Good Cop/Bad Cop is set in a fantasy Pacific Northwest town. However, the show was shot on location in Queensland, Australia.
The incongruous atmosphere, soggy US pines against bright Aussie scenery, worked purely through tricks of the trade! The makers turned South East Queensland's scenic towns and studios into quirky, off-kilter Eden Vale as seen on television.
For those unaware, the show revolves around a detective brother-sister duo, Lou and Henry. The synopsis as provided on Prime Video reads,
"Siblings working as detectives in a small town navigate quirky locals, limited resources, their strained relationship, and their father, who's the police chief, in this comedic crime procedural."
Converting Canungra into Eden Vale's Police Station
In Good Cop/Bad Cop, the fictional Eden Vale Police Station is really Canungra Town Hall, in Queensland's Scenic Rim district. The old, small-town feel of Canungra was perfect for transforming into a Pacific Northwest setting. American signage, a police crest, and various accents were added to the scenery by the production team to create the deception.
Recreating Pacific Pines on American high school grounds
The Good Cop/Bad Cop crew utilized Pacific Pines State High School on the Gold Coast as one of their major sets. The rugby field was equipped with gridiron posts, American flags, sports banners, vintage cars, and other items to convincingly recreate a US high school football ground.
Misty Ranges and Mount Tamborine for outdoor scenes
To make the show's atmospheric outdoors believable, Good Cop/Bad Cop was shot in the Scenic Rim hinterland, such as Mount Tambourine. Those wooded regions, with mist or thick vegetation, doubled for the Pacific Northwest forests successfully.
Production timeline
Production of Good Cop/Bad Cop kicked off in April 2024, running through several Queensland locations that year. The production created approximately 200 Queensland jobs and brought over A$14 million into the Queensland economy through Screen Queensland's investment and the state's Production Attraction Strategy.
Filming details of Good Cop/Bad Cop
Leighton Meester (Lou) worked on the Gold Coast for approximately three and a half months for the show. The cast worked around Australian idiosyncrasies, driving on the right, switching over signs locally, and even getting used to local slang.
Summary of Where Good Cop/Bad Cop Was Filmed
Good Cop/Bad Cop filming demonstrates how one area can double for a location thousands of miles distant. Through employing the diverse topography of Queensland, from the heritage town character of Canungra to the misty forests of Mount Tamborine, the production was able to create the Pacific Northwest town atmosphere without having to leave Australia.
Also read: Will there be a Good Cop/Bad Cop Season 2? Possibilities explored