I started watching this show on Quibi a couple of weeks ago, and it now feels incredibly resonant and timely due to the terrible events of police brutality that have lead to uprising across the globe.
As for the show itself, it certainly isn’t perfect and there have been better examinations of this topic and message, but it isn’t a bad show either. It has something very important to say and features some strong acting from the two leads, but it does not suit the ‘Quibi formula’ of movies in short chapters and would’ve been better suited as a standard film.
Stephan James and Laurence Fishburne are very much co-leads here but share little actual screen time due to how events play out, but both do great work and really make you feel the conflicts going on within both characters.
The show is packed full of tension and operates like a ticking time bomb, building to a sadly realistic and heartbreaking finale. It really shows the misguided and deep rooted fear and hatred of members of the black community that is prevalent throughout the police force and justice system, and that the whole system is set up so that positive change can never occur.
The final shot, with the screen rapidly showing up with name after name of black people who have lost their lives to the people who are supposed to protect them, was particularly moving and heartbreaking. This isn’t just a problem now, it’s been a problem for centuries and if something isn’t done, then no change will ever happen.
Rating = 3.5/5
Black Lives Matter.
Howe's World of Film and TV 