Showtrial season two

After dealing with the murder of a university student in its first season, the focal point of the newest instalment of BBC drama Showtrial is the death of a prominent climate activist (Barney Fishwick). After he’s deliberately run off the road, he tells an attending paramedic that his killer was a police officer, who’s soon identified as PC Justin Mitchell (Michael Sorcha). Mitchell hires lawyer Sam Malik (Adeel Akhtar) as his defendant and, despite the damming evidence against him, confidently protests his innocence. Police dramas are commonplace within primetime TV, and while there are there some noteworthy entries into this ever-expanding genre, this season does little to break the mould. Its knack for dropping twisting plot points keeps the show moving at a steady pace, but its heavy-handed approach to its subject matter is often overbearing.

The strongest part of this season is undisputedly the performances. Sorcha is outstanding as Mitchell. Even if he is accused of murder, the delight he takes in outsmarting the officers interviewing him at every opportunity is endlessly entertaining. Akhtar also gives a strong performance as his character juggles between his strong moral beliefs and his own trauma. Rounding out the key players is Nathalie Armin who is convincing as Leila Hassoun-Kenny, the prosecutor going up against Malik.

While the opening episodes are bogged down by a list of subplots which distract from the main investigation, the script is nevertheless quick to come up with new discoveries that take events in interesting directions. From the inclusion of a cryptic group chat to the whereabouts of Mitchell’s girlfriend, this case is far more than a straightforward hit-and-run. Whether or not the show can sustain its pacing and intrigue throughout the remainder of the five-part series, however, remains to be seen.

With the strong similarities to protests from groups like Just Stop Oil alongside recent reports of police brutality, the show isn’t subtle when it comes to addressing its subject matter. Though these are conversations that are worth having, the script’s handling of them boils down to throwing out buzzwords without much nuance.

There’s an entertaining mystery at the heart of Showtrial’s second outing. Unfortunately, it’s covered in a layer of bloated subplots and tactless social commentary.

Andrew Murray

Showtrial season two is released on BBC iPlayer on 6^th October 2024.

Watch the trailer for Showtrial season two here: