'American Rust: Broken Justice' Review: Even Jeff Daniels can't save Prime Video's mediocre crime series
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA: Prime Video returns with the continuation of Del Harris, Grace Poe, and Billy Poe's story from Season 1 of 'American Rust'. Set four months after the West Virginia shootout, the series primarily takes place in Pittsburgh.
Del becomes a detective in the Pittsburgh PD and works alongside his partner, Angela Burgos, to investigate a package bomb. Meanwhile, Grace Poe, Billy Poe, and Isaac English also strive to piece together their lives.
Season 2 delves into the complexities faced by each of these characters as they navigate their roles in the previous season's tragedies while attempting to move forward.
Prime Video's risky bet turns futile with 'American Rust: Broken Justice'
Showtime's decision to cancel 'American Rust' after its negative reception in the first season was not without reason. However, Amazon took a risky bet and greenlit a second season.
'Broken Justice' doesn't stand alone but rather continues the narrative from Season 1. Let's face it, Season 1, due to its slow progression and weakly designed characters, struggled to attract a dedicated fan base.
This lack of engagement resulted in a significant loss of viewership.
For newcomers, diving into Season 2 means first enduring the shortcomings of Season 1 to grasp the context of the storyline, potentially leading to losing interest due to Season 1's mediocrity.
Jeff Daniels' talent gets wasted in 'American Rust: Broken Justice'
Jeff Daniels, a recipient of two Primetime Emmy Awards, undoubtedly shines on screen. However, when he is placed in a non-engrossing crime series with supporting characters that lack resonance and impact, the result is disappointing.
Jeff, as always, delivers his best performance but is hindered by the formulaic police drama featuring a generic storyline and characters.
Maura Tierney excels in her portrayal of Grace Poe, showcasing her badassery every time she graces the screen. However, the limited screen time shared by Jeff and Maura is another drawback of the series.
The series' murder plot fails to generate excitement, and the emotions portrayed by the supporting cast fall short of leaving a lasting impression.
Season 2 concludes with a cliffhanger, hinting at the possibility of another season. However, we wouldn't be disappointed if the series doesn't continue.
'American Rust: Broken Justice' falls into the realm of mediocrity, making it a series that can be skipped in favor of revisiting some classic works in this genre.
'American Rust: Broken Justice' is now available to stream on Prime Video