The Jury [VHS] [2002]

One of the most impressive series to appear on British television for a long time, The Jury is an invigorating shot in the arm for the crime genre. The premise is simple, focusing on the one part of the legal process that has hitherto been largely ignored: the jury. By concentrating on seven of the 12--their home lives and the pressure that such an undertaking places on them--this six-part series brings the courtroom action into sharper focus. The series revolves around the unfolding (and timely) trial of a young Sikh schoolboy accused of a racially motivated murder. Expertly steered by Derek Jacobi and Anthony Sher as the opposing lawyers, and allowed to develop over five-plus hours of screen time, the twists and turns of the case are riveting, and the outcome impossible to predict.

The seven interconnecting stories of the jurors are equally enthralling and would be more than enough to sustain most series on their own. Combine them with the courtroom action and you have a superb legal drama. But the depth of characterisation and quality of performance from all the cast is what gives The Jury its true edge. And that’s what will ensure repeated viewing even after the initial suspense of the verdict has subsided. --Phil Udell