When They See Us (2019)

When They See Us is a four-episode limited series that recounts the true story of five Black and Latino teenagers from Harlem who were falsely accused, convicted, and imprisoned for a brutal attack in Central Park. Spanning 1989 to their exoneration in 2002 and the civil settlement in 2014, the series follows their arrests, coercive interrogations, fractured court battles, years behind bars, and the long, painful aftermath for them and their families. Watching the series is an intense, emotionally wrenching experience. You’ll feel the mounting tension of the interrogations and trials, the quiet devastation of life inside and after incarceration, and the steady erosion of hope as institutions fail them. Powerful performances from a cast of Emmy-recognized actors bring intimacy and humanity to each young man and the parents fighting for justice; scenes shift between immediate trauma and the slow accumulation of injustice over decades. Director and co-writer Ava DuVernay shapes the story with clear-eyed compassion and moral urgency, balancing harrowing courtroom and prison sequences with tender family moments. Expect to leave moved and unsettled: the series provokes anger at systemic racism and policing abuses, deep sorrow for lives derailed, and admiration for resilience and the long fight for truth. It’s a difficult but essential watch — both a gripping drama and a sobering reminder of the real-world consequences of wrongful convictions.

Actors: Asante Blackk, Caleel Harris, Ethan Herisse

Genres: Biography, Crime, Drama

8.8 /10 8.8 /10