Chicago Justice
Chicago Justice is an American legal drama television series that aired on NBC from March 1 to May 14, 2017. The series was created by Dick Wolf and is the fourth installment of Wolf's Chicago franchise. A backdoor pilot aired on May 11, 2016 as part of the third season of Chicago P.D. before being ordered to series. The show follows the prosecutors and investigators at the Cook County State's Attorney's Office as they navigate their way through Chicago area politics, the legal arena, and media coverage while pursuing justice.
Chicago Justice | |
---|---|
Genre | |
Created by | Dick Wolf |
Developed by | |
Starring | |
Composer(s) | Atli Örvarsson |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 13 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) |
|
Producer(s) | Carla Corwin |
Camera setup | Single-camera |
Running time | 42 minutes |
Production company(s) | |
Distributor | NBCUniversal Television Distribution |
Release | |
Original network | NBC |
Picture format | HDTV 1080i |
Original release | March 1 – May 14, 2017 |
External links | |
Website |
On May 22, 2017, NBC canceled the series after one season, making it the first series in the Chicago franchise to end.[1] After the show ended, Philip Winchester's character Peter Stone became a regular on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit where Chernuchin became showrunner, while Jon Seda's character Antonio Dawson returned to Chicago P.D. The show averaged a 1.5 rating (adults 18-49, Live+7) in comparison to 1.9 for Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med, with Chicago Fire receiving a 2.3 rating that season.[1] Despite the show performing marginally better than Shades of Blue and Taken, NBC executives stated it was canceled due to sustainability and real estate for other programs.[2]
Premise
Set in Chicago, Chicago Justice is the fourth series in Dick Wolf's Chicago franchise. It follows the State's Attorney team of prosecutors and investigators who work to bring justice to victims.
Cast and characters
Main
- Philip Winchester as Assistant State's Attorney Peter Stone, the Deputy Bureau Chief of the State's Attorney's Office Special Prosecutions Bureau. His father is Benjamin Stone, an assistant district attorney from the first four seasons of Law & Order.[3] Stone joined the main cast in season 19 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as the ADA of the sex crimes bureau.[4] He previously played professional baseball in the Chicago Cubs organization but his career ended when he tore his UCL.
- Jon Seda as Chief Investigator Antonio Dawson. Before joining the State's Attorney's Office, he worked as a detective in the 21st District with the Chicago P.D..
- Joelle Carter as Investigator Laura Nagel. Also a former Chicago police officer like Dawson, Nagel left the force and developed an addiction to painkillers after a line-of-duty injury. She has been clean for months and is now struggling to regain custody of her daughter.
- Monica Barbaro as Assistant State's Attorney Anna Valdez, Stone's second chair.
- Carl Weathers as State's Attorney Mark Jefferies. He served as a Marine during the Vietnam War.
