Your Honor (TV Series) Part Twenty (2023) User Reviews

Will be missed

[dakjets · 8/10 · 18 March 2023]

I am a viewer who has had a somewhat ambivalent relationship with this series. I have always rated the series highly, but was somewhat frustrated with the content, especially in season 1. But I have never disliked the story og characters.

The amazing thing to me is that season 2 has been far less popular than season 1. Why I don't understand. Season 2 really fleshed out these characters in an exciting way, developing the content. There has been high quality drama and excitement throughout. Unfortunately, the series is now not being extended. A loss. This could have been the start for a long term series with. There are so many possibilities here.

I can at least summarize that the series ends in the best way possible. Considering that a lot had to be rounded off.

But I would have liked to see how things went with Big MO, Fia, Jimmy, the judge and all the other exciting cast who have made up this quality series. In any case, I will be following these actors in the future. What a class it is on them.

Season 2 (6/10 stars): A Show Without Its Soul

[zkonedog · 6/10 · 21 March 2023]

The first season of Your Honor was an absolute madcap scramble of seemingly impossible situations that led to even more soap opera-ish drama. Yet, it all worked and was so compelling because the core of the show was Judge Michael Desiato (Bryan Cranston) reacting to and manipulating the proceedings in protecting his son Adam. In this sophomore season, however, Your Honor is almost completely re-imagined thematically-and loses most of its soul in the process.

Instead of focusing on the Desiato arc, S2 expands the focus and largely centers on the "cold war" between the Baxter family and the Desire drug clan. On one side, Jimmy Baxter (Michael Stuhlbarg) and wife Gina (Hope Davis) feud over the aggressiveness of their business empire, with son Carlo (Jimi Stanton) poised to take a larger role in the family business. Meanwhile, Big Mo (Andrene Ward-Hammond) and Little Mo (Keith Machekanyanga) struggle with how to continue their drug ring while integrating Big Mo's new flame Janelle (Ciara Renee) into the proceedings. Caught in the middle of all this-as usual-are figures like young Eugene Jones (Benjamin Flores Jr.), Mayor Charlie Figaro (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), Detective Nancy Costello (Amy Landecker), investigator Olivia Delmont (Rosie Perez), and attorney Lee Delamere (Carmen Ejogo).

Noticeably absent from that brief summary? Michael Desiato himself-the biggest misstep of this series returning to Showtime. Whereas once the show was essentially built on Cranston's quirky charisma, he is sidelined to largely bystander status in S2. Sadly, this essentially turns Your Honor into-somewhat ironically-a Breaking Bad-esque crime syndicate drama, but one lacking the necessary character arcs to pull it off.

Granted, this is still a prestige drama-and at times that certainly shows. The production value from S1 bleeds over here and the cast is as excellent as it is deep. Those two virtues alone make S2 watchable when in an overall sense it is largely just spinning plates in the air to see which whirl the longest or are the most compelling.

Also, the clear standout of S2 is Lilli Kay's Fia Baxter. Not only is she an incredible actress I hope to see more of in the future, but her character arc here-including the newest addition to the Baxter/Desiato awkward melding-should have been what this entire season was structured around. Every episode in which she was given time to shine, I was drawn back into the proceedings.

Overall, though, S2 of Your Honor is a 5-star, right-down-the-middle effort that I'll bump up to 6 for the strong peripherals. The restructure away from individual characters and towards rival gang families does not do the show any favors, and the inability to use Cranston in anything near a compelling way is inexcusable. If-like me-you loved S1 but were wary of how it could possibly continue, you'd be excused for not exercising your curiosity and just fondly remembering that first slate.

Part 20

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 23 March 2023]

I am not sure what to make of this show. I feel like it was a decent finale, but it is hard to tell what they are going for. Sometimes they want to be Power on Starz with the Desire stuff, sometimes they want to be The Sopranos with the mob stuff, other times a poor legal show.

It is mildly entertaining, but it is never anything we haven't seen before. Michael just randomly going back to prison doesn't make a lot of sense either. It wasn't particularly clear why he went there in the first place and he cooperated so someone would have stuck up for him, or so you would think given the evidence he provided?

Would love a Season 3

[angl9 · 9/10 · 20 March 2023]

So I see how they wrapped things up here in a neat little bow. I get it, mega star Bryan Cranston has other things to do, that's fine. But there is so much craziness going on here, the series can totally go on without him. Even though they are so outrageous, I LOVE the Baxter family, I would totally watch anything with them in it. Jimmy Baxter is my favorite character! I hope they can find a way to make this happen. Wouldn't that be fun? Unrealistic, yes, but fun. The New Orleans background is a story in itself. Season 2 was so much better than Season 1, this series really redeemed itself. Good job!

MASTERPIECE

[yksqgzsc · 10/10 · 18 March 2023]

I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was the closure that everyone was looking for and I enjoyed every bit of it.

