Justice
Woo-hoo, FOX has new shows. On Wednesday night, I took in the series premiere of Justice, an "unflinching, behind-the-scenes look at how high-profile cases are tried in these media-saturated times." It's executive produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and I've heard it advertised as "CSI" from the perspective of the high profile defense attorneys. I will admit there is potential for some interesting stuff here, and there were a few things that the lawyers of the firm of TNT&G did in the pilot that I liked. When I first heard of the show, my initial impression was that they would follow only one case during the season, which I could be interested in. However, thanks to the another note they hit in the commercials, I knew I would hate this show.
"Ultimately," according to the show's website, "each episode will conclude with the series' signature epilogue. In a flashback to the scene of the crime, we see what no lawyer can ever see: what really happened, and whether JUSTICE has been served."
The first "signature epilogue," it went like this. Some rich dude has been charged with bashing in his wife's skull with a golf club though no murder weapon has been found. The defense has presented its experts to show that the injuries were more consistant with a fall. The jury agreed and found him not guilty. There is rejoicing and thanks from the defendant for his lawyers, but instead of going for drinks with them to see how they were effected by the case, did they do the right thing, we are thrust backwards in time to see the defendant tucking his daughter into bed as his wife climbs out of the pool, slips, and falls just like the defense's forensics expert surmised. Hooray, JUSTICE is served.
But is it really? If the show is really about trying a case in the media, why end it with objective truth? A truth that can only take place far away from the media spotlight. But even worse, it is a truth that can never be known by the main characters? Ending an episode of a television series with a character doing something that the other characters don't know about is often a very good device. This is because we know that when the other characters do find out about it, crazy things will happen. But the very nature of the Justice signature epilogue is that the main character can never discover the truth, but it is thrust upon us.
A device like this could possibly work in way like the way the flawed but interesting film Primal Fear systematically destroys its high-profile defense attorney, ending with a shocking revelation. But as evidenced by the final look on Richard Gere's face, it was actually revealed to the attorney! And with Justice, by showing that the lawyers were indeed right, it's not trying to undercut them at all.
Please cancel this show.
"Ultimately," according to the show's website, "each episode will conclude with the series' signature epilogue. In a flashback to the scene of the crime, we see what no lawyer can ever see: what really happened, and whether JUSTICE has been served."
The first "signature epilogue," it went like this. Some rich dude has been charged with bashing in his wife's skull with a golf club though no murder weapon has been found. The defense has presented its experts to show that the injuries were more consistant with a fall. The jury agreed and found him not guilty. There is rejoicing and thanks from the defendant for his lawyers, but instead of going for drinks with them to see how they were effected by the case, did they do the right thing, we are thrust backwards in time to see the defendant tucking his daughter into bed as his wife climbs out of the pool, slips, and falls just like the defense's forensics expert surmised. Hooray, JUSTICE is served.
But is it really? If the show is really about trying a case in the media, why end it with objective truth? A truth that can only take place far away from the media spotlight. But even worse, it is a truth that can never be known by the main characters? Ending an episode of a television series with a character doing something that the other characters don't know about is often a very good device. This is because we know that when the other characters do find out about it, crazy things will happen. But the very nature of the Justice signature epilogue is that the main character can never discover the truth, but it is thrust upon us.
A device like this could possibly work in way like the way the flawed but interesting film Primal Fear systematically destroys its high-profile defense attorney, ending with a shocking revelation. But as evidenced by the final look on Richard Gere's face, it was actually revealed to the attorney! And with Justice, by showing that the lawyers were indeed right, it's not trying to undercut them at all.
Please cancel this show.
1 Comments:
i watched the pilot also. it was awful. i might try the Ron Livingston hostage show though.
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