Shots Fired Finale Review

The conclusion to the first and only season of this series comes this week, with the tenth episode.


S1E10 "Hour 10: Last Dance"

The episode picks up right after Breeland getting shot. A large number of officers go to the houses, where they use excessive force. Without Breeland, it will be harder for Preston to win his case. His argument to the jury is compelling, regardless, and it works, with it leading to Beck's arrest. However, in the other case he is unable to convince the jury.

Preston is told it's time to be done in this town, but he isn't ready to be done. He goes to Breeland's storage unit, where he finds a recording. The scene becomes intense when Sheriff Platt arrives, but Ashe saves things when she arrives with a search warrant. Everything doesn't end up all wrapped up perfectly, but the final moments show progress being made in many ways, which is a fitting way to end the episode.


This episode succeeded where most episodes of Shots Fired failed, moving the story along enough in the hour, and in an interesting way. However, it was not without its issues. It was unbalanced in regards to Preston and Ashe. He drove almost all of the action this week. Also, the scenes having to do with the relationship between the two of them felt odd and, like the relationship, unnecessary.

Score: 8.5/10

What did you think of "Hour 10: Last Dance"? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Shots Fired S1E9 Review

Preston and Ashe don't have much time left, in the penultimate episode of Shots Fired.


S1E9 "Hour Nine: Come to Jesus"

After the video footage of when Jesse was shot is released, Officer Beck tells Preston and Ashe something important: that the volunteers who went on the tours didn't have the proper training, and carried their own firearms.

Ashe ends up successfully getting Sheriff Platt to confess to killing Joey. He shifts the blame to Breeland, saying that his intimidation kept him silent thus far, and that he framed Janae. This leads to Preston and Ashe getting to stay on the case.

Two other big things happen this week. Ashe doesn't get custody of her daughter, and is only allowed supervised visits. And, at the end of the episode, Platt gets shot, which provides the perfect twist for next week's season finale.


This was an enjoyable episode. It wasn't as slow-paced as some of the other episodes, and it provided some great moments with the case.

Score: 7.5/10

What did you think of "Hour Nine: Come to Jesus"? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Shots Fired S1E8 Review

This episode takes place after last week's surprising arrest.


S1E8 "Hour 8: Rock Bottom"

Ashe continues to go through her personal issues. There is a really emotional scene where she leaves her daughter a message. Sanaa Lathan is great in this scene. Finally, these issues have a major impact on the investigation, as she ends up beating up one of the police officers.

However, the story takes a turn after this that I don't support: Preston and Ashe have sex. Not much else really happens in this episode, even if we do get some strong scenes, such as a great one with the bonding of the two mothers.


This was a really slow-moving episode. There were a few good scenes in it, but the story element was weak.

Score: 4/10

What did you think of "Hour 8: Rock Bottom"? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Shots Fired S1E7 Review

Preston and Ashe are attempting to find the truth before a new team of investigators arrive.


S1E7 "Hour 7: Content of Their Character"

The opening scene of the episode shows the governor pardoning someone being arrested for vandalizing. Something interesting here is that the spray painted message is directed at her. However, this week she also has to defend her control of the riots last week to her daughter, who disagrees with what she did. But, she is able to make her daughter understand.

In order to find out more about Joey's murder, Preston borrows a large amount of money from his brother, which he gives to a journalist to use to bribe a witness. However, the information isn't able to reach Preston, as she ends up in a collision. Preston and Ashe go to talk to the witness, and they discover that her house is bugged.

Preston is really being bold this week, and is determined to find the answers. He promises to a crowd that he will figure out who killed Joey. They find a video showing the events when Jesse was killed, which strongly indicates that Beck was in the wrong. The episode ends with Janae getting arrested for the murder of Joey.

The case is heating up this week more than it has in the past, and I really enjoyed that. Still, I would like more, but this was good.

Score: 7.5/10

What did you think of "Hour 7: Content of Their Character"? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Shots Fired S1E6 Review

They don't want to be another Ferguson, but this week it's looking like that may happen.


S1E6 "Hour 6: The Fire This Time"

Preston and Ashe want to investigate the connection between Jesse and Joey, but the police department shows them that the connection they found, the strain of weed, is just because of who sold it to them. Due to the riots, Preston and Ashe are given one more week to work on the case, when a new team will replace them. I like this time crunch being put on them, because the series has lacked in urgency so far. Also, Preston has an interesting conversation about Abraham Lincoln, giving us another perspective. I like that the show does that.

Ashe heads home to see her daughter, but she gets mad when she discovers that this is a supervised visit. She goes to court, where she argues that she can balance her work and being a mother. She gives an emotional argument as to why her daughter needs her, which is a compelling moment. This doesn't seem to help her case, much so she resorts to getting her ex to have sex with her, and then blackmails him. This was a good story, though it felt so disconnected from the main story of the series.

As the protesting increases, the governor is conflicted about what to do. The protesting turns to rioting, and the police try to contain it. The show does a great job of showing the intensity of these riots, and it gives us a really emotional moment when Joey's brother damages a police car, and then is taken by the police, as his mother cries out "no!" She ends up blaming Preston for this, because he gave them the delusion that they could get justice. That is an interesting perspective, and I'm glad the show gave us that.


This week's episode was stronger than the last few weeks. A lot more happened, especially as the episode went on, and Ashe's personal story wasn't just a repeat of what we already know, though it did feel disconnected from the rest.

Score: 7/10

What did you think of "Hour 6: The Fire This Time"? Leave your thoughts in the comments!