I was a bit concerned when the 2nd season started and I thought it was kind of boring but the episodes kept getting better and better until getting to the final episode. The show deserves way more recognition and it gives us the idea of all the different shades between white and black when it comes to the right and wrong.

The casting, direction and the narrative were very convincing and the uncanny resembles among the family members of Baxter needs to be appreciated.

YOU DID GREAT!

Gas leak?????

[blues9981 · 1/10 · 21 March 2023]

Oh god I can't think of anything to say really. Cranston is great as always but the ending as filled with so many holes you could drive a Mack truck through each one. Season one was fine but Season two was incredibly dopey. The actor who played Jimmy Baxter had his mouth turned down the entire time as if he was working on his best Tarantino impression and Hope Davis (a great actress) didn't even try to make anything realistic or emotional out of any of her scenes. And I have to end with the dopiest plot twist in tv history from the courtroom: the Jones family couldn't pay their gas bill???????? And no one knew this beforehand??????? It was not a gas leak because there was no gas?????? God, the only thing I can say to tv writers is: Do Better.

Worst final season and even worse finale.

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 4/10 · 30 March 2023]

Ten long dragged out episodes in the final season that could've been a 2 hour movie, and for that matter, a stand alone movie that had nothing to do with season one. What that movie would've been about, I have no idea, because these last 10 episodes were just a bunch of random sub plots of sub plots that mostly had no rhyme or reason being part of the final season. This final season lost its identity, and was riddled with plot and technical issues, and defied logic and reasoning. The writers clearly ran out of ideas, and randomly created stories just to fill in the season's runtime. I literally wasted 10 hours to end up with more questions - that I really don't care about anyway, than answers. The only reason I kept watching, was due to Cranston's outstanding performances. If you've seen season 1, just stop there, this final season is a waste of time and does zero justice to the first season.

Hugely Disappointing

[douglasmcbroom · 1/10 · 19 March 2023]

Season 2 was going much better than Season 1. The writers had sharpened up and were using much less absurd coincidences and implausible plot twists.

The addition of one-note Rosie Perez was a big mistake, but otherwise the cast was solid or outstanding.

Then came this abominable season-possibly series-finale. Let me dissect it like a frog on a lab station. The first big writers fantasy, lazily contrived, is when Michael (Brian Cranston), on the stand, exceeds the scope of the question in his response on direct by the DA. Opposing counsel for the defense, the supremely arrogant, Lee (Carmen Ejogo), starts to ask impermissible questions. "Objection!" "No the witness opened the door," she says. "Allowed," said the judge. Nonsense, says I. The answer exceeded the scope of the question and was strickened from the record. It opened NO doors.

Worse yet, the murder Eugene (Benjamin Flores) committed was a STATE crime. He was charged and on trial by the State of Louisiana. The federal government has NO jurisdiction. Zero. Nada. They cannot swoop in and "take the case away" from the New Orleans DA, and give Eugene immunity under ANY circumstances!

Finally, we are supposed to feel remorse and forgiveness for Eugene who killed an innocent person in premeditated cold blood. Hollywood Liberal insanity! 'OOOPS sorry about that murder, but I had a tough up-bringing. Ok, son, you're free to go. We'll lock up the guy (Michael) who actually kept his word, instead.

Disappointing ending to a, at best, mediocre series

[hdtpbyq · 5/10 · 19 March 2023]

The ending attempts tying off all loose ends, but so many things does not make sense. Would Carlo and Fia just accept and be cool with the attempt on their fathers life? Wouldn't a "seasoned" mob boss as grandpa Canti deal with the attempt in a more collected manner? Why in hell, would Fia give up her son for adoption, and why would the reverend suggest or even accept her giving up the child, Fia being a minor and all.

All in all, a poorly executed finale, which prime goal was to complete Bryan Cranstons role, as an anti-hero who in the end could keep his head up high. Very dissappointing to witness, as a huge fan of Mr. Cranston.

Why am I watching a show of side characters?

[htpktfrykb · 1/10 · 21 March 2023]

They should have scrapped any involvement of Cranston&jimmy and just started a spin-off staring desire, mayor, Gina, and Eugene. Than, I would have known to not watch

Lil mo & mayor were compelling. A closer look into their roles and deals would've been cool. But no. Let's focus on this club?? Why does it matter so much da fuq

I mean, They have an old crippled man shoot jimmy? Don't give him a proper send off or resolution? Wtf! He was arguably the protagonist imo. Then!.... Then! They don't even commit and show him waking up? Just like with Eugene coming back. Lazy, boring writing, and I regret watching this season.

Feminism Wins

[thevikwest · 1/10 · 10 April 2023]

What a waste of 10 episodes and interesting twists. However the culmination in the final episode is just a shoutout to feminism and to the strong female characters. The male characters are weak, cannot make decisions and are just there to fill the feminism void that is being propagated to the audience.

