61st Street Episode 3 is the third instalment of an American legal drama television series created by Peter (Your Honor) Moffat that premiered on AMC. The TV series follows Moses Johnson, a promising high school athlete, who is swept up into the infamously corrupt Chicago criminal justice system. (IMDb)
S P O I L E R S
Entitled “Barefoot and Dangerous”, 61st Street Episode 3 focuses its attention on two protagonists who will likely be driving the contrasting narratives in the episodes to come. First, we have Franklin Roberts (Courtney B. Vance), Moses Johnson’s lawyer, whose life is complicated by his cancer diagnosis and his wife’s political venture. Secondly, we have Johnny Logan (Mark O’Brien), the partner of deceased cop Mike Rossi, who has the weight of investigating possible police corruption on his shoulders.
READ OUR REVIEW OF 61ST STREET.
In these two protagonists, we can slowly begin to see writer Moffat’s double pronged attack on the systemic injustice that plagues Chicago. For Roberts, it will be the understanding that for an African-American, the very act of running away from the police is justifiable self-defence and for Logan, it is the very real probability that the Chicago police force is corruptly favouring one gang over the other.
In the context of these heavy plot points and thematic issues, the performances of the cast is nothing less than exemplary. The interactions between the two sides demonstrates a powder keg scenario that is always on the verge of explosion. Thus far, the series does a good job in letting the issues and themes play out without having to be too heavy handed. The audience is able to pick up on these plot points without too much preaching from the script or the characters.
61st Street Episode 3 is certainly picking up momentum at the right time. Highly recommended!
Now showing on AMC.
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