One of Netflix's Most Brutal Miniseries of All Time Is Based on a Heartbreaking True Story

When shows are based on true stories, they can unlock something special in the viewer. It can be very moving to know that the actions and people depicted on the screen stem from real events. That's why one of the most powerful shows of all time is still a must-watch. In 2019, Netflix released a four-part miniseries that begs us to look at the racial injustice in this country, and you'll be better off just by watching it.

What Is Netflix's 'When They See Us' About?

One of the most shocking crimes to ever capture America's attention was the brutal assault and rape of the Central Park Jogger in New York City in 1989. The events of this case are depicted in When They See Us in such an authentic and realistic way. At that time, the city was appalled by the woman's attack (her identity was initially hidden from the public), and she remarkably made a recovery, even though her injuries were incredibly extensive. The case would have been tragic enough on its own, but there was also a massive injustice that came out of it. On the night of the attack, dozens of teenagers had been "wilding" through the park. Police rounded up five Black and Latino teenagers — Kevin Richardson (Asante Blackk), Antron McCray (Caleel Harris), Yusef Salaam (Ethan Herisse), Raymond Santana (Marquis Rodriguez), and Korey Wise (Jharrel Jerome) — and ended up charging these young men with the woman's attack, based on zero evidence.

These minors were all actually innocent. Through intense interrogations and manipulations, some of the boys were coerced into confessing. These scenes are particularly horrifying to watch because you can see the power that law enforcement (and the prosecutors) had over people of color who already had the deck stacked against them. The youngsters ended up being convicted, and four of them were sent to juvenile detention centers for maximum sentences. Korey was sentenced to spend his time in an adult prison because of his age, and was the last of the Central Park Five to leave prison in 2002. This was the same year that their convictions were vacated because the real criminal confessed all those years later. The Central Park Five were eventually awarded a settlement after suing the city for wrongful conviction. All of the nuances of the case are portrayed in When They See Us with sensitivity towards the people involved in the real events, and with a depiction of intense themes of racism and the long-lasting effects of trauma.

The Performances in 'When They See Us' Are Truly Astounding

The events of the Central Park Five would be intense enough just to hear their stories. But the true pain and loss they lived through is demonstrated onscreen because of the fantastic directing of Ava DuVernay and the impressive performances she was able to capture by every actor in the project. Each of the actors who play the boys absolutely nails both the naivety and the terror they experienced. The true standout of the cast is Jerome, who is able to bring Korey's intellectual disability and kind nature to the screen with a heartbreaking realism. Whether he's expressing confusion in the police station or the anger of an innocent person being accused in the courtroom, Jerome makes you feel the utterly infuriating injustice of Korey's situation. It's no surprise he won an Emmy for this role.

But it's not just the Central Park Five who turn out astonishing performances. Felicity Huffman plays Linda Fairstein, the head of the DA's office with an icy coldness that perfectly illustrates the inhumanity of the decisions made regarding these boys' lives. Vera Farmiga is also similarly villainous as the lead attorney fighting to put the boys behind bars. There are also several actors who play the boys' parents (including Niecy Nash, Aunjanue Ellis, Marsha Stephanie Blake, John Leguizamo, and the late Michael K. Williams) who are particularly awe-inducing. They're able to imbue their performances with the heartache and world-weary tone of adults who have already seen so much inequality in their time. In Episode 4, we meet the adult versions of the Central Park Five, and this second group of actors is able to seamlessly carry through these roles so that we can see how the trauma has affected these individuals as they've survived into adulthood.

Although many of the scenes are certainly difficult to watch because of the intense emotions they evoke, When They See Us is a masterpiece at depicting a somber true story. It earned 16 Emmy nominations (including many for the cast) and 2 wins. The Central Park Five case is a tale of injustice, but learning more about the story by watching the series is one small way to right these egregious wrongs.