Pasquale Russoniello

Suspending disbelief is essential for any drama, especially a tragedy with Shakespearen dimensions as "Your Honor". At turns riveting, at other turns tragicomic, "Your Honor" disappoints more than it satisfies in the end. The plot-a father who is desperate to save the life of his teenage son who has accidentally killed the same aged son of of a New Orleans mob boss in a hit-and run, is initially heart rending as the father, Bryan Cranston insinuates himself as the driver. But dad is no ordinary father. He is a liberal judge in a New Orleans under control of same crime boss who has the police in his pocket. There’s a rival black mob who are willing to give up one of their own as the driver who allegedly stole the Judge’s car. Then the series goes haywire. The writers obviously do not believe, Black Lives Matter as all the victims - save the Judge’s sleazy blackmailer - after the killing of the crime boss’s son are black: whether tortured by the police, blown up by the mob, murdered in prison; or in the final scene, accidentally murdering the Judge’s son who had turned his guilt into wooing the only daughter of our mob boss. Got all that? The white privilege here was offensive. Also, although the acting is generally superb, Bryan Cranston chews up the scenery in his role of the good judge who broke bad. All in all, turn your attention elsewhere unless you don’t mind throwing a shoe at your TV at the ending.

Loved it, like watching a musical tucked into a satire whose truths about ambition vs. Identity are less important than the fun and pathos lavishly displayed. Ben Platt astonishes (his singing alone is worth watching) and the whole cast perfect. Addictive, had to watch all at once. And will again..