Showtrial series two is the most electrifying television of 2024

Television certainly has a fascination with crime and justice, doesn’t it? From shows like Line of Duty to Slow Horses, we’re constantly presented with stories that explore the line between right and wrong. Is it too much? Apparently not, as Showtrial arrives to provide even more of this theme.

This is the second installment of the BBC anthology, which centers around a dramatic courtroom trial that captures the public’s attention and sparks a media storm. The first series, aired in 2021, centered on a student who vanished in Bristol. In this new series, featuring a completely different storyline and cast, we find ourselves in Brighton, a city vibrant with climate activists who are actively blocking roads, safeguarding trees, and causing quite a bit of trouble for the local police.

After activist Marcus Calderwood, equipped with his bike, trouser clips, and a megaphone, is left for dead in a hit-and-run, his dying words implicate a current police officer as his murderer. The officer, Justin Mitchell (played by Michael Socha), arrogantly maintains his innocence to the point where only someone extremely naive would consider defending him in a trial.

Meet Sam Malik (Adeel Akhtar), a dedicated lawyer on a mission who is constantly on edge. Dressed in inexpensive suits, Sam is grappling with a personal loss that has made it hard for him to find peace for months. He's facing a significant challenge in this case; as "Showtrial" suggests, the police have a tendency to be corrupt. “It’s not just a single bad apple,” remarks one of the climate activists, adding scornfully, “Yeah, as if anyone is going to trust a cop these days.”

It becomes evident that it's not just Marcus who is facing judgment – the whole police department is under scrutiny. It's easy to see why his lawyer looks so weighed down.

Authored by Ben Richards, the novelist who translated the Scandi noir series The Bridge into English in 2013, Showtrial is rich in content across its five episodes. Richards selectively delves into the backgrounds of various characters, which results in some inconsistencies in the storytelling. For instance, one of the main detectives is introduced with minimal details, simply noting his sobriety and fondness for bonsai trees. On the other hand, the prosecuting attorney, Leila Hassoun-Kenny (played by Nathalie Armin), is given enough backstory to warrant an entire series on her own.

She has Arab heritage, and she’s always in conflict with her slender sister. Her sister’s life coach—keeping in mind this is Brighton—urges her to steer clear of their interactions due to their contrasting energies: one is “red” and the other “yellow,” which typically don’t blend well. Their arguments escalate until their mother ultimately collapses from a pulmonary embolism. Families, right? In other parts of the story, we learn more about bicycle pedals than we ever would while tuning into the Tour de France.

Nevertheless, much like sunlight filtering through the branches of trees, the tension gradually escalates throughout the trial, creating an intensity that could make one's hands clench. The show trial is most effective when it centers on just Sam and Justin. Sam is eager to perform his legal duties for a client with a deeply troubled character. Although Justin vehemently denies any involvement in the murder, he does attribute the death of a pregnant woman to the climate protester, claiming that she wouldn’t have been on that road if it weren't for the protesters blocking her usual route. He had cradled her in his arms as she passed away, and now his PTSD manifests itself only as a seething rage.

Akhtar is undoubtedly one of our finest screen actors. As demonstrated in the first season of Sherwood and 2016’s Murdered by My Father, he has a remarkable ability to convey a wide range of human emotions simply with his expressive eyes and the lines that frame them. However, it’s Socha, a frequent collaborator with Shane Meadows, who truly steals the show – his performance is packed with raw intensity. He is incredible, both captivating and unsettling. The final thirty minutes of the fourth episode, featuring their intense confrontation as they peel back layers of emotional armor and exchange barbs, is likely one of the most thrilling moments on television in 2024.

You only notice you've been holding your breath when the credits start to play.

‘Showtrial’ will air again next Sunday at 9pm on BBC One. You can catch up on all the episodes available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.