Watch Doubt
- TV-14
- 2017
- 1 Season
-
5.9 (2,099)
Doubt was a legal drama television series that aired on CBS from February 15, 2017, to August 12, 2017, before being canceled due to low ratings. The show was created by Tony Phelan and Joan Rater who previously worked on Grey's Anatomy. Doubt starred Katherine Heigl, Steven Pasquale, Laverne Cox, Dulé Hill, Dreama Walker, and Elliott Gould.
The show revolved around the personal and professional lives of lawyers at a prestigious law firm in New York City, being headed by Billy Brennan (Steven Pasquale). The main character, Sadie Ellis (Katherine Heigl), worked as a brilliant defense attorney who was passionate about fighting for her clients, but at the same time, she is also struggling with her feelings for a client who may or may not be guilty of murder.
Throughout the season, Sadie Ellis and her colleagues work on high-profile cases that not only test their legal intellect but also their moral and ethical boundaries. Their cases range from defending a transgender teen who is accused of murdering his wealthy father, to a celebrity who is accused of rape, to a case involving a young woman accused of killing her boyfriend.
The show explores the dynamics between the lawyers at the firm, their relationships with each other, and the effect their cases have on them both professionally and personally. For instance, Sadie struggles with her romantic attraction towards a client, while her colleague, Cameron Wirth (Laverne Cox), deals with the fallout from her representing a transgender teen.
One of the strengths of Doubt is its diverse cast and the way that the show tackles social issues that many other legal dramas typically avoid. The show's storylines are not solely based on legal aspects but also touch on issues such as the stigma surrounding transgender individuals or the challenges faced by women in positions of power.
Doubt did not shy away from portraying the complex lives of its characters. Their personal struggles were just as important as their professional ones, making the show feel more like a character-driven drama rather than just a typical legal procedural.
The show also gives insight into the lives of high-profile lawyers and the challenging nature of their work. It shows that, despite their significant salaries, lawyers can still experience emotional turmoil and moral dilemmas. It also exposes certain flaws in the legal system, such as the problems surrounding jury selection.
While Doubt was praised for its progressive portrayal of social issues, the show's weak spot was its execution. Critics found the plot lines to be overly dramatic and predictable. Despite featuring a great cast, the show fell into the trap of being excessively soapy. For example, the romantic subplot between Sadie and her client, Billy, was not well-received by critics and viewers alike.
Another issue was that Doubt failed to capture a consistent audience. Due to its time slot (Wednesdays at 10 pm), the show was up against stiff competition from other shows. Moreover, CBS made an unprecedented decision to pull the show off the air after only two episodes, leading to a lack of support from the network and subsequent decline in viewership.
Overall, Doubt was a legal drama that tackled important social issues and had a diverse cast with commendable performances. However, despite its potential, the show suffered from poor execution and a lack of network support, ultimately leading to its cancellation.
Doubt is a series that ran for 1 seasons (13 episodes) between February 15, 2017 and on CBS