‘The system is rotten and I’m going to do something about it…’
If there is one thing we do well in this country, it’s gritty true crime dramas about working class tragedy. It can be traced back to the kitchen sink cinema of the ’60s and ’70s, right through to Eastenders, Jimmy McGovern and Sally Wainwright. I Fought the Law is the latest in a long line of TV shows that tackle horrendous real life events, and while it doesn’t do anything particularly revolutionary, Sheridan Smith’s outstanding performance elevates the material throughout (as is so often the case)…
I Fought the Law charts the tragic true story of the murder of Julie Hogg, taking in the guilty party being set free, a family torn apart, and a crusading mother (Smith) attempting to change the double jeopardy law (the idea that you can’t be put on trial twice for the same offence) – a concept that had been enshrined in British law since the days of the Magna Carta. While relative unknown Daniel York Loh provides an assured performance as Julie’s long-suffering father, Charlie, I Fought the Law is very much the Sheridan Smith show.
Having graduated from playing chavvy ladettes, to love interests, to mothers, Smith has become one of UK television’s most respected actors. Her great talent, however, aside from her formidable acting ability, is her skill and nous when it comes to picking the right roles at the right time. It’s a talent that is shared by Stephen Graham. As a rule, if something contains either Smith or Graham, it’s usually good. She is the picture of matriarchal grief here, often taking fairly pedestrian dialogue and infusing it with both utter desolation and fiery retribution. It’s a tour-de-force of a performance that has confirmed her place at the very upper echelon of television acting.
While not as affecting as some other recent TV dramas that tackle similar subject matter (Adolescence, Unforgiveable). I Fought the Law is still a competent retelling of one woman’s extraordinary struggle with a lead performance to match. I can’t imagine anyone watching this four part drama and not finding something to enjoy.
