Parents' Guide to

Conviction

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Predictable procedural squanders a strong leading lady.

TV ABC Drama 2016
Conviction Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Renew Conviction S.
Renew Conviction S. Adult
February 1, 2017
age 16+

One of the best shows!

Conviction has a fantastic cast that portray a very unique ensemble of characters. Plus, the show brings up many socially relevant issues. I definitely recommend watching it.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
chris D.
chris D. Adult
October 19, 2016
age 12+

cms underappreciated this one

OK I have to say it may not be the best show ever but it is a damn good one and it's only getting better I love the lead female here she's more qualified to run the country in real life than Clinton is a sassy yet sugary sweet girl she is I she is a good influence on young girls in making yourself stand up apart from the crowd and be your own thing she is a bit more than a, get the job done type of woman, I say watch this funny smart and genuinely kickass lady

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When she's busted for cocaine possession, former First Daughter Hayes Morrison (Hayley Atwell), a Harvard-educated lawyer, reluctantly accepts an offer from the Manhattan D.A. (Eddie Cahill) to head his newly formed CONVICTION Integrity Unit, or CIU, a team tasked with reviewing old convictions -- and hopefully overturning them. She doesn't really want the job, but saying "yes" is the only thing that will keep Hayes' latest scandal from spoiling her mother's (Bess Armstrong) run for the U.S. Senate.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2):
Kids say: Not yet rated

After watching her wow audiences as über-intelligent undercover operative Agent Carter, it feels downright criminal to see Atwell wasted in this predictable procedural that lacks any real conviction. Most of the characters, including Atwell's own, feel disappointingly two-dimensional (in particular, the team of archetypal justice-seekers that comprise the CIU), and the cases they investigate aren't terribly compelling. The writing won't be winning any awards either, but at least Conviction's dialogue isn't as cringe-worthy as ABC's Notorious.

ABC explored the same topic before -- and did it far better -- with the short-lived but superior drama In Justice, which shadowed a group of dedicated attorneys and investigators (led by Kyle MacLachlan) who worked pro bono to exonerate the wrongfully convicted and make the guilty parties pay. We say it's too bad Atwell's not working with that team -- or better yet, that Agent Carter's not still on the case. This half-baked series can hardly compare.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Conviction's premise and what it suggests about the justice system. How common are wrongful convictions, why do they happen, and how can we prevent them? How realistic (or unrealistic) is Conviction's portrayal of how easy it is to overturn them?

  • How does Conviction compare with other TV procedurals? Is the show attempting anything different in terms of plot and character, or is it putting forth more of the same? More importantly, does it work?

  • How does Hayes measure up as a role model? Do her more admirable traits make up for her murky past?

TV Details

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