TheLittleSongbird The other being Law and Order: Trial by Jury, also a very short-lived series that had its problems but was getting better. Conviction is an uneven show and nowhere near the best work that Dick Wolf did (the original Law and Order), but it showed a lot of potential and got cancelled- which I put down to scheduling- before it had time to properly grow.Like Trial by Jury, Conviction also has a few too many characters, and some are better developed and more interesting than others, with Potter and Finn faring the best of the main characters and one does wish that the show gave a reason for Cabot's presence and how and why she came out of witness protection for continuity with Special Victims Unit. That a lot of the show felt rushed with a lot of content and too short a length added to this. While the concept was really interesting and different, the most original of Wolf's shows, some of the writing still could have been tighter, some of it detailing the personal lives of the characters was like predictable soap-opera, especially in the early episodes. There are also times where it does try to do too much, with instances of trying to take on two, three or more elements (grit, light-heartedness) with variable effectiveness (like the light-heartedness feeling occasionally at odds), giving it at times a disjointed feel.On the other hand, even with a different, glossier look, the series is stylishly filmed and looks great. The music is quirkier and more varied than the Law and Order shows, but no less atmospheric or fitting, and there is some taut thought-provoking script-writing in the scenes dealing with the crimes, trials and in the later episodes and in a way that feels more honest than Trial by Jury. The early episodes lack tightness, and the show feels rushed and over-stuffed, but the stories do maintain interest and thought and there are some great moments, like the teen being tried as an adult, the cancer storyline and especially the spectacular finale that was both intense and heart-wrenching. Conviction also has some excellent acting, Stephanie March does not disappoint (anyone who is a fan of her character on Special Victim's Unit will love her here), Eric Balfour does sleazy perfectly, Anson Mount is stoic and powerful in presence and Julianne Nicholson is affectingly vulnerable.All in all, uneven and could have been better, but also impresses in a lot of areas and deserved a fairer chance than it got. 7/10 Bethany Cox

dachsiegal This is one of the best shows on TV. The finale reduced both me and my husband to tears--& I am an attorney!! The characters are well developed and you care what happens to each. And the show is not formulaic--there are surprises. At the beginning, I hated the Potter character--unbelievable, wooden, spoiled--he reminded me of Potsie from "Happy Days." But after the finale, when he stood up to the hostage-takers in court, I felt he redeemed himself. This show should be given a chance. It is much better than "Desperate Housewives," "Lost," or "House." It is well-written and entertaining. This coming from a 31-year old woman--good demographic!! NBC please reconsider the cancellation!!!!!!

KRican The show got off to a weak start. As a huge fan of Stephanie March and Eric Balfour, I hung in and I am really glad I did. The episodes became increasingly more interesting and I began caring about the characters by mid-season. What I need to say is - the season finale surpassed any by far that I've seen in a long time. I am addicted to SVU, Desperate Housewives and Close to Home had a great finale this year, but Conviction's 180.8 episode absolutely blew me away. The emotion, sense of panic and urgency, as well as the poignancy of what people mean to us in times of tragedy had me on the edge of my seat in shock, horror and tears for it's entirety. I cannot wait for next season!

abown The writing for Peluso in last night's episode was so much snappier than the other characters, I thought maybe Eric Balfour was ad libbing. If they kept writing priceless monologues like his dating tips, which made me laugh out loud ("Next thing you know, it's herbal tea and Miles Davis!"), then this show could break through. So far though, IMO the only time it has any life at all is when Balfour's on screen. He demonstrated his range in last night's episode--from funny to womanizing to sweet to compassionate to desperate to tough. Maybe it's his character--you can do a lot more with that character. Maybe it's that he's a terrific actor and brings energy to the role. But the writing for the other characters was markedly less skilled. It seemed wooden and clichéd and one-note.