If you remember last year – wasn’t that long ago, keep up – you might remember Jury Duty, a reality hoax series on Prime Video that was my personal show of the year. The format was amazing, so simple and so deft: a completely fake courthouse was set up in LA, where every member of the prosecution and defence, and every other member of the jury, was an actor. Then, at the centre, was the one normal guy who wasn’t in on the facade, Ronald Gladden. It was an extraordinary logistical achievement, and the show simply wouldn’t have worked if Gladden himself wasn’t a sweet, wholesome, open-hearted person. But despite being played for comedy, it managed to say some interesting stuff about the legal system in the US. It showed how easily a room full of 12 people can be swayed, by a well-told story or a shared trauma or just ignorance, or how the importance of a piece of information can be based purely on the context of the day it was told to you. Again, I cannot say this enough: you have to go and watch Jury Duty.
But before that, you should watch The Jury: Murder Trial (26 February, 9pm, Channel 4), which is actually a different show, despite having a similar name and, in many ways, a similar premise. First, it’s in Britain – Chelmsford in Essex, which feels contextually important. Second, no laughs. It’s a re-enactment of a real murder trial, done with (very good) actors, based word for word on court transcripts. All the jurors know it’s a fake trial being re-enacted for TV. But what they don’t know is, right next to them, using a different staircase and having their discussions in a different room, is an entire other jury. Two juries, one very real fake trial, some phenomenally forthcoming to-camera admissions and an insight into the jury system that has never been seen before. But also, one very huge and pressing question: will the two juries come to the same conclusion? If yes … cool, I guess? If no … well, actually, this might turn out to be one of the most terrifying series ever to air on TV.
