American Crime Story (TV Series) The Race Card (2016) User Reviews

The elephant in the room

[Mr-Fusion · 9/10 · 26 March 2017]

How about that for truth in advertising? The subject or race looms large over this episode (pretty much every facet, really), and while subtlety isn't on the table here, the handling of that subject matter lends a real charge to almost every scene; whether its O.J.'s Brentwood mansion being "Africanized" for a jury visitation or vetting a bigoted cop before trial. And who better to anchor this story than Johnnie Cochran and Chris Darden? Say what you will about that being a foregone conclusion, the scenes involving these two are the best. Cochran goes from relatable to unlikable in a very short time here, but Courtney B. Vance completely owns the role.

And that speaks to what's really great about this show: the acting. There are some fine performers in this cast, and I'm enjoying reliving this case because of it.

9/10

Yes, It's Going to Be About Race

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 20 February 2017]

When one of the defense lawyers is stunned by the missing persons on the call list, he has some kind of attack. This forces Marcia Clark to find someone to take his place. She decides that since Chris Darden is ready for the big time and knows the evidence intimately, she will simply make him second in command. Of course, now he is seen as a token black man, picked for that purpose only. We know that if it weren't for race, had a white football player been accused, it would never have generated so much interest and so much controversy. This episode moves the plot along but doesn't really add a lot to it. There are some nice surprises that don't speak well of us.

Green People Laugh at Us!

[hamidullahgenc · 9/10 · 29 December 2016]

Get down on it! Get down on it!.. Okay, enough of it. Not cool of me.

Ihmm...

We see the origins of a black "Assistant District Attorney" in the first couple of minutes. It is devastating to even think of it as normal day for some black persons in anywhere around the world.

So, we are shown that Mr. Cochran has had bad experiences all the time in his past, and has not been "assimilated" by those "unjust" behaviors towards him.

And also that he is an attentive parishioner that he has to have religious merits in him.

(Verily, this is controversial. To win a case no matter what happens cannot be of those merits. Justice is not defined by power or triumph.)

Nevertheless, Mr. Vance is just perfect for the role!..

"I appreciate your concern, but I refuse to be in the same room with a particular individual, and I think you know why..." Way to go, Mr. Shapiro!.. We 'd not expect less from you, such an immaturity-wise, egocentric person you are!..

So, we have to say that Mr. Shapiro slowly grows on us as Mr. Travolta plays his part well in spite of his "expressionless face". Maybe he had botulin toxin done on his face... Sad. Still, he does his share very well.

Mr. Darden is nothing Mr. Cochran is. He is no racist backwards, nor is he plays the race card to win at all cost. He is someone we should watch closely as he only seeks justice apart from whether he thinks O.J. Simpson did commit the double murder or not.

Moreover, Mr. Sterling K. Brown performs the mood swings and the drivenness essential for his part so well!.. This is very good.

Let's get to the good part! We feel that Detective Mark Fuhrman is the bombshell in all these... He might or might not have something to do with the damned acts of murder, but he surely will change the course of history soon.

We've got to say, Mr. Steven Pasquale doesn't give away the this Fuhrman character so easily that it is a success for now. Neo-Nazis; huh?.. :S

(Today's growing problem in the Europe as well as in the US. So, this is meaningful.)

A matter, worthy of notice, should be discussed here. So, "Juror Crime Scene Visitation" is this?.. The alteration of O.J.'s house is an insult to the deceased and to the institution of justice!.. Justice means not "cheap" to us... Interesting.

Another thing is, black members of the society there will possibly have each other's back even when they are opponents as it can be seen between Mr. Darden and Mr. Cochran. This is like a religion that black persons attend to: "The black comes first..." Oh, racism is no good.

"O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and appointed you races and tribes, that you may know one another. Lo! Surely the noblest among you in the sight of Allah is the most god-fearing of you. Allah is All-knowing, All-aware." says the Gracious Koran on the matter.

Chapter: 49 (The Dwellings), Verse: 13

Setting the Race Card

[Michael_Elliott · 2 March 2016]

The People vs. O.J. Simpson: The Race Card (2016)

Tempers begin to rise as the start of the trial is set to begin and both sides start to deal with the race card. Christopher Darden (Sterling K. Brown) begins to question why he was asked to be a part of the trial while Johnnie Cochran (Courtney B. Vance) must explain to O.J. (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) why certain members of his race might not like who he really is.

This fifth episode isn't nearly as wonderful as the previous one but you can tell that this here was just a wild card to set up everything that is going to follow. That's not to say this episode isn't a very good one because it is but there's just no question that this one is meant to plant the seeds that are going to explode on down the line. Once again what really impressed me were the performances with Vance easily stealing the series up to this point. Another very good thing are some of the behind-the-scene arguments that we're seeing. Whether it's the defense versus the defense or the D.A. office going up against one another.

Episode: A-

wow

[Lythas_85 · 8/10 · 17 April 2023]

That is why courtney b vance and Sterling K. Brown got their Emmy.

Dudes started featuring more in episodes 3 and forward and they are carrying the show because sschwimer and travolta that have been since the begining were a bit disappointing

now the show is building up some tension and cochran played by vance is an animal.. dude is pretty much carrying the show at this point.. i would like to see if shapiro was actually that annoying.. his looks of annoyed are priceless..

at least they took it down a notch the kardashian thing of showing the family for no reason... showing all the kids and specially the ex wife.