Conviction Review: #StayWoke (Season 1 Episode 6)
Conviction Season 1 Episode 6, “#StayWoke,” really pushes the envelope when it comes to current problems with racism in this world.
So many people think and feel like we’ve come so far when it comes to racism and racial injustice, but that is far from the truth and Conviction has viewers get just a little taste of that in this episode.
The case against Porscha Williams sets an example as to what many POC deal with when it comes to the law and conviction of crimes. People don’t like to think that race plays a part in the sentence, but ultimately it does.
This episode has, by far, been my favorite one.
Not only does it keep viewers interested and glued to the TV, but it also informs on the many struggles that POC go through on a daily basis when it comes to discrimination.
Please note that I, a white male, am not insinuating that I know anything first-hand about what POC go through every day. I do my part by staying informed and helping fight injustice where I can, but I don’t have to deal with discrimination on a daily basis and in no way want you to think that I am talking from first-hand experience.
This case is what makes the show finally dive in on Maxine’s past and her current situation as a police officer fighting for what’s right and what’s wrong. She keeps asking herself if she is truly on the right side of this race war when it comes down to it, and with a little help from her father she gets some guidance.
This big topic also brings some major character storyline reveals such as Maxine’s drug addiction, and Tess’s self-guilt when it comes to wrongfully convicting a man and putting him behind bars for five years.
Tess proves just how far she’s come when she opens up and discusses what happened to her aunt with Frankie. She also explains how she played a significant role in wrongfully convicting Matty (the guy she thought killed her aunt) by not picking out the right person because they looked alike.
That alone is what made her work so hard through law school, so she could grow up and be the person who helps make things right and uphold the law. Ever since then she stops by Matty’s coffee shop, one day hoping to have enough courage to speak out and apologize for what she did.
This episode of Conviction is the season’s best and makes me hope that they do get picked up for a season 2 eventually.
Other Thoughts:
- Another important factor that this show has that not many people have been talking about is the fact that Hayes Morrison is openly bisexual and doesn’t hide it. During this episode, she embraces the relationship she had with Naomi and even tries to get back with her.
- Representation of bisexual characters is a hard thing to come by in 2016, primarily a bisexual lead character who is open about it. Out of the thousands of TV shows on the air right now I can think of maybe six that feature bisexual characters.
- I look forward to the episode where Tess finally has the courage, to tell the truth to Matty and explain how sorry she is for what she did. She was twelve after all.
What did you think of this episode of Conviction? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Conviction airs Mondays at 10/9c on ABC.
Cade Taylor
Cade Taylor is a television and film critic living in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV. His love for television developed at a young age, with a concentration on queer stories, sitcoms, teen dramas, and science fiction thrillers. In addition, he works full-time as a news producer, telling the stories of Missourians and helming "Produced in the Bi-State," a segment spotlighting actors, musicians, and entertainers from the St. Louis area. He can be reached by email at cade@telltaletv.com.