Ep 1. Welcome to Hell

In Contempt is a legal drama series that follows the life of a young black lawyer named Gwen Sullivan, who is fighting against the injustices of the criminal justice system in America. The show takes place in a public defender's office in Toronto, where Gwen and her team work tirelessly to defend their clients, who are predominantly people of color.

Season 1, episode 1 is titled Welcome to Hell, and it follows Gwen as she navigates her new job at the Public Defender's Office. The episode opens with Gwen joining the team on her first day on the job. She is given a tour of the office and introduced to her new colleagues, who are all seasoned lawyers with years of experience.

As Gwen settles into her new role, she quickly begins to realize the challenges she will face as a public defender. Her first case is a young black man named Brandon, who has been charged with drug possession. Despite having no prior criminal record, Brandon is facing a lengthy prison sentence because of the strict drug laws. Gwen is determined to fight for Brandon and believes that he is not guilty of the charges against him.

As Gwen works on Brandon's case, she learns that the Public Defender's Office is severely underfunded, and the workload is overwhelming. She is constantly put under pressure to take on more cases, despite already being overloaded with work. Gwen also faces discrimination and racial profiling from the police and the justice system, which makes her job even more challenging.

In addition to her professional challenges, Gwen also has to navigate personal issues, including a complicated relationship with her ex-boyfriend, who is also a lawyer. Despite their history, Gwen is still drawn to him, which complicates things even further.

As the episode progresses, tensions rise in the office as the team faces pressure from their superiors to take on more cases. Despite their passion for defending their clients, the team members are under constant stress and pressure, leading to heated arguments and conflicts.

Throughout the episode, Gwen does her best to navigate the challenges of her new job and the complexities of the criminal justice system. She is determined to fight for justice for her clients, but she realizes that the road ahead will not be easy.

Overall, Welcome to Hell sets the stage for an intense and thought-provoking series that tackles the systemic issues and injustices of the American criminal justice system. The show's engaging characters, complex relationships, and gripping storylines make for a compelling watch that is sure to captivate fans of legal dramas.