[s1e4] Training Day -

In this episode, Frank’s quest for revenge threatens to blow an FBI agent's undercover operation against the same group of killers. This structure emphasizes the show's recurring theme of Frank’s paternalistic, if morally gray, relationship with his community—positioning him as a classic, "old-school" lawman rather than a purely corrupt figure.

Critics at Salon.com argued that Bill Paxton's portrayal of Frank Roarke felt more like a "stubbly faced guy with an overemphasized cowboy swagger" than a truly engaging or complex anti-hero. [S1E4] Training Day

Overall, while the episode provides the high-energy action expected of the genre, it largely serves as a "carbon copy" of tired cop show tropes rather than recapturing the excellence of its namesake. "Training Day" Code of Honor (TV Episode 2017) - IMDb In this episode, Frank’s quest for revenge threatens

Reviewers from The Hollywood Reporter noted that while the episode features a "ballsy and silly" fight scene involving a yakuza sword and a metal baseball bat, it failed to show significant plot progression or character improvement from the pilot. Overall, while the episode provides the high-energy action

Critics generally found the episode—and the series as a whole—to be a "hackneyed" copy of standard police procedurals that lacked the grit and nuance of the original 2001 film.

The writing was often criticized for relying on platitudes rather than convincing dialogue, making many characters feel like "cardboard cut-outs".