This docu-series offers a fresh look at what life behind bars really means resulting in a moving and insightful survey of the American criminal justice system.
Americans and American media seem to be fascinated with the criminal justice system as it plays a starring role in many TV shows, movies, and lives. ‘First and Last’ takes a look at the person at the center of this system from another point of view to find out why America creates 22% of the world's prisoners while only having 4% of the world’s total population.
The cast of First and Last varies greatly from season to season but it features inmates of two specific types recently convicted inmates who will be entering jail for the first time and inmates who are on the brink of release.
‘First and Last’ is a very unique docu-series because it does not seek to demonize police officers or conversely highlight their heroism but rather is an attempt to humanize those who have partaken in ‘criminal reform’. The series attempts to humanize inmates and ex-convicts by giving you insight into the two most emotional days associated with imprisonment: the day you enter prison and the day that you leave, or more specifically the emotions and experiences leading to those days.
The juxtaposition between the inmates on their first day and the inmates on their last day make the series very compelling and balanced. New inmates provide high-risk, anxiety-ridden excitement as we feel the weight of every decision they make since they can end up spending a large portion of their life in prison or simply walk free depending on their choices. We also get a look at their back story and get an idea of the complicated to mundane reasons that people get imprisoned. An example of this is Alex from the show's very first episode who is arrested during a routine traffic stop along with two older men because drugs and guns were found in the vehicle. Now since the documentary is shot in a sort of 'fly on the wall' manner it is made clear that the illegal items do not belong to 18-year-old Alex and that he is expected by the two older men to take the charges since they both have criminal records, families and we are led to believe they are senior gang members. So Alex seems to be at a major crossroads in his life. He can either stay silent, go to jail and spend his life dealing with the challenges of being an ex-con or ‘sell out’ Dontrell and Andre and risk being harmed or worse when he is released. We experience the weight of the decision Alex has to make and feel a sense of dread since both choices have disastrous outcomes.
On the other side of this coin are the prisoners who are about to be released, with them the audience can experience hope and dread in equal parts. Hope that the recently released inmate can start fresh and build the life they always dreamed of with their loved ones or dread that they will return to the situations and circumstances that led to them being imprisoned in the first place. You (the audience), the inmate, and their family all speculate as to what will become of them in the off-camera world. The experience of the persons about to be released is definitely not as intense and dramatic as those entering but is thought-provoking and compelling. What does it mean when a 19-year-old Jesus gets a haircut before he is released or when a 54-year-old Amy realizes that no one will be coming to collect her from prison. She is forced to ask a police officer for a ride home taking a ride in the back seat of a police car once more. These scenes help us have a deeper understanding of the human aspects of imprisonment and the deep meaning, pain, and small simple beauty that form this unique experience most of us will never have.
The information provided in this series both educate and confuse as the creators seem to ask ‘Does prison work?’. However, the audience never really gets an answer.
‘First and Last’ season one premiered on September 7, 2018. All the six episodes of the first season were released on this date. Netflix has neither confirmed nor denied the renewal of this series for a second season.
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