Conviction - Pilot- Review:'Why be the fox when you can be the wolf '

There has been a lot of hype about Hayley Atwell’s return to tv though sadly it’s not in the role most wanted. Agent Carter despite the will of fans was not picked up for another season.

This time, Hayley Atwell plays Hayes Morrison more of an anti-heroine which seems to be a big draw for audiences given the success of shows like Jessica Jones (which co-creator Liz Friedman worked on).
In fact, when we first meet Hayes she is in prison for cocaine possession.
A deal is struck with DA Connor Wallace (Eddie Cahill), he wants her to run his new unit called the Conviction Integrity Unit, its aim, to look back at cases where the system may have put the wrong person in Jail.
The DA wants a clean house and is open to using a little blackmail to get Hayes mind and her reputation on board. As well as being a bit of a bad girl, she is also the former first daughter and has made getting up to no good an art form something the press loves. Her mother is currently running for senate and seems to want to try and keep Hayes in line in return for padding Wallace’s own political career.

Hayes has a presence which is mainly due to Atwell who seems to draw you into whatever role she plays. Gone is her natural British accent which to be fair I think they could have kept and explained away with a British boarding school, (St Trinian’s seems to pop into mind) quite fitting for the character she portrays. I actually was impressed with her accent and probably would be none the wiser if I did not know.
Hayes is the sort of character that by rights you really shouldn’t find yourself liking so instantly, concealing her emotions behind witty barbs, throwing money at something or going for the shock factor. However, you soon learn she is brilliant and the right choice for the head of the CIU despite her chequered past.

The other members of the Conviction Investigation Unit are Maxine Bohen (Merrin Dungey) and Ex-Cop who instantly clashes with Hayes. I loved the spark off each other between these two and the look Maxine gives Hayes when she offers to show her boobs!
Sam Spencer (Shawn Ashmore) who was promised the job before Hayes got the position, a former prosecutor that also has his own agenda.
Franklin ‘Frankie ‘Cruz (Manny Montana) and ex – con now the forensic expert, who’s past in prison seems to have a lot more to reveal in the future.
Tess Larson (Emily Kinney) the paralegal but also with past that is in connection to the type of cases the CIU investigate. Make up the rest of the team and each has their own baggage as well as skills .

At first Hayes brushes in with a could not care less attitude, leaving them with the same impression they had already formed of her spoilt, rich and entitled.
The DA wants a win and she soon finds a case that will give them instant recognition and publicity for the unit if its proved he did do it.

The case a young African American male convicted of killing his girlfriend. So far he has been in prison 8 years for the murder. They only get 5 days for each case and the clock is ticking.
The problem with this one is that there was a witness who placed him at the scene, a cop who is unwilling to give them the notes as the witness is now deceased and a diary where the victim has written repeatedly he scares me.

The team goes back and forth on whether he is guilty or innocent.
Along with a few hurdles and all Hayes efforts to get out of her new job she comes through and gets them together to work the angles.
They soon unravel the prosecution’s case piece by piece leaving very little doubt he couldn’t have been there at the time. Hayes works out the victim’s diary entries were code HE wasn’t he but the initials of someone she was scared of. A visit to HE ‘s old girlfriend and the original murder weapon is uncovered giving the unit its first success.

Nothing about the case was as exciting as you would hope for a pilot but scenes between the key characters are what made it shine. However, the countdown shots using crime photos and the back and forth make it very captivating viewing.You soon become invested in the characters as well and are left with a cliff-hanger involving each of them at the end knowing each has their own story to tell.

My favourite scene was Hayes and her Mother (Bess Armstrong) at the event When Hayes and her Mother talk you actually understand why Hayes does what she does, it’s like any child pushed into the limelight. Her outrageous behaviour was a cry for attention which leads her down a destructive path and you feel this may be her last chance.( It played like a scene from and 80's blockbuster novel, not so subtle reference to Bess Armstrong in a previous role). I can't wait for more scenes between these to as its clear Hayes is as strong minded as her Mother.

Hayes is someone you come to realise isn’t going down without a fight and now with a win under her belt she confronts DA Wallace saying she isn’t afraid to expose them all. I love the speech she gives him at the end just before walking out his office , he asks her what she wants.

Hayes: “to right the wrongs, to fight the power, to stick it to the man. Why be guarding the hen house when you can be the wolf who mauls the fox and anyone else who gets in her way “

Conviction I feel like Hayes Morrison could be around for a while . I for one can’t wait to see what skeletons she unearths no doubt giving the DA Wallace a few headaches.


So were you convinced by conviction?

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About the Author - Zandarl

Zandarl a Writer and avid TV and film buff ,once described as a wilful hedonist, has travelled all over and lived in the states for a short time. Now based in the UK she attends cons when able and meets stars from her favourite shows .Her first start in fandom was Xena and since then has admired tv shows that portray strong women. Her current favorites being Rizzoli and Isles and Once Upon a Time as well as anything comic book related. A regular movie goer she watches most genres but never ask her to watch a horror movie.

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