When They See Us: Recap and Reaction

So, the police failed this case on all levels. They failed to properly and thoroughly investigate this case from the onset and they failed to bring Patricia Meili's perpetrator to justice.
Initially, the dozens of teenager boys are brought down to the police station because there was a bunch of craziness which happened in Central Park, but then Meili is found, near death and in desperation to get her case solved, they coerce the boys into telling a lie, which will haunt them for years. Despite the extreme lack of physical evidence linking the five boys to the crime, they are all nevertheless found guilty, which is ridiculous. It isn't until the actual rapist confesses that the convictions are overturned. So yes, the police officers failed. There were five boys charged, only two of whom knew each other beforehand, so that one hole. Then, there is the bigger issue of the scene DNA didn't match any of the boys and the boys didn't even have the location of the crime correct. Yet, a jury nevertheless found them guilty.
Now, the series focuses on the trial to some extent but I would have liked more, including jury deliberation, which took several weeks to come to the verdict, but it also focuses heavily on after the boys are released, now young men, probably portrayed by actors slightly too old. Finally ending on a happy note, with the convictions being expunged and the boys being awarded the largest settlement in state history, a small price to pay for all incompetence in this case.
While voice overs are used heavily, the acting is impeccable, which is no small feat and most of the cast did receive Emmy nominations, which are fully deserved, Jharrel Jermone winning for inhabiting Korey Wise, the only one who was sixteen and tried as an adult.
Though I do feel race played a large role in why these boys were found guilty (four are African American, one is Hispanic), I also feel that the police wanted an easy conviction and manipulated the timeline to attempt to fit the story they were hearing, which is unacceptable and the officers are taking statements without the boys having a parent or lawyer present, which is illegal. This show is another example of why police need more training before they should become officers. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Don't buy or read any of Linda Fairstein's books, as she is one of the main reasons the boys were found guilty, and even when overwhelming evidence told her otherwise (such as the confession of Mr. Reyes), she still refuses to believe that she was wrong.
-It is nice seeing Kylie Bunbury in something again.
-Vera Farmiga is almost unrecognizable in her role as the DA, who is conflicted about her role in the matter.
-Fortunately, Meili survives the attack.
-There is also jabs at Trump throughout the show, as he had some strong and disproportionate views on the case.