Critic Reviews

Explosive and appalling, 61st Street tears off its mundane outer wrappings to reveal foundation garments of pure steel.

“61st Street” doesn’t make any transgressive choices in its approach to story, style, and/or structure in order to separate itself from the assembly line of similar shows. ... But the bravado performances from its starring cast, and straightforward, non-sensationalized handling of the story — both in the writing and directing — should appeal to hopeful viewers looking for signs of morality and bravery especially within the main branches of government.

It doesn't always want viewers to like what they're seeing and doesn't seem to care whether they do or not. But it does want them to at least think about what they're seeing. ... Hard to watch, but well-worth watching.

While the writing can sometimes be heavy-handed and a bit too preoccupied with making grand statements, the scenarios outlined in “61st Street” have a ring of authenticity and familiarity, the dialogue can be pinpoint accurate at times—and the cast is absolutely sensational, with Courtney B. Vance, Aunjanue Ellis, Tosin Cole and Holt McCallanay all turning in nomination-worthy performances.

The intersecting storylines hold enough interest to pull you through the odd cliche and the occasional thesis line. And Vance, as a modest soul trying to outrun any number of clocks, really is a marvel.

The ticking clocks of Moses’ eroding confidence, the case evolving in more urgently dangerous ways, and Franklin’s dismal cancer diagnosis combine to keep “61st Street” moving, propulsive and palpably stressful. Vance might not have as many explosive moments in this series’ first several episodes as he has in other productions; he doesn’t even get a real courtroom scene until the season’s almost through. But he nevertheless imbues his performance with a singular gravity that makes clear Franklin’s resolve to make things right, no matter how steep the hill to get there.

A watchable blend of provocative ideas, a semi-vivid setting and one narrative trope after another that feels lifted from one prestige TV show after another, overlaid one on top of the other so that moral murkiness and narrative cacophony go hand-in-hand.

We’re giving a recommendation of 61st Street mostly for the performances of Vance and Ellis. But we’re definitely concerned that the show will lean too hard on things we’ve seen in this genre too many times already to say anything new.

We’d like to think that without the heavy-handed style, with more subtlety, more trust in the audience to get it, even more gray areas, 61st Street really could have really connected.

"61 Street" throws a myriad of complex arcs in the air, leaving viewers to wait for their fall before deciding whether the time invested was worth it. And while nothing in Moffat’s all-too bleak legal series offends the spirit, nothing feeds it either.