Your Honor
Walter White as a self-conscious judge
Judge Michael Desiato (Bryan Cranston) faces a tough decision for the good of his son (Hunter Doohan)
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Walter White is back! That is, almost. "Your Honor" confronts Bryan Cranston with a very similar moral dilemma as "Breaking Bad" once did.
Multi-layered characters who are at odds with their inner turmoil and not least the law, actor Bryan Cranston (64) simply lies. He proved that at the latest after he left the role of the idiot head of the family from "Malcolm in the Middle" behind and that of the destitute, seriously ill chemistry teacher Walter White in "Breaking Bad". In the cinema he gave impressive testimony to his drama talent – as Hollywood's persona non grata, Dalton Trumbo in the film of the same name "Trumbo". A role for which he was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe in 2016.
Cranston also remains true to this recipe for success in the ten-part new miniseries "Your Honor", which will be shown on demand from January 18 with the Sky Ticket streaming service. And that although the fronts of the judiciary seem to be clearly defined in it. Because Cranston plays a judge in the thriller series who has put himself fully in the service of justice. At least until a member of his family threatens to end up in front of the bench – or worse …
An impossible decision – that's what it's about
It is a split second that throws the life of the entire family of the liberal judge Michael Desiato (Cranston) off track. His son Adam (Hunter Doohan) shows up at home covered in blood. A little later he confesses to his father that he killed a young man in a traffic accident and then hit and run. No doubt the righteous lawyer will report this incident even though the perpetrator is his own flesh and blood, right?
In addition to the judge's bias, there is, however, another problem. The victim of the accident turns out to be the son of the infamous gang boss Jimmy Baxter (Michael Stuhlbarg, 52), who swears bloody revenge. "Whoever you are. Wherever you are. You will be found," whispers Baxter into a television camera. To hand over his son Adam to the authorities would therefore be tantamount to a death sentence – and Desiato cannot and does not want to pass this judgment.
Not a stupid judicial drama
"Your Honor" is based on the critically acclaimed Israeli series "Kvodo". The nerve-wracking trailer for the mini-series produced by Showtime agrees that this is not a judicial drama that takes place 95 percent of the time in a courtroom. As in "Breaking Bad", the character of Cranston sees himself once again forced by external influences to break the law for the good of his loved ones – as much as this may contradict the moral concept of his character. And once again this conflict of conscience and the knowledge that with every problem solved creates two more tickles out the best drama of the 64-year-old.
"Whenever there is a character who is faced with an emotional, ethical dilemma, that attracts me," said Cranston in an interview with "Entertainment Weekly" late last year. In this regard, he particularly liked "Your Honor" because the story unfolds around a comprehensible incident: "I think you can make such a mistake under stress and shock." And in his eyes this leads to both exciting and believable drama.
As always, only a worthy opponent allows the main character to shine. The perfect counterpart was found in character mime Michael Stuhlbarg. Cranston has not only worked with him on "Trumbo", Stuhlbarg has also shown in series such as "Boardwalk Empire" and most recently in the third season of "Fargo, a talent for dubious to diabolical parts. Other key roles in" Your Honor "Hope Davis (56," For the People "), Isiah Whitlock Jr. (66," The Wire ") or Carmen Ejogo (47," Selma ").
The verdict: Is "Your Honor" so exciting and hauntingly presented drama food? Guilty as charged!