Serious Topics Meet Safe Storytelling
Before starting, this looked like a drama I would love: found family, case-to-case structure, emotional stories, and an actor I enjoy watching. And while I do think it’s a decent watch and I don’t regret starting it, it didn’t fully hit the way I expected.
One thing I noticed is that the show often starts cases very strong, targeting serious social topics that really should be talked about, and the first half of each case usually gets me emotionally invested. But then, instead of following through with that same seriousness, the second half often pulls back into unrealistic, overly dramatic or convenient resolutions that avoid dealing with the real systemic problems. It feels like the drama wants the emotional impact of heavy topics, but not the responsibility of fully committing to them.
The show tries to sell found family, but I personally never fully felt it. There was always someone hiding something, people being annoyed with the MC, and even major conflicts later on that made the group feel more like coworkers than a real family. We also didn’t get enough depth for most side characters, so it was harder to get emotionally attached to them as individuals, which also weakened the found family for me.
I’m all for comedic relief in heavy shows, but the comedy here is often too over-the-top and cartoonish for my taste. It sometimes broke immersion and reminded me that I’m watching a drama instead of pulling me into the story. The same goes for the constant “villain of the week” antagonists who act unrealistically in court, it simplifies complex social issues into just fighting bad people instead of bad systems.
One thing that personally disappointed me was how carefully the show handled LGBT topics. There were supportive visuals and moments, which I appreciated, but the show never actually centered an LGBT person’s real legal struggle as a case. It felt more like symbolic support than real storytelling, which as an LGBT viewer felt a bit safe and surface-level.
Overall, I think Pro Bono has a strong premise and good intentions, and some moments really work emotionally. But for me, the combination of exaggerated comedy, unrealistic resolutions, and shallow character exploration keeps it from becoming as impactful as it could’ve been. Still a decent watch, just not the emotional hit I was hoping for.
One thing I noticed is that the show often starts cases very strong, targeting serious social topics that really should be talked about, and the first half of each case usually gets me emotionally invested. But then, instead of following through with that same seriousness, the second half often pulls back into unrealistic, overly dramatic or convenient resolutions that avoid dealing with the real systemic problems. It feels like the drama wants the emotional impact of heavy topics, but not the responsibility of fully committing to them.
The show tries to sell found family, but I personally never fully felt it. There was always someone hiding something, people being annoyed with the MC, and even major conflicts later on that made the group feel more like coworkers than a real family. We also didn’t get enough depth for most side characters, so it was harder to get emotionally attached to them as individuals, which also weakened the found family for me.
I’m all for comedic relief in heavy shows, but the comedy here is often too over-the-top and cartoonish for my taste. It sometimes broke immersion and reminded me that I’m watching a drama instead of pulling me into the story. The same goes for the constant “villain of the week” antagonists who act unrealistically in court, it simplifies complex social issues into just fighting bad people instead of bad systems.
One thing that personally disappointed me was how carefully the show handled LGBT topics. There were supportive visuals and moments, which I appreciated, but the show never actually centered an LGBT person’s real legal struggle as a case. It felt more like symbolic support than real storytelling, which as an LGBT viewer felt a bit safe and surface-level.
Overall, I think Pro Bono has a strong premise and good intentions, and some moments really work emotionally. But for me, the combination of exaggerated comedy, unrealistic resolutions, and shallow character exploration keeps it from becoming as impactful as it could’ve been. Still a decent watch, just not the emotional hit I was hoping for.
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