Recurring
- Lindsey Pearlman as Joy Fletcher
- Matthew C. Yee as Ronnie Chen
- Tyrone Phillips as Tyrone Jones
- Tim Kazurinsky as Judge Emerson
- Gary Basaraba as William O'Boyle
- James Vincent Meredith as Judge
- Rammel Chan as Virgil Li
- John Lu as Clerk
Episodes
Backdoor pilot (2016)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
59 | 21 | "Justice" | Jean de Segonzac | Story by : Dick Wolf Teleplay by : Michael Brandt & Derek Haas & Matt Olmstead | May 11, 2016 | 6.75[5] |
Season 1 (2017)
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Fake" | Donald Petrie | Michael S. Chernuchin | March 1, 2017 | 8.73[6] | |
Assistant State's Attorney Peter Stone and Chief Investigator Antonio Dawson prepare to prosecute the suspect responsible for the warehouse fire. When the suspect's supposed confession is deemed inadmissible and the defense prevents a cross-examination of the defendant by Stone, the State's Attorney's office must find a motive and bring justice to both the victims and their families. This episode concludes a crossover with Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. that begins on "Deathtrap" and continues on "Emotional Proximity." It is included on the Chicago Fire Season 5 and Chicago P.D. Season 4 DVD sets. | ||||||
2 | "Uncertainty Principle" | Norberto Barba | William N. Fordes | March 5, 2017 | 7.21[7] | |
After a suspect dies in custody, Dawson is put into an uncomfortable situation when the State's Attorney's office begins accusing Detective Kevin Atwater (guest star LaRoyce Hawkins) of using excessive force when apprehending the man accused of drug dealing. Subsequently, Stone is forced to charge Atwater with murder. | ||||||
3 | "See Something" | Fred Berner | Story by : Dick Wolf & Michael S. Chernuchin Teleplay by : Michael S. Chernuchin | March 7, 2017 | 6.07[8] | |
The State's Attorney's office is in a sensitive situation when a Muslim graduate student is found brutally murdered. Stone and Valdez try to convict a prejudiced frat member, but find he was set up, leading Dawson and Nagel to arrest the victim's best friend. During the trial, the best friend admits to the killing, but claims it was because he found out the victim was plotting a major terrorist attack, leaving Stone and Valdez to question whether this was a heroic act or a cold-blooded homicide. | ||||||
4 | "Judge Not" | Elodie Keene | April Fitzsimmons | March 12, 2017 | 6.42[9] | |
Valdez is in hot water when she witnesses the murder of a popular judge after having drinks with him at a bar. Stone questions Valdez's relationship with the victim and, when she does not give him a straight answer, he refuses to allow her to work the case. In court, the team unearths the killer as the ex-husband of a rape victim whose attacker was given a lenient sentence by the judge. | ||||||
5 | "Friendly Fire" | Stephen Cragg | Richard Sweren & April Fitzsimmons | March 19, 2017 | 5.74[10] | |
The team investigates the brutal murder of a Navy SEAL veteran. Stone and Valdez discover at the autopsy that the victim ingested a flash drive containing classified information about a botched Navy mission in which he was involved. Jeffries, a military veteran, forbids Stone from using the video as evidence, causing friction between the two. | ||||||
6 | "Dead Meat" | Eriq La Salle | Lawrence Kaplow | March 26, 2017 | 5.84[11] | |
Dawson and Nagel investigate the murder of a Chicago police officer. They initially ruled it a suicide because the officer had cancer, but the medical examiner found that the victim had a broken neck. Stone and Valdez determine that the prime suspect was previously exonerated for deadly arson. | ||||||
7 | "Double Helix" | Donald Petrie | Elizabeth Rinehart | April 2, 2017 | 5.91[12] | |
Nagel and Dawson are disturbed when they investigate the brutal murder of a pregnant woman whose unborn baby was cut from her stomach. Stone and Valdez begin to prosecute the person involved. Soon after, the evidence points to the killer being related to a serial killer that Stone put away. Meanwhile, Nagel files a petition for joint custody of her daughter. | ||||||
8 | "Lily's Law" | Donald Petrie | Allison Intrieri | April 9, 2017 | 5.53[13] | |
