Aunt Vi is The Equalizer.

Although not quite the case, one could be forgiven for believing that at first glance. Vi is called to jury service to decide the fate of a man who stands accused of rape and murder. McCall initiates her own investigation into the case having taken a vested interest in its progress, rather than having been approached by an external client of any kind. As the action is courtroom drama and covert investigation, the guns are firmly holstered this time around.

The circumstantial evidence is sufficiently against defendant Tim Colvin that the jury are almost unanimously happy to declare him guilty and wrap the case in order to get back to their lives. Vi initially stands as the sole objector to this being an open and shut case.

The jury itself is made up of a diverse and disparate group who are each introduced with precise timing. As the racial element of the case – a black man accused of raping and murdering a white woman – takes prominence, so does the loud voice of objection from the sole white male on the panel, Howard. When Vi continues to present the reasonable doubt the others did not have, it is Howard who manages to test her conviction the most, and not from a place of racism himself; just the occasional ignorance of one least affected by the matters Vi’s questioning reveals. The doubt Howard places is a smart story beat which opens the possibility of a plot twist and McCall’s clandestine enquiries do take on increased importance, if only so McCall herself can be sure she is giving the correct counsel to Vi. It is a surprisingly effective device and manages to not even be the final twist in the trial.

The other vital focus in the episode is Dante’s recent story arc. It brings to a head the soul-searching he began at the end of episode 13, of which a reminder of its title, D.W.B (or Driving While Black) is relevant here. The harsh spectre looms of what happens when justice turns into racial injustice, both to the audience and to Dante. His assistance to McCall proves essential not only to her enquiries but also to his own endeavours, as he considers a fresh career as lawyer, gaining endorsement even from McCall. Ironically, the main opposition to that comes from a lawyer whom he knows professionally, who admires the integrity and sense of justice which have defined him since we were first introduced to him. Dante finds himself with intriguing choices for his future.

It is a testament to the careful and smart construction of the episode that much more could be said about it, but not without spoilers for a story which deserves to be watched in full without prior knowledge.

Verdict: One of the season’s strongest offerings, it comes with many talking points throughout the case and an incredible final scene. 9/10

Russell A. Smith