“Hitchcock Did It With Psycho”

Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead for On Call!

The executive producer of the new procedural drama, On Call, explains Monica Raymund’s appearance in the premiere of the Prime Video show. Raymund, known for her role as Gabby Dawson in the One Chicago universe, made a brief but memorable cameo as Officer Delgado in the series debut. The show is Wolf Entertainment’s first half-hour procedural drama made for streaming, created by Tim Walsh and Elliot Wolf, following the lives of veteran training officer Traci Harmon (Troian Bellisario) and rookie Alex Diaz (Brandon Larracuente) as first responders in Long Beach while they navigate the aftermath of a fellow officer’s death.

Raymund’s surprise cameo left viewers reeling after her character, Officer Delgado, was killed off early in the premiere. While Raymund’s involvement first appeared to tie the show to One Chicago, Walsh clarified in an interview with TVInsider that her role served a different purpose, saying that bringing Raymund back for such a brief role was “just a bit of sleight of hand.” Read his full comments below:

Hitchcock did it with Psycho, so we thought we’d do it here on On Call. Janet Leigh gets murdered a quarter of the way in. And obviously, we don’t spend that much time with Monica, but we did want people to feel like they were going to watch a show about her, and evidently, that’s not the case.

What Raymund’s Cameo Means For On Call

It Set The Tone For The Show

Raymund’s cameo was designed to draw viewers in before turning their expectations on their heads. By including and then quickly killing off Raymund’s character, the show demonstrates the chaotic and transient nature of the situations that first responders face. This creative decision also allows the series to focus on the ensemble On Call cast and their new and complex stories, rather than focusing on one familiar face. The show avoids relying on Raymund’s famous One Chicago reputation and instead creates a standalone identity. However, Raymund’s cameo raises intriguing possibilities for the future.

The connection to the NBC franchise is not completely lost, since Elliot Wolf, son of One Chicago, Law & Order, and FBI creator Dick Wolf, is at the helm, the show carries the DNA of its predecessors, paving the way for potential crossovers with Dick Wolf’s Universe. Although Wolf previously explained that On Call was not in the same universe as his father’s franchises, he did say he was open to the idea of a potential merger. This opens the door for exciting future possibilities. If On Call continues to gain traction, a crossover event or shared universe could be a natural next step.

Our Take On Raymund’s Cameo

A Bold Beginning

On Call‘s decision to shock audiences with Monica Raymund’s cameo and early exit was a gamble that appears to have paid off. The bold choice not only drew viewers in, but it demonstrated that the show is not afraid to challenge its audience’s expectations and genre traditions. The move serves as a reminder that it aims to stand on its own two feet while paying homage to its ties with Dick Wolf’s beloved universe.

By taking a page out of Hitchcock’s book, the show seems to aim to craft a fresh narrative style, one that leaves a memorable mark on the procedural drama genre. Whether On Call joins Dick Wolf’s universe, or remains a standalone procedural, it is clear that the show is aiming to stand out from the beginning.

On Call is now available to stream on Prime Video.

Source: TVInsider