After a guilty verdict is handed down, a juror on the case is found dead in a lake. The team investigates and discovers that she actually committed suicide because she was being cyber stalked and heavily harassed. Stone does everything in his power to bring the person responsible to justice. | ||||||
9 | "Comma" | Alex Zakrzewski | Michael S. Chernuchin & Allison Intrieri | April 16, 2017 | 4.93[14] | |
The State's Attorney's office investigates the murder of a college student and their prime suspect is a college student who was acquitted of murdering her boyfriend in Spain. Stone digs deeper and thinks it might not be her. | ||||||
10 | "Drill" | Vincent Misiano | Richard Sweren | April 23, 2017 | 5.63[15] | |
An innocent child is caught in the crossfire of an escalating gang war. The State's Attorney's office investigates and discovers that both gangs use social media to fuel their battles. Stone makes a controversial decision to try to shut off the members' smartphones. | ||||||
11 | "AQD" | Victor Nelli Jr. | Lawrence Kaplow & Elizabeth Rinehart | April 30, 2017 | 6.15[16] | |
The team investigates the murder of an Anti-Environmental Alderman who was murdered in a hit and run accident. Dawson and Nagel try to find the person responsible, but have trouble finding any witnesses. Valdez discovers that the driver was a mother frantically trying to find her kidnapped daughter, but later finds out it was a scam. Meanwhile, Dawson runs into Sylvie Brett (guest star Kara Killmer) during the investigation and thinks about their former relationship. | ||||||
12 | "Fool Me Twice" | Martha Mitchell | Bill Chais & William N. Fordes | May 7, 2017 | 5.35[17] | |
The team investigates the shooting of a man left for dead, but is road blocked by detectives (guest star Dylan Walsh) working the same case. Later, Nagel reveals that the victim was her confidential informant and Stone bars her from working the case, as she is too close to it. | ||||||
13 | "Tycoon" | Fred Berner | Bill Chais | May 14, 2017 | 5.73[18] | |
The State's Attorney's office investigates a deadly crane accident that took out half a building and killed a man below in his car. Nagel grows suspicious when the victim is identified to be the son-in-law of a powerful real estate developer who owns the building that collapsed. |
Production
Development
The show was confirmed on January 21 during the 2016 Television Critics Association winter press tour, with the working title Chicago Law.[19] By March 11, the title was changed to Chicago Justice.[20] Filming began on March 28 for the backdoor pilot that aired on May 11 as the 21st episode of the third season of Chicago P.D.[21] The pilot is partially based on historical events and is based on a true story.[22] On May 12, 2016, a day after the backdoor pilot aired on Chicago P.D., NBC gave the show a series order.[23] The series premiered on March 1, 2017, concluding a crossover with Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D.[24] It then ran in its scheduled time slot beginning March 5, 2017.[25]
Casting
Philip Winchester was the first to be cast on February 19, 2016, as Peter Stone, the prosecutor who put Voight in prison years ago.[26][27] His father is Benjamin Stone, an assistant district attorney on the first four seasons of Law & Order.[28] Nazneen Contractor joined the series on March 11, 2016,[20] and Joelle Carter on March 14, 2016.[29] Rocky alum Carl Weathers joined the cast on March 19 as Cook County State's Attorney Mark Jefferies,[30] while Ryan-James Hatanaka was added to the cast on March 24.[31] Lorraine Toussaint reprised her role in the pilot as defense attorney Shambala Green, who appeared in seven episodes of Law & Order.[32] Contractor exited the show on July 7, 2016, to join the cast of the CBS police procedural drama Ransom.[33] On August 25, 2016, Monica Barbaro was added to the cast.[34] On September 28, it was reported that Jon Seda's character Antonio Dawson would move from P.D. to Justice, where Antonio would become an investigator for the State's Attorney's office. With this move, Hatanaka departed the series.[35] Richard Brooks reprised his Law & Order role of Paul Robinette in the episode "Uncertainty Principle".[36] Tovah Feldshuh appeared on the premiere episode as her Law & Order character Danielle Melnick who has become a judge.
