Get ready for a real discussion about race. “American Crime,” a new ABC drama written, directed and produced by Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridley (“12 Years a Slave”), delves into race relations and racial tensions all throughout the pilot episode. It is provocative in its content and its intention. It serves as a way to discuss these issues through the show’s characters, their relations with each other, and how they are treated by one another. And it also makes a statement about race relations in America: We may not be as advanced as we’d like to think we are.
The pilot episode centers on a horrific crime: the murder of a young (white) war veteran found dead in his home, where his wife was also attacked and sexually assaulted. She remains in critical condition, barely hanging on. The parents of the murder victim come to town to identify his body and search for justice. The police have a lead and track down four people related to the crime. But what happened to the young couple may not be as black and white as it appears. New information eventually comes to light about the couple themselves that may challenge previous notions of the case.
This drama is gritty in its visual approach. It delves into the rough lives of a drug-addicted biracial couple who desperately needs their next fix yet has no money to buy it. It follows a tattooed Hispanic man with ties to the drug trade. We see people doing drugs, being beaten and trying to stay afloat.
We also see families: the families of the victims who each have their own way of dealing with what’s happened. Felicity Huffman and Timothy Hutton give great performances as the divorced parents of the murdered man. They have their own difficult and complicated history that adds layers to dealing with this loss. I especially loved a scene between the two of them where we learn what broke up their family and how it affected the children. Huffman’s character still holds a lot of resentment toward her ex-husband. The life she and her two boys had to live because of his choices was difficult, surrounded by poverty. She also harbors bitterness towards the minorities who didn’t treat them well. When her ex-husband explains that police were looking for a Hispanic male in the crime, she automatically jumps to the conclusion it was an “illegal.”
The other family we see is a single-parent Hispanic family where the dad is trying hard to raise his children right. He is strict, and they rebel against his tight reigns. When the young son gets in over his head and ends up with ties that lead to the events of the crime, he is questioned by police. His father is horrified and angry. How he deals with the son in the presence of the police (both earlier and later) is very interesting. I thought Benito Martinez was wonderful as the father.
In addition to race, this series will exam the roles of family, faith, gender and class in our society, and our preconceptions of them. And you will see each person’s situation from their point of view – a purposeful decision meant to offer perspectives you don’t normally see. You will see the point of view of the victims and their families, but also the accused. That way, you are more likely to feel for the plight of the methheads or wonder why police shot the man without a gun. You will get more context on the people charged with the crime and their lives. That is one way the drama challenges perceptions. In the end, the crime will present connections between victims, suspects and their families.
Of all the mid-season dramas I’ve seen so far, this is by far the best. It is well thought out and well produced. The characters are interesting, the acting is great, and the situations are interesting enough to make you wonder about all of the players. The pilot hooked me and made me wonder what is going to happen next. Plus, the topic is timely and relevant.
But it does prompt one big question: Will people want to listen? Will people want to see a drama about an issue that can be hard to talk about on a real level? Will they want to see the grittiness of people living in poverty and struggling to survive? This is not a series that will give viewers a fun, hour-long escape. Instead, it will capture you and make you pay attention. But will people want to pay attention? The content is heavy and weighty so I could see how it might get hard to watch. I’m not sure if that will end up turning off viewers. Only time will tell. We will have to wait and see. But one thing’s for sure: This is a drama that definitely has something to say. And it is willing to push boundaries to say it.
“American Crime” premieres Thursday, March 5 at 10/9c on ABC. After watching the pilot, make sure to come back to SpoilerTV to share your thoughts.
Are you looking forward to "American Crime?" If so, tell us why. Do you think people will tune in? Join our discussion in the comments below.
