61st Street Episodes 1 & 2 are the first instalments 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
61st Street Episode 1 & 2 set up the background for the legal drama that is to come. Anyone familiar with the US criminal justice system would recognise the sadly common situation that Johnson finds himself in. Wrong place at the wrong time. On his way home, Johnson notices that his younger brother Joshua being hassled by a corner street gang. Johnson tries to help but is caught in a Chicago police raid on the gang. Johnson unwisely makes a run for it and in the ensuing chase, a police officer is accidentally killed. Johnson thens goes into hiding as the Chicago conducts a massive manhunt to capture him.
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61st Street Episode 1 & 2 also introduces us to Franklin Roberts (Courtney B. Vance), a frustrated criminal lawyer who is ultimately the main character of the series as he seeks to defend Johnson at his murder trial. Roberts has serious health issues, and he has an autistic son – and he is sufficiently motivated to go to the wall to prove Johnson’s innocence.
There is also the backdrop of police corruption, headed by Lt. Tardelli (Holt McCallany), who is seen at the beginning of the series denying a promotion to Officer Rossi – the cop who is killed later – due to that officer’s refusal to be a dirty cop. His partner, Logan, discovers that Rossi was wearing a wire the day he was killed and will no doubt find himself in a conflicted position down the line.
61st Street Episode 1 & 2 is a promising start. Recommended.
Now showing at AMC.
… still there’s more …