Shots Fired (TV series)
A DOJ investigation uncovers a conspiracy in North Carolina.
Shots Fired, a ten-episode drama miniseries, aired on Fox in 2017. It centers on a Department of Justice probe into a racially charged police shooting of an unarmed teenager. This investigation then reveals a possible conspiracy tied to a second teenager's death.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Drama
- Creator
- Gina Prince-Bythewood; Reggie Rock Bythewood
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Episodes
- 10
- Executive producers
- Reggie Rock Bythewood
- Francie Calfo
- Brian Grazer
- Gina Prince-Bythewood
- Producer
- Gina Prince-Bythewood
- Cinematography
- Rodney Taylor; Tami Reiker
Facts from the source article.
Production
In December 2015, Fox ordered the drama series Shots Fired to air. Created by Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood, the show was designed to address racial tensions and police shootings that had sparked protests nationwide. The creators executive produced alongside Francie Calfo and Brian Grazer. Principal photography started in Kannapolis, North Carolina, in March 2016, with work expected to wrap in July. That April, the crew shot in Gastonia and Salisbury, where the Rowan County courthouse was transformed into the Gate County Courthouse, and a WJZY news truck made a cameo. Additional scenes were filmed in Concord, Mooresville, and Charlotte. In May, Johnson C. Smith University’s James B. Duke Memorial Library stood in for North Carolina State University’s library. Casting was announced in stages: Sanaa Lathan joined as Ashe Akino in December 2015. The following February, DeWanda Wise and Conor Leslie were cast as Shameeka Campbell and Sarah Ellis. In March 2016, Stephan James signed on as Preston Terry; Tristan Wilds and Aisha Hinds took the roles of Officer Belk (Beck) and Pastor Janae James; Helen Hunt, Richard Dreyfuss, and Stephen Moyer were set as Patricia Eamons, Arlen Cox, and Officer Breeland; Will Patton was cast as Sheriff Daniel Platt; Jill Hennessy as Alicia Carr; and Clare-Hope Ashitey as Kerry Beck.
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, Shots Fired holds an approval rating of 84% based on 43 reviews, with the critical consensus stating it tackles tough topics commendably and remains consistently compelling despite an occasionally meandering plot. Metacritic gives the miniseries a score of 66 out of 100 based on 27 critics. James Poniewozik of The New York Times called the show curious at first glance but complex, praising the acting—especially that of Sanaa Lathan—and the multilayered storylines, comparing it to ABC's American Crime and HBO's The Wire; he criticized the handling of political sideplots and said much of the exposition is ham-handed. Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter also praised Lathan's acting but noted clunky mystery plotting, stating that sometimes the show articulates its points smartly and with pragmatism, while other times characters say things like 'Liberals can be racist, too' as if that were not already being illustrated; he mocked the methods of stretching the plot across ten episodes but concluded there is much to admire. USA Today mentioned the stellar directing crew and interesting characters, especially women, but said the story could have been told more sensibly and efficiently, offering mixed impressions overall. Chris Cabin of Collider gave Shots Fired two out of five, calling it timely but ultimately more melodrama than crime story or political polemic, arguing it spends more time on the investigators' lives than the actual case and failed to capitalize on its ambition. IGN reviewer Jesse Schedeen gave the pilot a 6.7 rating, calling the show's handling of the shooting both callous and pointless, noting it strays from the social conflict to the mysteries of the deaths and that dialogue becomes downright hamfisted, while praising the strong cast. Newsday gave the show a B rating, calling it ambitious and at times a bit exhausting, but mostly praising the miniseries.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Shots Fired (TV series) first air?
Shots Fired first aired on 22 March 2017.
When did Shots Fired (TV series) end?
Shots Fired last aired on 24 May 2017.
More in Television Series by Imagine Entertainment
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced