the burgeoning romance between Anna and bartender Jesse Garland (Cooper Levy), and Anna’s calls with her therapist sister Molly (Tricia Helfer), who still lives in New York, aren’t enough to give the show the spark it so desperately needs, especially since the wooden dialogue adds nothing to the cliched and recycled storylines.
As an episodic series, across the first several episodes, Anna investigates a murder, a bank robbery and a missing girl. Yet the procedural is so formulaic and the twists so unbelievable that even the most lackadaisical viewer will likely solve the mysteries long before the truth is revealed. The overarching mystery of Season 1, which involves Anna’s late husband’s unsolved murder, barely intrigues, even though Anna’s fragmented memories and nightly nightmares continually haunt her.
“Anna Pigeon” is not a complete lost cause; it expands in Episode 5, “The Rope,” when Anna finds herself trapped in a cave. The story continues into Episode 6, “There’s Always a Road,” and uncovers a much bigger conspiracy than the law enforcement ranger could have anticipated. Stepping outside of the episodic nature of the show, these two episodes hone in on a subplot that’s been blossoming since the series opener. The exquisite scenery is also one of the show’s biggest pulls. Shot on location in Alberta, Canada, the blooming grasslands, breathtaking sunrises, glistening rivers and immense mountaintops are characters in their own right, often pulling audiences in when the storyline itself is drastically lacking.
At its core, “Anna Pigeon” has an interesting premise: a grieving woman leaves her life in the big city behind for a completely different experience. However, viewers are already familiar with this story. The premise of Netflix’s “Virgin River” and The CW’s “Sullivan’s Crossing” are nearly identical. These shows stand out because they have a heartwarming coziness bringing audiences in. Though the USA Network has much more crime and mystery at its center, it’s nowhere near punchy enough to be truly enthralling. As beloved as Nevada Carr’s novels are, it’s clear something was lost in translation.
“Anna Pigeon” debuts Aug. 7 on USA Network, with the remaining episodes airing weekly on Fridays.