Your Honor is an American crime drama-thriller web television series developed by Peter Moffat. It stars Bryan Cranston, Hunter Doohan, Hope Davis, Sofia Black-D'Elia, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Michael Stuhlbarg, and Carmen Ejogo in main roles. It has a total of 10 episodes of 1 hour each and was premiered on December 6th, 2020 on Showtime and is also now available on Voot.
Michael Desiato (Bryan Cranston) is a reputed and honored judge and his 17 years old son Adam (Hunter Doohan) studying in high school suffers from asthma. On his mother's death anniversary, he visits the place where his mom was murdered. But he panics seeing a gang following him and he drives away. He's having his asthma attack and is unable to find his inhaler, his condition worsens and while finding his inhaler, he hits Rocco Baxter (Benjamin Wadsworth) accidentally who was riding his new bike. Adam freaks out seeing Rocco choking on his own blood and struggling for his life. He calls 911 but says nothing and he just leaves. He confesses everything in front of his father and when he learns that the boy his son killed is the younger son of Jimmy Baxter (Michael Stuhlbarg) and Baxter family is reputed to have a long history in organized crime, how far a judge will go to save his son, breaking all the laws?
Based on the 2017 Israeli TV series Kvodo or Your Honor, this American adaptation is far too stretched and too unreal. The show opens on an arresting note, a fully dark and grim world has been created, where Michael jogs in the dawn and the most crucial scene in the series is the hit and run. It's truly enthralling and stirring, the haunting background music and the blood, it's incredible and builds up the base amazingly. Though you'll find Adam's action childish, running his hand through almost everything on the crime scene, despite that, the sequence is remarkably well done.
Last year we saw an Indian adaptation of this Israeli series starring Jimmy Shergill as the judge. With 12 episodes running 30-35 minutes each, the series was crisp, fast-paced, and keeps you on the edge. The makers kept everything very straightforward but this adaptation is far too lengthy and the middle 4-5 episodes bore you yet at least it is watchable. Michael Desiato is an honorable judge but to save his only son what he does, that's what builds the crux of the show, which might feel too convenient and silly sometimes seeing how others are falling for it, it will keep you interested.
Though Adam dealing with his mom's death and grief has been showing too much, like bonding with Rocco's sister Fia (Lilli Kay) who both lost someone they loved and sharing everything with his teacher girlfriend Frannie (Sofia Black-D'Elia) who is planning to join Adam in NYU. The series is as said is longer than required, but is packed with politics, racial discrimination, brutality, power exploitation and is the story of a father who is going against all rules, doing terrible things just to protect his son. "Justice and principle? Do you think either of those takes precedence over the life of your own child?" - says, Michael.
Bryan Cranston is brilliant as usual in this role of a judge. He's shown crossing every limit but at one scene breaks down saying the pressure is too much, it is like 100,000 pounds of steel is pressing down on his shoulders. His expressive face says everything, his manipulation, his helplessness, his risk. Michael Desiato is just another version of his character Walter White from Breaking Bad and he's amazing. Hunter Doohan also shines emoting the grief and sadness and maybe this justifies the unreal actions of this 17 years old boy. Michael Stuhlbarg as Jimmy Baxter and Hope Davis as his monstrous wife Gina leaves their mark. Sofia Black-D'Elia as Frannie, Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Charlie, Carmen Ejogo as Lee Delamere, Lilli Kay as Fia Baxter, Amy Landecker as Nancy Costello, and Jimi Stanton as Carlo Baxter and others have given their best.
The cinematography by James Friend, John Lindley, and Richard Rutkowski is breathtaking. The darkness and the horror of the world have been beautifully captured, the greyish hue also enhances the mood of the drama. The production design by Scott P. Murphy is terrific and the music by Volker Bertelmann is also effective and moving. It gives the chills and suit the drama. The editing could have been sharper.
Overall, the American version of Your Honor is not that good but it's watchable. It's all because of the intriguing premise, yes it is not interesting as Breaking Bad but somehow it keeps you hooked, even you think whatever is happening is just baloney, you'll want to find out did Michael saved his son. Stream it, it's long and becomes too talky sometimes, but you'll find it captivating as it has more to say and show, apart from asking "Is Michael right? Wouldn't you have done the same thing?".
Rating:- 3/5
Now streaming on Showtime and Voot.
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