If you are someone who loves watching legal dramas, this Brazilian show is what you need to watch right away. Based on real cases investigated by Innocence Project Brazil, the plot follows law professor Inez as she gets involved in an investigation that could overturn a decades-old conviction. Inez is a former prosecutor who has now switched lanes and is teaching after experiencing a difficult phase in the courtroom. Though she has stepped away from active prosecution, her interest in justice is still very much alive. Her life changes when she begins looking into the case of Jonathan, one of three men convicted of murder. Jonathan has spent decades in prison, but Inez discovers reasons to believe that the original investigation that took place wasn’t correct. What initially appeared to be a straightforward murder case ends up becoming a much more complicated story involving questionable evidence, institutional failures, and a great possibility that an innocent man has been convicted for a crime he probably hasn’t even committed. Doing this investigation brings her closer to Marina, a law student who too becomes involved in the case. Marina is eager to prove herself, and for her this investigation is a big opportunity to put her knowledge into real-life practice. But all is not what it appears. There is also a big mystery as to why Marina is so deeply involved with the case.
In our real lives too, we have seen so many cases similar to that of Jonathan. And Habeas Corpus delves into something similar. As the famous saying goes, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. These words stand true for convicts who are unlawfully confined and put behind bars. All that pain, suffering, and mental agony has been well shown in the show.
The characters are also well written. More than their individual self, I loved their contrasting personality. On the one hand, we have Inez, an experienced professional. On the other hand, we have Marina, young and impulsive. And their contrast forms a great part of Habeas Corpus. We also get to see what Inez has been going through and why she gets so deeply involved. Similarly, Marina’s arc is pretty good and manages to add a layer of mystery to the whole show. One needs such character development in order to see and understand how individual people function.
Apart from all this, the plot is well developed. In the course of eight episodes, we are shown a narrative that is filled with twists and turns yet manages to create a sense of intrigue. In eight episodes, the makers have wrapped up the storyline in such a way that nowhere does it feel forced, abrupt, or even slightly dragged. Such is the mastery of Habeas Corpus. In addition to this, the pacing of Habeas Corpus is also good. It maintains consistency throughout the runtime, slowing down whenever needed and again gaining momentum when required. The cast does a great job adding to the overall greatness of the show. The only thing is that you will enjoy this a lot if legal dramas are your genre. Even if not, watching this is pretty fun. So I would recommend those who are reading this to watch it.
Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times