Conviction: The Complete Series

I was a huge fan of District Attorney Alexandra Cabot on Law and Order: SVU, so I was thrilled when they brought her back as the bureau chief of a bunch of young district attorneys on Conviction. This show was marketed for different generation than the other Law and Orders, more specifically a younger demographic. These ADAs are in their late twenties, and know that there is little glory to be had with the cases that they're getting, but that they're fighting for something real. Their cases don't have the glitz and glamour of regular Law and Order, and there isn't always a sexual element like on SVU, but their determination and perseverance are a joy to watch.

Cabots group of young ADAs is comprised of:

Jim Steele: Steele is the Deputy Bureau Chief who has to take over when the other DBC is gunned down in the first episode. Steele is like his name, he is a man made of steel who tries to shape the younger attorneys looking up to him without becoming disillusioned himself. He's also in a relationship with one of them while secretly pining away for Cabot.

Nick Potter: Potter is the newest kid to join the bureau and is still wet behind the ears when it comes to criminal law. The other attorneys love to remind him of this and treat him like a rookie. Still he's determined to prove himself in their eyes and in Steele's after making a horrible mistake in the first episode.

Billy Desmond: Desmond is arrogant, cocky, and full of himself--but with good reason. He's undefeated in the courtroom (28-0) and he is determined to stay that way. He only takes cases that he can win and will even go as far to hand off a losing case to one of the other lawyers.

Christina Finn: Finn has been with bureau for two years and is still a little green in the courtroom. She gets her first case in the first episode and makes mistakes, but in an endearing way. Finn's like your little sister, you want to look after her because she keeps making the most charming mistakes. Her search for Mr. Right is one of the more lighthearted plot lines in the series.

Brian Peluso: Peluso is a smooth talker who spends as much time ducking the ladies who call him at the office as he does working on his cases. He has a mild flirtation with Finn, as well as a gambling problem that continues to rear its ugly head. Still he's Steele's right hand man and a great attorney.

Jessica Rossi: Rossi is a tough young attorney who has a weak spot for domestic abuse cases. She refuses to not prosecute wife beaters, even to her own detriment. Her relationship with Steele is a constant problem throughout the season.

I was so disappointed that this show got cancelled because it was really well written and a nice change from the others in the Dick Wolf series. I feel like the original Law and Order has gotten stale in recent years and it might be time to let it go. While SVU is still as great as ever, this was NBC's chance to add a little zest back into a floundering series. I highly recommend this show to people who enjoyed the original Law and Order back in the Angie Harmon years, and to those who like SVU. It's great to have Cabot back in the courtroom even if it is only on DVD.

The first Law & Order series to not be called Law & Order, "Conviction" was NBC's very obvious answer to ABC's hit series Grey's Anatomy only with lawyers instead of doctors. Despite their own hopes that Conviction could do for law dramas what Grey's Anatomy had done for medical dramas, NBC (as with creator Dick Wolf's previously short-lived Law & Order: Trial By Jury) ultimately cancelled the series. Too bad, especially for fans of Stephanie March's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit character ADA Alex Cabot, as later episodes, according to March, would have dealt in depth with Alex, both in terms of her family and what makes her tick. Thankfully though, the producers were allowed to wrap up the series with a satisfying two-part finale. Conviction might've deviated somewhat from the typical L & O formula, but it still remained true in tone to the other Law & Order shows. Definitely a worthy addition to any Court TV DVD collection. Not so much for the packaging and extras which are solid, but for the episodes themselves which feature immaculate picture and sound. Not to mention the show's killer theme song "Destiny" by Syntax which can now be heard in both the main and closing titles. Props to Universal for a great transfer. Conviction - The Complete Series is a 3-disc (single-sided) set featuring all 13 episodes; Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) video; Dolby Digital 5.1 English audio; plus the following Special Feature: Seven Character Profiles.

In the criminal justice system, the average age of a prosecutor in New York City is 28. These are their stories.

1. Pilot
2. Denial
3. Breakup
4. Indebted
5. Savasana
6. Madness
7. True Love
8. Downhill
9. The Wall
10. Deliverance
11. Indiscretion
12. 180.80
13. Hostage

Highly Recommended!

I love this show!!!It's great that Alex was let out of Witness Protection after they caught the man that shot her. I can't believe Numb3rs beat it. Personally, I don't think Numb3rs is that great, maybe an episode or two.