Murder One

Right now you can watch Murder One in the UK on Sky Go — and it holds up to as much attention as you give it. Across 2 seasons, the show has had time to find its rhythm and keep it. 30 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Anthony LaPaglia anchors it with a performance that rewards close attention. Start it on Sky Go whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Murder One is worth clearing space for. The writing in Murder One treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. Theodore 'Teddy' Hoffman is a highly-regarded defense attorney in a prestigious Los Angeles law firm. Having successfully defended the wealthy but suspicious Richard Cross in a much-publicised murder trial, he is now involved in the defense of Neil Avedon, a famous young actor who has been suffering from severe drug and alcohol problems - and has been charged with the murder for which Cross was acquitted. Anthony LaPaglia and Mary McCormack lead a cast doing genuinely serious work here. It ran for 2 seasons (1995–1997), and the writing holds up across every one of them. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Murder One. If you have already watched Damages, Murder One is a natural next step. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single week. Anthony LaPaglia is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.

Murder One was cancelled in 1997, created by Channing Gibson, Charles H. Eglee and Steven Bochco — and 2 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.