The ninety-second TV show: #828 Garrow's Law
I've struggled with historical drama before and have found that a lot of it comes down to the performance - mostly that they can become a bit too theatrical and over the top, which I can find more annoying than interesting. I've seen some on the list by now that don't do that, and play it at a more interesting level - sounding more natural, rather than an exaggerated Shakespeare play. Of course, Garrow's law falls into the more listenable camp, moving at a more modern pace in a way that makes sense. There are, of course, many formal courtroom proceedings, as a historical legal drama, but it makes sense.
Andrew Buchan does a lot for this. He's a compelling actor, imbuing Garrow with a spirit that remains compelling throughout. He cares, he's flawed but he wants to change a system that's not working for everyone and he's amazing at playing that passion. The cast that surrounds him does so as well - Southouse as the barrister keeping him on the right path, Silvester the prosecutor who goes for a win, but who respect each other when it comes to it, and Michael Culkin as judge who works with and against Garrow as the cases develop. The law side is interesting, then, that these are people working in a system, who are adversial because of the system, but respect each other and help when needed. The latter two, especially, pull off a balancing act really well.
But that half is about the reformer of the legal system. He combines many real lawyers, and so while he doesn't follow the historical figure, he probably has elements and represents the cases of everyone who pushed for this.
On the other hand, while Garrow's personal life stories in here are fictionalized as well, although more by embelishing the stories of the real life people they represent, they play a major part through the show as well. The actors involved - Lyndsey Marshal as Lady Sarah, his mistress, and Rupert Graves as Sir Hill, her husband (although she was just his mistress in real life) - play the roles incredibly well, again creating these amazing characters you care about. The storyline, however, isn't always as effective. The platonic relationship, striving for justice, in the first season, work well as an extra impetus to keep moving, but as it develops it has its ups and downs in the story telling. When done well, they're a compelling drive for Garrow to keep pushing, or they create an interesting dilemma on what side Garrow should go for. As often, however, it can feel like a distraction, a 21st century love story inserted into a modern drama where the seams show. I think they hit the balance better in the third season, when the high point of the plot has happened, but in the second season it's clear they have to set up the finale. It's a weaker part of the series, but still played so well it stays a great series.