Reception
Critical response
The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 70% approval rating, with an average rating of 5.21 out of 10 based on 10 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads: "Chicago Justice's first season won't sway procedural nonbelievers, but for fans of the franchise, it marks another solid entry that should satisfy faithful viewers and newcomers alike."[37] On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the show scored 57 out of 100, based on 9 critics, indicating generally "mixed or average reviews".[38]
Ratings
No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Fake" | March 1, 2017 | 1.7/7 | 8.73[6] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2 | "Uncertainty Principle" | March 5, 2017 | 1.4/4 | 7.21[7] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
3 | "See Something" | March 7, 2017 | 1.3/5 | 6.07[8] | 0.7 | 3.22 | 2.0 | 9.28[39] |
4 | "Judge Not" | March 12, 2017 | 1.2/4 | 6.42[9] | N/A | 2.34 | N/A | 8.77[39] |
5 | "Friendly Fire" | March 19, 2017 | 1.0/4 | 5.74[10] | 0.6 | 2.64 | 1.6 | 8.38[40] |
6 | "Dead Meat" | March 26, 2017 | 1.0/4 | 5.84[11] | 0.6 | 2.65 | 1.6 | 8.49[41] |
7 | "Double Helix" | April 2, 2017 | 0.9/3 | 5.91[12] | 0.6 | 2.59 | 1.5 | 8.50[42] |
8 | "Lily's Law" | April 9, 2017 | 1.0/4 | 5.53[13] | N/A | 2.50 | N/A | 8.03[43] |
9 | "Comma" | April 16, 2017 | 0.9/3 | 4.93[14] | 0.6 | 2.69 | 1.5 | 7.61[44] |
10 | "Drill" | April 23, 2017 | 1.0/4 | 5.63[15] | 0.5 | 2.38 | 1.5 | 8.01[45] |
11 | "AQD" | April 30, 2017 | 1.1/4 | 6.15[16] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
12 | "Fool Me Twice" | May 7, 2017 | 1.0/4 | 5.35[17] | N/A | 2.43 | N/A | 7.78[46] |
13 | "Tycoon" | May 14, 2017 | 1.1/4 | 5.73[18] | N/A | 2.48 | N/A | 8.20[47] |
Home media
The DVD release of season one was released in Region 1 on September 12, 2017.
The Complete First Season | |||||
Set details | Special features | ||||
|
| ||||
Release dates | |||||
September 12, 2017[48] | September 25, 2017[49] | February 7, 2018 |
References
- Andreeva, Nellie (May 22, 2017). "'Chicago Justice' Canceled By NBC After One Season". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- Frederick, Brittany. "Here's why NBC canceled Chicago Justice". One Chicago Center. Archived from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
- Stanhope, Kate (January 18, 2017). "'Chicago Justice': Dick Wolf Talks 3-Show Crossover, 'Law & Order' Comparisons". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 31, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- Kimberly Roots (August 8, 2017). "Law & Order SVU: Philip Winchester to Bring Chicago Justice Role to NY". TVLine. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (May 12, 2016). "Wednesday final ratings: 'Empire' and 'The Goldbergs' adjust up, 'Black-ish' and 'Nashville' adjust down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- Porter, Rick (March 2, 2017). "'The Goldbergs' and 'Criminal Minds' adjust up: Wednesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 3, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (March 7, 2017). "'NCIS: LA' and 'Time After Time' adjust up: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (March 8, 2017). "'The Middle' and 'This Is Us' adjust up: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (March 16, 2017). "'American Crime' premieres low, 'Chicago Justice' fairly steady: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (March 21, 2017). "'Little Big Shots' adjusts up, 'NCIS: LA' adjusts down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 24, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (March 28, 2017). "'Family Guy' and 'America's Funniest Home Videos' adjust down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (April 4, 2017). "'Little Big Shots' adjusts up: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (April 11, 2017). "'Chicago Justice,' 'Madam Secretary' and '60 Minutes' adjust up: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (April 18, 2017). "'Elementary,' 'Shades of Blue' and others unchanged: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (April 25, 2017). "'Little Big Shots,' 'Bob's Burgers,' 'Last Man on Earth,' 'AFV' all adjust up: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 26, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (May 2, 2017). "'Chicago Justice,' 'America's Funniest Home Videos' adjust up: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 3, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (May 9, 2017). "'The Simpsons', 'NCIS: LA' and other originals unchanged: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (May 16, 2017). "'NCIS: Los Angeles' finale adjusts up: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