The final episode was nothing more than a bland uninspired end of a interesting saga - all the leading (and non-lead) female characters "won" in the end: -Gina Baxter - manipulating her husband and ultimately getting control of the family because she manipulates her own father to kill her husband. She doesn't care that her husband has ran the family for decades, its just that all of a sudden she needs to inherit her family's criminal legacy.

-Det. Nancy Costello - short appearances, however "she gets her way" together with the next strong female police enforcement agent - Olivia Delmont, and arrests Judge Desiato. However she was menacing towards the judge whenever possible.

• Olivia Delmont - an annoying presence throughout the entire season making illogical decisions and ultimately winning as well in the fight against the Baxters. I have absolutely no clue as to why she wanted to put Eugene Jones into protective custody because he does not know a single thing about the Baxters other than the alleged killing of his brother by Carlo Baxter - and thats it. How is that going to help her investigation?

• Lee Delamere - another strong female character - bossing around with her lawyer persona, intimidating Judge Desiato to LIE on the stand to save the person that killed his own son. Ultimately gets her way. Why would she insist so strongly to save a kid that she knows shot her FRIEND's (and the person that helped her with her studies) son and killed him. She fought so hard and despicably to make Eugene innocent that it just doesn't make sense.

-Big Mo - the strongest of them all - manipulating everyone all the time, dealing with the drug cartel as if she is buying 2 loafs of bread and not 20kg of drugs. She wills herself as the owner of the nightclub via the mayor (the owner of the club just succumbs to her female powers), she manipulates Jimmy Baxter and his wife to get her way... just a few examples of her strong femaleness.

• Fia Baxter - its a 50/50 situation with this one. For 10 episodes she took care of her own child for about a cumulative 30 minutes, however in the end from running back and forth from daddy to judge, she gave up her own child. What the f was that about?

And in the end from all of that - what happened to the males in the TV show?

• Judge Desiato - succumbed to Lee, Olivia and Nancy to testify a bunch of non-admissible (to the ongoing case) facts that led him to admit things go back to prison ON HIS OWN WILL.

• Mayor Figaro - being bossed around by Big Mo around the Eugene case would end his career, despite it not being shown on screen.

• Jimmy Baxter - once a strong, respected gangster, now shot to death (despite opening his eyes in the final scene) as commanded by his own wife, was a pathetic excuse of a man for 10 episodes. He was not able to make a single decision on his own, or whatever he made as a decision was followed up by his wife's complaining.

-Lil Mo - from a strong second-hand to Big Mo, he tucked his tail under his legs and just fled in the end returning to kiss Big Mo's a** because he is another weak male character.

• Other non-important for the second season male characters that were just written as weak and pathetic:
• Frankie - second hand man to Jimmy, they just write him off because of... reasons.

• Det. Cunningham - chased by his feminism demons, he commits suicide because Nancy pushes him.

• Chris - after learning that it was Big Mo's drugs that killed his brother, his revolution was cut short because Lil Mo ran back to his auntie and betrayed him.

• Carlo Baxter - just a mindless character that contributed nothing for 10 episodes. Perhaps the wrong brother died in the first season, who knows. Would've been interesting if he usurped mommy's plans to take control of his father, however its not the case.

All in all - a waste of a tv show, had great potential, but the writing in the end just ruined everything.

God save the queens, may the weak males suffer.

Another bad ending of a show that was not so bad

[stefan_papp · 1/10 · 18 December 2023]

The final episode was much about justifying Eugene's deeds. Remember, he shot Adam. And the writer's played the card to create feelings in the audience for him.

This created tons of mismatches. He goes free, even though he shot a person. You would stay with this. Maybe you get a reduced sentence but free for shooting a person? What was the message: You can be black and the system can be in favor of you?

The scenes are long, the dialogue tiresome, and I started to fast forward them. Characters are starting to act illogical. For Michael, it seemed to be utterly ok that the Murderer of his son got free. Fia gives away her son. They shot Jimmy Baxter, but not even he can adequately die (as you would expect).

Story writers had the idea that every viewer had sympathies for all characters and they decided not to let anyone down.

Sustained your honor

[searchanddestroy-1 · 18 April 2023]

I was at first reluctant to watch this second season, after the first, which was absolutely outstanding. I told to myself, how could be a season 2 better than the first? So I resumed after two years, but with some "scare".... I just missed the reason why the judge went to prison between the two seasons. The result of two years waiting between the two; the summary of the first was not enough for my brain.... So this second season doesn't benefit of the surprise of the first but the ending is quite good, though a bit cheesy...But the acting is exceptional, and what a pleasure to see Mark Margolis, as the old gangster, father of Baxter's wife, Margolis, forty years after his role in SCARFACE: remember him, he was the hoodlum sitting besides Pacino in the car following the judge's one, with his family inside, and Margolis was just about to push the button of the bomb aboard the judge's car, before Pacino blows his head off....