Common Law is an American comedy-drama television series created by Cormac and Marianne Wibberley which follows two Los Angeles Police Department homicide detectives, Travis Marks and Wes Mitchell, who can't stand each other. The constant bickering between the two partners prompts their commanding officer to send them to a couple's therapist in hopes of resolving the situation.
About the Show
Common Law is about two cops with a problem – each other.
Despite their differences, they are incredible detectives. When things come to a head during their "seven-year itch" as partners, their captain forces them into couples' therapy to save their "work marriage" and the one thing they both love – law enforcement.
The series stars Michael Ealy, Warren Kole, Jack McGee and Sonya Walger and films on location in New Orleans.
In Common Law, Travis Marks (Ealy) and Wes Mitchell (Kole) are two partners who – apart from their polarity and odd couple behaviour – have a seven-year track record as the Los Angeles Police Department's best detectives in the Robbery-Homicide Division.
Since their constant bickering is interfering with work, their new-age captain (McGee) – who found counseling changed his life – sends them to couples' therapy.
Dr. Ryan (Walger), a tough-as-nails therapist, tries to help them understand and resolve their conflicts and confront their demons in order to enhance their ability to work together solving crimes.
As Dr. Ryan explores their relationship we find out these two are birds of a feather professionally, and their personal differences actually balance them out.
Wes is a former lawyer whose sensitivity to an event in his life sparked his desire to become a cop and who sacrificed his marriage to do so. He sees things in black and white, is responsible, compulsively organised, methodical and often over thinks decisions.
Travis is a former juvenile delinquent and maverick ladies man who was has a fear of abandonment, commitment and intimacy. While he's an open book and deeply trusts his gut instincts, he's carefree, irresponsible, disorganised and doesn't play by the rules.
We soon learn that a successful relationship or partnership doesn't mean you have to like the same things; you just have to hate the same things and sometimes that makes for a stronger union.