Review of Showtrial Season 2 | Adeel Akhtar and Michael Socha delight with a nuanced drama

We hope that those who were unsure about the first incarnation of Showtrial, which starred Tracy Ifeachor and Céline Buckens, give it another try this time, and those who may not have caught the first season, feel like they can still do it without having to take a step backwards – to be clear, no background knowledge of the first season is required.

That’s because author Ben Richards has not only written an outstanding second season, but also a compelling standalone story.

The second season of Showtrial stars Adeel Akhtar as Sam, a defense attorney who suffers from insomnia and major personal issues but has a reputation for winning what appear to be “lost cases.”

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As he struggles to stay afloat, Sam is approached by Justin Mitchell (Michael Socha), who turns out to be Officer

The case in question revolves around the accidental death of Marcus Calderwood (Barney Fishwick), a divisive climate activist and author who was hit on his bicycle and named Justin as his killer before he died.

Sam decides to take Justin’s case despite everyone warning him not to – but did Justin really kill Marcus and will justice be served either way?

The decision to make Showtrial an anthology has proven to be a wise decision, not only because it fits the format of the first season, but also because it offers the opportunity to cast additional powerhouse duos each season, such as Ifeachor and Buckens in the series first race.

Akhtar and Socha’s performances are the real highlight here, with each giving a turn that could be described as the highlight of their careers.

Akhtar’s Sam could easily have been another grumpy voice of reason that we’ve seen in procedural dramas, and in many ways he is.

However, a tragic backstory and a vulnerable performance from Akhtar help elevate the character and make him a full-fledged counterpart to Socha’s Justin, a lens through which we as an audience can understand the complexities at the core of the debate being waged.

Meanwhile, Socha is absolutely captivating as Justin whenever he’s on screen. On one level he’s charming, funny and likeable – we understand him, we want to be his friend and we want him to succeed.

On another level, he is arrogant, aggressive, careless and, perhaps worst of all, dangerous – there is, rightly or wrongly, the understanding that he can turn on a dime at any moment, which is what the scenes in which he finds himself Fear gives a real thrill factor.

This is partly reinforced by the fact that the series, like the first season, delves into dark, controversial and highly explosive territory thematically. Issues surrounding climate change, protest, policing, the justice system, and more are challenged in ways that are preachy, pandering, or needlessly inflammatory.

Not everything is given the same importance or level of exploration, and some topics, such as the climate activism debate itself, seem a little glossed over. However, Richards seems largely concerned with having nuanced discussions about issues that are so often portrayed as toxically dichotomous and insurmountable.

Crucially, the “themes” are not the entire driving force of the drama and there is strong character work going on here. It’s not just the thematic discussions the series has that are nuanced and complex, but also the interpersonal relationships between the characters.

Sam’s relationship with his son Mani is particularly intense. In many ways the parental structure is flipped, with moments where they are friends, moments where Mani is the voice of reason. However, there is still the truth that Mani needs his father to be just that, and Sam occasionally fails to live up to that goal.

Meanwhile, Nathalie Armin plays Leila, the CPS lawyer leading the case against Justin. The insights into her relationship with Sam are also fascinating, although a subplot involving a fight with her half-sister feels strangely half-baked and inconsequential, as if the series is trying to touch on one hot-button topic too many.

Research into the legal process is nothing particularly new. It’s competent and well-implemented, but it’s unlikely you’ll learn anything particularly new, and some of the progress in the cases isn’t as notable as some edits suggest.

However, you certainly don’t feel like you’re being belittled or that these scenes are fantastical or disingenuous.

Like so much of the drama, these scenes are brought to life through the efforts of the cast, including supporting actors such as Joe Dempsie, Tom Padley and Kerrie Hayes.

The series runs out of steam a bit towards the end and there’s no denying that the best moments are found in the early episodes. As with so many dramas that have a mystery at their core, there will always be some level of disappointment when the answers aren’t quite as interesting as they could have been.

What Showtrial does well, however, is avoid these processes by focusing on themes, so that even if something is less dramatic than expected, it can still be resonant and work in context.

Some of the choices are definitely bold, even if they don’t all quite land – plus, the series always has relatable scenes with Sam and Justin that remain electrifying throughout.

If you’re not a fan of legal dramas overall, this probably won’t convince you. However, if you are not averse to the genre, but were simply put off by the first season, then this second round is still worth a try.

It’s well paced, it asks interesting questions of both its characters and its audience, and it tells interesting, personal stories, particularly for its two main characters.

Even if the story leaves you cold or doesn’t arouse the level of interest it’s aiming for for you personally, you’ll still get to see some fantastic, exciting and often funny sequences between two actors acting at the peak of their powers.

Showtrial will return on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday October 6th.

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