Pacific Blue

Set against the sun, sand and surf of Santa Monica and Venice Beach, Pacific Blue follows an elite LAPD bicycle patrol unit charged with keeping the coastline safe. The series mixes street-level police work and high-energy chases, showing officers who respond to robberies, drug activity and other crimes that spill into public beach life. Episodes balance stand-alone cases with the ongoing personal tensions and relationships among team members, from seasoned veterans to newer recruits. The show leans on practical stunts and location visuals, and it often contrasts the laid-back beach atmosphere with the stresses of law enforcement, without revealing major plot twists or endings.

Created by Bill Nuss and launched in 1996, Pacific Blue was filmed on location at Santa Monica and Venice Beach, giving the series an authentic West Coast feel and plenty of on-screen biking action.

The show didn’t collect major industry awards, yet it earned steady viewership during its run and helped raise the profile of several cast members, who went on to other TV and film work in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Pacific Blue left a recognizable imprint on 1990s beach-cop imagery, thanks to its frequent use of real locations, action sequences on two wheels, and a sun-soaked aesthetic. People who grew up watching it often recall the show when thinking about era-specific TV fashion, soundtrack choices, and the popularity of law-enforcement dramas set in coastal communities.

Critical response was mixed, reflected in a modest user score of 5.359 out of 10 from 92 votes. Viewers tended to appreciate the physical stunts and ensemble chemistry, while critics pointed to formulaic plots and predictable procedural beats. Main themes include teamwork under pressure, the ethics of policing in public spaces, and the contrast between beach lifestyle and criminal activity.