The Quiet Revolution of The Defenders: TV’s First Legal Drama with a Conscience
Legal dramas have long been a staple of television, from the slick courtroom theatrics of Law & Order to the cutthroat maneuvers on The Good Wife.
But before we had Jack McCoy or Alicia Florrick, there was The Defenders, a 1960s legal drama that broke new ground — and taboos.
Unlike its contemporaries, The Defenders wasn’t just about winning cases or dramatic courtroom moments. It was a show with a conscience, unafraid to tackle the controversial issues of its time.
E.G. Marshall (CBS/Screenshot)
Abortion, civil rights, war crimes — no topic was off-limits.
At a time when TV often shied away from controversy, The Defenders leaned in, proving that television could not only entertain but also challenge its audience.
Let’s examine how this quiet revolution unfolded and why The Defenders remains a landmark in TV history.
Virgin River Finally Gets Jack and Preacher’s Brotherhood Rightby Jasmine Blu Censored Classics:...
But before we had Jack McCoy or Alicia Florrick, there was The Defenders, a 1960s legal drama that broke new ground — and taboos.
Unlike its contemporaries, The Defenders wasn’t just about winning cases or dramatic courtroom moments. It was a show with a conscience, unafraid to tackle the controversial issues of its time.
E.G. Marshall (CBS/Screenshot)
Abortion, civil rights, war crimes — no topic was off-limits.
At a time when TV often shied away from controversy, The Defenders leaned in, proving that television could not only entertain but also challenge its audience.
Let’s examine how this quiet revolution unfolded and why The Defenders remains a landmark in TV history.
Virgin River Finally Gets Jack and Preacher’s Brotherhood Rightby Jasmine Blu Censored Classics:...
- 12/18/2024
- by Lisa Babick
- TVfanatic
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