- Stanhope, Kate (January 21, 2016). "'Chicago Law': Fourth 'Chicago' Show Officially in Development at NBC". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- Abdreeva, Nellie (March 11, 2016). "Nazneen Contractor To Star In 'Chicago' Legal Spinoff, Now Titled 'Chicago Justice'". Deadline. Archived from the original on May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- Swartz, Tracy (March 31, 2016). "'Chicago Justice' stars share set pictures as Chicago filming begins". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- Abrams, Natalie (April 27, 2016). "Chicago P.D. spin-off: First look at Chicago Justice". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- Roots, Kimberly (May 12, 2016). "Chicago P.D. Spinoff Chicago Justice Ordered to Series at NBC". TVLine. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
- Thomas, Kaitlin (January 18, 2017). "NBC Will Preview Chicago Justice with a Three-Way Crossover". TV Guide. Archived from the original on January 22, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- Andreeva, Nellie (December 8, 2016). "NBC Midseason Schedule: 'Trial & Error' & 'Great News' Succeed 'This Is Us', 'Shades Of Blue' Moves, DC's 'Powerless' Slotted". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- Andreeva, Nellie (February 19, 2016). "Philip Winchester To Star In 'Chicago Law' NBC Spinoff". Deadline. Archived from the original on May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- Abrams, Natalie (April 27, 2016). "Chicago P.D. spin-off: First look at Chicago Justice". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- Stanhope, Kate (January 18, 2017). "'Chicago Justice': Dick Wolf Talks 3-Show Crossover, 'Law & Order' Comparisons". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 31, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- Andreeva, Nellie (March 14, 2016). "'Chicago Justice': Joelle Carter To Co-Star In 'Chicago' Legal Spinoff". Deadline. Archived from the original on May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- "'Chicago Justice': Carl Weathers Joins NBC's Legal 'Chicago' Spinoff". Deadline. March 19, 2016. Archived from the original on May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- Andreeva, Nellie (March 24, 2016). "'Chicago Justice': Newcomer Ryan-James Hatanaka Cast In Legal 'Chicago' Spinoff". Deadline. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- Stanhope, Kate (March 21, 2016). "'Orange Is the New Black's' Lorraine Toussaint Set for 'Chicago Justice' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
- Stanhope, Kate (July 7, 2016). "'Chicago Justice': Nazneen Contractor Exits NBC Legal Drama (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 8, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
- Andreeva, Nellie (August 25, 2016). "'Chicago Justice' Casts Monica Barbaro As Series Regular". Deadline. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
- Andreeva, Nellie (September 28, 2016). "'Chicago P.D.' Star Jon Seda Moving To 'Chicago Justice' As Series Regular". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 6, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
- Stanhope, Kate (January 10, 2017). "'Law & Order' Star to Reprise Role on 'Chicago Justice'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 11, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
- "Chicago Justice: Season 1 (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on March 15, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- "Chicago Justice. : Season 1". Metacritic. Archived from the original on June 11, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (March 24, 2017). "'Sleepy Hollow' & 5 more shows double, 'This Is Us' has biggest total gain: Week 25 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (March 30, 2017). "'This Is Us' finale, 'Designated Survivor' top week 26's broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 18, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (April 6, 2017). "'Empire' and 'Designated Survivor' score in week 27 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (April 13, 2017). "'Designated Survivor' scores again, 7 shows double in week 28 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (April 20, 2017). "'iZombie' premiere gets decent bump in week 29 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 22, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (April 26, 2017). "6 shows double, led by 'Designated Survivor': Week 30 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 22, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (May 4, 2017). "'Designated Survivor' makes more big gains: Week 31 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 5, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (May 22, 2017). "'Modern Family,' 'Big Bang' gain the most, 10 shows double: Week 33 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 22, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (May 27, 2017). "'Designated Survivor,' 'Big Bang Theory' finale lead week 34's broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 27, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- "Chicago Justice: Season One". Amazon. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- "Chicago Justice: Season 1 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved July 7, 2017.