A Florida crime drama that ended on a cliffhanger, leaving its hero bleeding out.
In short: The Glades followed a cynical Chicago detective who moved to a quiet Florida town for golf, only to find the murder rate surprisingly high. After four seasons of solving cases with sharp wit and intelligence, the show was abruptly canceled, leaving viewers with a mystery that was never officially resolved.
Created by Clifton Campbell, The Glades debuted on A&E on July 11, 2010, and quickly set records for the network. Its premiere drew 3.6 million viewers, becoming the highest-rated and most-watched original drama series telecast in A&E history at the time. The series centered on Jim Longworth, a detective who relocated to the fictional town of Palm Glade after being wrongfully accused of an affair and shot by his Chicago captain. Armed with a legal settlement, he joined the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, expecting a relaxed life, but instead found himself navigating a surprisingly complex and violent environment.
The show’s ensemble cast featured Kiele Sanchez as Callie Cargill, a nursing student and mother balancing a complicated life while her husband remained in prison. Carlos Gómez played the forensic pathologist Dr. Carlos Sanchez, who often found his patience tested by Longworth’s unorthodox methods. The production was notable for being filmed exclusively in Florida, utilizing locations in the Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale metro areas, as well as a former carpet warehouse in Pembroke Park. This commitment to location filming was rare, with the show joining only two other series, Burn Notice and Retired at 35, in that distinction at the time.
Despite a 5% increase in viewership leading into its fourth season, the series was canceled in 2013. The final episode concluded with a cliffhanger showing Longworth being shot just moments before his wedding. Creator Clifton Campbell later revealed that the cancellation caught the production team by surprise. Had the show continued, the fifth season would have explored the identity of the shooter and confirmed that Longworth survived his injuries. In total, 49 episodes were produced, and while the series concluded on television, it remains available for streaming in the UK on Disney+, excluding one specific episode from the final season.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Glades (TV series)
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