Unraveling the Sophomore Season of TNT’s Murder in the First
As we approach the end of the second season of TNT’s Murder in the First, we’ve witnessed a comprehensive main arc and several intriguing subplots. Having missed my review last week due to a much-needed vacation, I’ll be discussing both the antepenultimate and penultimate episodes of the show’s sophomore season. Although these two episodes differ in their approach, they both possess strong elements that contribute to the overall narrative.
Recapping the Latest Episodes
In the last two weeks on Murder in the First, the trial of Dustin Maker continues to unfold. The DA argues for the death penalty, while the defense attorneys use Dustin’s abusive past to claim that his life should be spared. Meanwhile, Terry and Hildy collaborate with Junior to bring down the union. In the second episode, the money trail leads Terry and Hildy to some unexpected places as they work to stop the union. Molk can no longer avoid mixing business with pleasure, and Suger’s men begin to lose faith in him.
As we reach this point in the second season, I find myself torn. On one hand, there is a fantastic, well-acted drama series with characters that feel real and grounded. There are no caricatures in this show. On the other hand, I feel like the series could be wasting potential by being so straightforward. Last season, the answers were satisfying because everything else seemed like intentional misdirection. It was clever. This season, however, feels like it may be headed down the same path, but the multiple plot threads are weighing it down slightly. It would be a nice touch if they’re all connected, but that seems less and less likely. The finale appears to contain three separate resolutions, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.
Would Binge-Watching Improve the Experience?
I believe this show might be better suited for binge-watching. If it were on Netflix or a similar streaming platform, the straightforward, serialized storytelling style of Murder in the First might be easier to digest and enjoy. Perhaps an arrangement like the one NBC did with Aquarius would work? I don’t prefer to watch every series this way, but at times, this show seems like it could benefit from it. Don’t get me wrong, I think this is a great show with a (mostly) compelling story, but waiting week to week for the plot to advance just a little can be a bit aggravating. I’ve been pondering this throughout the season, but these two episodes did a decent job of separating the different plot threads, making for a more interesting viewing experience when going week to week.
Strong Performances and Twists Keep Us Engaged
Overall, “Nothing But The Truth” and “Down Time” were well-constructed as part of a whole. One focused on the trial and the other on police corruption, but they still managed to intertwine their different sequences just enough. Taye Diggs and Kathleen Robertson’s performances grow stronger with each episode, and their excellent acting combined with chemistry makes the show much more enjoyable to watch. I also appreciate these two episodes starting to twist and turn a little more. I’m holding out hope that there will be a bigger twist or two in the finale, but given the straightforward nature of this show, well…who knows?
This review might seem critical, but I know a good show when I see it. I only critique things that are worth critiquing, meaning I am invested and would like them to show continued improvement. Serialized cop shows aren’t something that come around too often, but Murder in the First is a compelling one.
What did you guys think of these episodes? Let us know in the comments!
The season two finale of Murder in the First airs Monday, August 24th, at 10/9c on TNT.
[Photo via TNT]
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