Dex Parios has a problem: she’s locked in her boot. Actually she has three problems, the other two are driving her car, discussing coffee. Only a terrible mix tape, a fire extinguisher and her PTSD can save her now.

Greg Rucka and Matthew Southworth’s comic series is tremendous, crumpled fun and from the moment the opening scene described above hits, you know Dex is in good (or in this case the right kind of bad hands), jumping back three days to explain how she got there. Cobie Smulders is note perfect as this Rockford for the 21st century, equal parts Jack Reacher-esque hyper competent and just a hot mess of hangover, bad car, military training and PTSD. Dex is brilliant, dogged, tough and endlessly concerned with doing the right thing. There’s a moment here where she shows such extraordinary courage it will break your heart. She doesn’t leave the episode with much to show for it, but the final sequence tells us everything we need. Dex, newly in control of her car, Queen of her broken world, leading the cops to the bad guys at precisely the right time. It may not be pretty, and it isn’t, but this is how she works.

That relaxed, cheerfully slightly brutal edge gives the show a style and voice all its own. Its helped immeasurably by the amazing cast, especially Jake Johnson as Dex’s best friend and Cole Sibus as her brother, Ansel. Ansel’s Down Syndrome is never presented as anything other than a part of who he is. There’s no tokenism, no special plot powers, he’s just Ansel. And Ansel, with his love of soccer and deep-seated, fundamental decency is the heart of the show and it’s battered, self-loathing, crumpled heroine.

Elsewhere, the always great Camryn Manheim and Michael Ealy, Ealy especially, have colossal fun as the PPD detectives continually crossing paths with Dex. But Tantoo Cardinal steals the show as Sue Lynn Blackbird, Dex’s almost mother-in-law, client and somewhere between a friend, a patron and her worst enemy. Sue Lynn has a specific gravity that drags the entire city back to her and the complex knot of grief, recrimination and rage that ties her and Dex together looks set to power the show’s narrative spine.

Verdict: Dex’s life is a mess but her show is an absolute joy. Shabby, crumpled, and with a heart of gold. Don’t miss it. 10/10

Alasdair Stuart