Ep 1. Pilot

Pilot, the first episode of Conviction Season 1, opens with Hayes Morrison, a former First Daughter, and daughter of a former President, being blackmailed by the New York District Attorney's office. They want her to head a newly-formed Conviction Integrity Unit, which is tasked with investigating cases where there’s evidence of a wrongful conviction.

Hayes, played by the talented Hayley Atwell, is a tough, no-nonsense woman with a reputation for being a party girl, thanks to the media frenzy that surrounded her during her father's presidency. She is presented as someone who’s always been accustomed to getting her way and is initially reluctant to accept the job. After all, it’s only been three years since she left her last job as a defense attorney and she’s happiest when she’s surfing.

The pilot sets up a wonderful cast of characters in Hayes' team. First, there’s Maxine, played by the equally talented Merrin Dungey, who is Hayes’ right-hand woman. She’s not too thrilled about working with Hayes and often clashes with her, but she’s fiercely loyal to the cases they're investigating. Then there’s Sam, played by Shawn Ashmore, who’s the guy with the muscle. He’s also a former cop and has a slight crush on Hayes, but she’s oblivious to it. Frankie, played by actress Manny Montana, is a quirky investigator who sometimes gets too absorbed in his work.

The first case that the team tackles is that of a young man, Earl Slavitt, who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend fifteen years ago. They have a week to investigate the case before Earl’s sentence is up. The team soon realizes that the evidence that led to the conviction was circumstantial, and there might have been a cover-up by law enforcement. The pilot does a great job, showing how the team pieces together what might have actually happened and how they navigate their way through bureaucratic red tape.

One of the strengths of the show is its balance between the case-of-the-week format and the overarching story of Hayes’ troubled past. In Pilot, we learn that Hayes has a complicated relationship with her mother, who disapproved of her wild ways during her father’s presidency. Despite that, she still wants her mother to support her, and the latter is more interested in using Hayes’ position to curry favor with the current administration. Hayes is also dealing with a drinking problem, which is something that the DA’s office can use against her.

Pilot sets up the basic framework of the show, but what makes Conviction so interesting is how it examines the criminal justice system from a unique perspective. The show is not your typical procedural, and the team’s investigations have a ripple effect on their personal lives. The characters are three-dimensional, and the show does a great job of showing how they work together despite their differences.

Overall, Pilot is a strong opening of a fantastic show. It does an excellent job of setting up the premise and introducing the main characters. The case-of-the-week format, mixed with the show’s overarching themes, make it must-watch television for fans of crime dramas. Hayes Morrison is a compelling character with a lot of baggage, and watching her grow throughout the show’s thirteen episodes is a treat.