When They See Us

When They See Us is an American crime drama television series that premiered on Netflix in 2019. The series is a thought-provoking account of real-life events that unfolded over a few decades. Directed by Ava DuVernay, it depicts the troubling true story of five teenagers of color from Harlem who were wrongly convicted of a brutal attack in Central Park.

Set in 1989, the series focuses on five young boys - Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise, collectively known as 'The Central Park Five'. The five were indicted for a heinous crime they did not commit, namely, the rape and assault of a white woman jogger in New York's Central Park. The case attracted international attention due to its racially charged narrative, the age of the boys involved, and the severe punishments meted out to them.

The series is not only a recounting of the historical judicial catastrophe but also lays limelight on the inherent biases and systemic racism prevalent within the American criminal justice system. Moreover, it highlights the incalculable personal toll that such an injustice levies on those who fall prey to it.

The four-part mini-series spans 25 years, from when the boys first got interrogated in 1989, through their exoneration in 2002, and eventually the settlement reached with the city of New York in 2014. The drama non-linearly weaves in and out of the five boys' lives, both before their conviction and after their release. With each part building upon the last, viewers are taken on an emotional roller coaster detailing the lives of these five individuals.

The first part of the series focuses on the initial stages of their case, the rushed investigations, and the manipulative interrogation tactics used by police, leading to coerced confessions. These sad and bewildering events set the tone for a legal saga filled with angst, tragedy, and disillusionment.

As the series progresses, it delves deeper into the lives of the wronged boys, literally and symbolically. It portrays a shift from their youthful innocence to grim maturity, sculpted by their traumatic encounters with the justice system and time spent in jail. It also depicts, quite poignantly, the impact their wrongful conviction has on their families and their community.

The latter parts of the series shift focus to their lives following their release. The difficulty of integrating into society after serving time for a crime they didn't commit, and the consequences suffered by them in their personal, familial, and social lives, are painfully, yet effectively painted on the screen.

The highlight of the series is the final episode that centers around Korey Wise, who being the oldest among the five, served his sentence in adult prison as opposed to Juvenile detention centers like the rest. The heart-wrenching representation of his ordeal stands as the most poignant and emotionally stirring section of the series.

Despite the series' heavy subject matter, the overarching vibrancy of its characters also conveys an underlying message of resilience and unwavering hope. It shows how the system might routinely fail particular groups of people, but the courage and tenacity of those wronged can serve as an inspiration for reform.

DuVernay masterfully narrates the whole saga with the adept skill of a seasoned filmmaker. The series is beautifully shot, superbly acted, and skillfully paced. The performances, especially from the young cast, are uniformly excellent and compelling. The pretty much unknown actors playing the young five boys bring an undeniable authenticity to their roles, whilst the faces recognizable from other series and movies add weight and depth to the storytelling.

When They See Us is a story that vitally needed to be told. It's an education, a vindication, and maybe, it can be a catalyst for a change too. It’s an exploration of a biased justice system, teenaged innocence marred by twisted investigation, and a dramatic documentation of a gross miscarriage of justice. Whatever emotion it stirs within you, it's incendiary, and it's definitively a must-watch series. This is hard-hitting television that demands to be seen, both for the painful history it depicts and the current relevance it unmistakably holds.