Product Description

They’re young. They’re in over their heads.
They wouldn’t have it any other way.

In the cutthroat New York judicial system, if you’re intelligent, ambitious and new, there’s only one way to get things done – with Conviction. Get ready for all 13 gripping episodes of The Complete Series from award-winning creator Dick Wolf (Law & Order). When five young assistant district attorneys enter the world of public justice, they struggle to make sense of their challenging caseloads and equally provocative personal lives. Under the leadership of bureau chief Alex Cabot (Stephanie March, Law & Order: SVU), these rookie prosecutors are about to get a crash course in love, life and the law. Also starring Eric Balfour, J. August Richards, Anson Mount, Jordan Bridges, Julianne Nicholson and Milena Govich.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14774 in DVD
• Brand: Universal
• Released on: 2006-08-22
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 568 minutes

Amazon.com
Created by Dick Wolf, the seemingly unstoppable mastermind behind the Law & Order franchise, Conviction tells the stories of a group of young, driven, and genetically gifted prosecutors working for the New York District Attorney's office, which is led by Alexandra Cabot (Stephanie March). Cabot was last seen as a young gun assistant district attorney herself on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. There she was a crusading and idealistic lawyer fighting to buck a corrupt system. But on Conviction, her character has turned into the type of bureaucrat she used to despise--one who thinks more about the bottom line than the true meaning of justice. Though she obviously still has feelings for her underling and former beau Jim Steele (Anson Mount), she becomes engaged to a well-connected man (the day after she and Steele have a one-night stand).

The series, which was canceled after its first season in 2006, has a more soap opera feel than Wolf's other shows. While the meat of the 13 episodes is in their fight to lock up rapists and murderers, the heart of the show lies in the private lives of the young attorneys. Steele has a "just sex" relationship with Jessica Rossi (Milena Govich), a promising young lawyer who butts heads with him at work. Nick Potter (played by Beau Bridges' son, Jordan) left a six-figure salary at a private law firm to work for the people. Billy Desmond (J. August Richards), who hasn't lost a case, finds himself falling for a mess of a girl despite himself. And ladies man Brian Peluso (Eric Balfour) and wide-eyed cutie Christina Finn (Julianne Nicholson) find it easier to play verbal footsie than admit their feelings for each other.

Though the dramatic content isn't lacking, there are some moments where even suspending your belief in reality really doesn't help much. In one episode, a murderer takes some of the attorneys hostage in a courtroom. Demanding respect, he refuses to answer their questions unless they address him in legalese. It's almost laughable watching the supposedly terrified lawyers popping up and down to address him as "your honor." In another scene, Finn warns another gunman--who has already killed another hostage--that the police may be trying to trick him. But overall, the series has a nice rhythm that could've carried over for another solid season or two. NBC was quick to ax the drama, just as it did with Wolf's 2005 series Law & Order: Trial by Jury. It's too bad because Conviction--which could've been retitled Law & Order: The Wonder Years--showed a lot of promise. --Jae-Ha Kim

Customer Reviews

NBC's chance to add a little zest to a floundering series
I was a huge fan of District Attorney Alexandra Cabot on Law and Order: SVU, so I was thrilled when they brought her back as the bureau chief of a bunch of young district attorneys on Conviction. This show was marketed for different generation than the other Law and Orders, more specifically a younger demographic. These ADAs are in their late twenties, and know that there is little glory to be had with the cases that they're getting, but that they're fighting for something real. Their cases don't have the glitz and glamour of regular Law and Order, and there isn't always a sexual element like on SVU, but their determination and perseverance are a joy to watch.

Cabots group of young ADAs is comprised of:
Jim Steele: Steele is the Deputy Bureau Chief who has to take over when the other DBC is gunned down in the first episode. Steele is like his name, he is a man made of steel who tries to shape the younger attorneys looking up to him without becoming disillusioned himself. He's also in a relationship with one of them while secretly pining away for Cabot.

Nick Potter: Potter is the newest kid to join the bureau and is still wet behind the ears when it comes to criminal law. The other attorneys love to remind him of this and treat him like a rookie. Still he's determined to prove himself in their eyes and in Steele's after making a horrible mistake in the first episode.

Billy Desmond: Desmond is arrogant, cocky, and full of himself--but with good reason. He's undefeated in the courtroom (28-0) and he is determined to stay that way. He only takes cases that he can win and will even go as far to hand off a losing case to one of the other lawyers.

Christina Finn: Finn has been with bureau for two years and is still a little green in the courtroom. She gets her first case in the first episode and makes mistakes, but in an endearing way. Finn's like your little sister, you want to look after her because she keeps making the most charming mistakes. Her search for Mr. Right is one of the more lighthearted plot lines in the series.

Brian Peluso: Peluso is a smooth talker who spends as much time ducking the ladies who call him at the office as he does working on his cases. He has a mild flirtation with Finn, as well as a gambling problem that continues to rear its ugly head. Still he's Steele's right hand man and a great attorney.

Jessica Rossi: Rossi is a tough young attorney who has a weak spot for domestic abuse cases. She refuses to not prosecute wife beaters, even to her own detriment. Her relationship with Steele is a constant problem throughout the season.

I was so disappointed that this show got cancelled because it was really well written and a nice change from the others in the Dick Wolf series. I feel like the original Law and Order has gotten stale in recent years and it might be time to let it go. While SVU is still as great as ever, this was NBC's chance to add a little zest back into a floundering series. I highly recommend this show to people who enjoyed the original Law and Order back in the Angie Harmon years, and to those who like SVU. It's great to have Cabot back in the courtroom even if it is only on DVD.

Dick Wolf's Conviction!
The first Law & Order series to not be called Law & Order, "Conviction" was NBC's very obvious answer to ABC's hit series Grey's Anatomy only with lawyers. Despite their own hopes that Conviction could do for law dramas what Grey's Anatomy had done for medical shows, NBC (as with Dick Wolf's previously short-lived Law & Order: Trial By Jury) ultimately canceled the series. Too bad, especially for fans of Stephanie March's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit character ADA Alex Cabot, as later episodes, according to March, would have dealt in depth with Alex, both in terms of her family and what makes her tick. Thankfully though, the producers were allowed to wrap up the series with a satisfying two-part finale. Conviction may have deviated somewhat from the typical L&O formula, but it still remained true in tone to the other Law & Order shows. Definitely a worthy addition to any [Court] TV DVD collection. Not so much for the packaging or extras, but for the episodes themselves which feature immaculate picture and sound. Not to mention the show's killer theme song "Destiny" by Syntax which can now be heard in both the main and closing title. Props to Universal for a great transfer. Conviction - The Complete Series is a 3-disc (single-sided) set featuring all 13 episodes; Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) video; Dolby Digital 5.1 English audio; plus the following Special Feature: Seven Character Profiles.

In the criminal justice system, the average age of a prosecutor in New York City is 28. These are their stories.

1. Pilot
2. Denial
3. Breakup
4. Indebted
5. Savasana
6. Madness
7. True Love
8. Downhill
9. The Wall
10. Deliverance
11. Indiscretion
12. 180.80
13. Hostage


Highly Recommended!

Conviction
I love this show!!!It's great that Alex was let out of Witness Protection after they caught the man that shot her. I can't believe Numb3rs beat it. Personally, I don't think Numb3rs is that great, maybe an episode or two.