Your Honor – Season 1 Review
What would you do to save your child from near certain death?
Would you ruin your reputation?
Would you give up your career?
Would you sacrifice everything you hold near and dear?
These are the questions court judge Michael Desianto (Bryan Cranston) had to ask himself after his son, Adam (Hunter Doohan), tragically hit a motorcyclist and drove away.
Michael was prepared to do the right thing. After learning what happened he packed his son up in the car. He tried calling a lawyer and his favorite police detective but was met with voicemail boxes both times. Finally, he drove his son to the police station to turn himself in. His intentions changed, though, when he learned who his son had killed.
Jimmy Baxter (Michael Stuhlbarg) is the head of the most vicious crime family in their hometown of New Orleans. Adam hit Jimmy Baxter’s youngest son, the pride of his family.
Instantly, Michael knew that Adam turning himself in would be a death sentence for not only his own son, but likely himself too. This fear was realized soon after when Kofi Jones (Lamar Johnson), the young gang member thought to be guilty of hitting Rocco Baxter (Benjamin Wadsworth), was killed in prison. Even more brutally, nearly his entire family was blown up in their own home after a “gas leak” days later.
What ensues is Michael being put in progressively worse positions as he tries to keep his son safe. Meanwhile, Adam makes questionable choices, and a gang war threatens to break out between the Baxter’s and Desire.
My Thoughts
Wow was this a powerful season. You really feel Michael’s plight, and as he gets stretched further and further, you really feel his desperation to just survive. The show also keeps you guessing with the different power dynamics going on and you really start rooting for your favorite characters.
The show also does an awesome job paralleling Michael and Jimmy Baxter as fathers.
And OMG the ending… maybe I should have seen it coming sooner, but wow that was a surprise.
In one season, Your Honor told a cohesive and full story that was as compelling as it was tragic. I know that there’s a second season on Netflix now, but honestly I think it would have been better as a limited series with only one season. I feel like any additions can only detract from the story. I haven’t watched the second season yet though! Maybe I will stand corrected.
That’s it! Pop some popcorn and check out Your Honor on Netflix! If you enjoy crime/legal dramas, you might really like it!
