Proven Innocent
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Predictable procedural has violence, innuendo, and drinking.
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What's the Story?
PROVEN INNOCENT is a dramatic series about a young Chicago lawyer committed to defend people who are unfairly convicted of crimes. Madeline Scott (Rachelle Lefevre) was 18 when she and her brother Levi (Riley Smith) were wrongfully convicted of the murder of Madeline's best friend Rosemary (Casey Tutton) by prosecutor Gore Bellows (Kelsey Grammer). Now she heads up the Injustice Defense Group, a law firm solely dedicated to the issue of wrongful convictions with her legal partner Easy Bodreau (Russell Hornsby), who is responsible for securing her freedom. Joining them is investigator Bodie Quick (Vincent Kartheiser) and communications director Violet Bell (Nikki M. James). As the forceful Madeline and her team unapologetically defend the innocent, they must contend with Bellows, who is driven to put her again behind bars. Throughout it all, Madeline is committed to finding out who Rosemary's killer really is.
Is It Any Good?
This conventional series offers all the criminal twists and legal turns one expects from legal procedurals. Madeline Scott and her team spend time investigating the investigations that led to their clients' wrongful arrests and convictions. Meanwhile, there's lots of quid-pro-quo drama, as both Smith and Gore look for ways to seek retribution against one another. Adding to the drama are the flashbacks of a younger Madeline and Levi's ordeal, which reminds viewers what's driving her. But the stories feel predictable, and as a result, Proven Innocent doesn't deliver anything particularly original.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about wrongful convictions. Did you know that an estimated 20,000 innocent people are behind bars in the United States? How do you think this has happened?
How realistic is Proven Innocent when it comes to the time and effort it takes to get someone wrongfully convicted out of prison?
TV Details
- Premiere date: February 16, 2019
- Cast: Rachelle Lafevre, Riley Smith, Kelsey Grammer
- Network: Fox
- Genre: Drama
- Character Strengths: Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: October 13, 2022
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