Conviction (2016)

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Season 1
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 3, 2016
Metascore
45

Mixed or average reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 25
  3. Negative: 9 out of 25
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Where To Watch

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Critic Reviews

  1. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    Oct 3, 2016
    37
    There are twists and turns, as you’d expect, but few of them are any more believable than the characters, who feel like empty vessels into which traits and quirks have been randomly poured.
  2. The Wrap
    Reviewed by: Amber Dowling
    Oct 3, 2016
    30
    [Conviction] is a mess from beginning to end, full of clichéd characters and confusing rules.
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Neil Genzlinger
    Oct 3, 2016
    30
    The cases are unsurprising, the central characters’ back stories are contrived, and the show’s efforts to be sexy and saucy are clumsy.
  5. Philadelphia Daily News
    Reviewed by: Ellen Gray
    Oct 3, 2016
    30
    IF House of Cards and Scandal didn't convince you that Hollywood has mixed feelings about political wives with their own political ambitions, you should check out ABC's Conviction. Beyond that, I can't think of a reason to bother.
  6. The Salt Lake Tribune
    Reviewed by: Scott D. Pierce
    Sep 30, 2016
    30
    There are worse things on TV than Conviction, but this is a waste of time and talent.
  7. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Reviewed by: Gail Pennington
    Oct 3, 2016
    25
    The plot is ridiculous, the writing is bad and Atwell seems embarrassed to be there.
  8. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Sep 30, 2016
    25
    An overheated, overwritten and implausible story.
  9. Cleveland Plain Dealer
    Reviewed by: Mark Dawidziak
    Oct 14, 2016
    20
    Coercion might be the only way to get an audience for this incredibly labored legal drama.
  10. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    Sep 28, 2016
    20
    A law procedural so paint-by-numbers it's like everybody gave up halfway through and added terrible colors out of boredom.

Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Most Discussed TV Season of 2016

User Reviews

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User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 61 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 61
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 61
  3. Negative: 18 out of 61
  1. oceano1641
    Oct 3, 2016
    1
    the first half hour could not hear dialogue! All you could hear was music. Not great for me! it was a complete disappointment have no ideathe first half hour could not hear dialogue! All you could hear was music. Not great for me! it was a complete disappointment have no idea what the story line is. Not impressed!… Full Review »
  2. sakharv
    Jan 22, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. 1) It is a female lead show. Not many of those on air.
    2) Hayes is privileged, yet objective on controversial issues. Both are requirements for her job as head of the CIU. And although she is considered flawed and destructive and problematic, her objectiveness and vulnerability (which in my opinion originated in her privileged, yet overexposed childhood) redeem her.
    3) The CIU is not a fictional unit. It exists in certain cities throughout the country. People should know about this fact.
    4) The show brings diversity in many regards. And I for one love that Hayes is bi (and this fact was stated in a very casual, matter-of-factly way, as it should be). Plus Hayes and Maxine have developed a good friendship. And so have Tess and Frankie.
    5) Tess has questioned her white privilege on multiple occasions. I think that makes her a fantastic role model. And we need more episodes to see that Matty actually forgave Tess (and that forgiveness is possible in such life-altering situations).
    6) Frankie portrays that people can reform after a conviction. A prison sentence does not define a person. Human beings are multi-faceted, complex individuals who can change and improve.
    7) And above all, the show brings up controversial issues that many people don’t often think about or purposefully overlook because those issues don’t affect their daily lives.    … Full Review »
  3. JennetP
    Oct 4, 2016
    5
    This show is all over the place. Take the writing: one moment fresh and clever, the next a pile-up of clumsy exposition and pop-psychologicalThis show is all over the place. Take the writing: one moment fresh and clever, the next a pile-up of clumsy exposition and pop-psychological cliches. The impression is of a writer's room staffed by one prodigy from the Iowa Writer's Workshop and a half-dozen "party school" dropouts who managed to fail their "cake" courses because they could not bear to leave their television sets. The premise--wayward celebrity genius helms Innocence Project wannabe--is great but mired in the melodramatic back-stories of everyone on (or involved with) the legal team. So there's not much airtime left for cases, which means they have to be simple and straightforward, so cue another round of cliches. Yes, Hayley Atwell is as good as everyone says, and I'll probably stick around for a while just to watch her work. But unless the series shuffles its priorities--and the writing staff--I can't imagine making it through even one season.… Full Review »
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