Legal dramas have long been a staple of television, from the slick courtroom theatrics of Law & Order to the cutthroat maneuvers on The Good Wife.
But before we had Jack McCoy or Alicia Florrick, there was The Defenders, a 1960s legal drama that broke new ground — and taboos.
Unlike its contemporaries, The Defenders wasn’t just about winning cases or dramatic courtroom moments. It was a show with a conscience, unafraid to tackle the controversial issues of its time.
E.G. Marshall (CBS/Screenshot)
Abortion, civil rights, war crimes — no topic was off-limits.
At a time when TV often shied away from controversy, The Defenders leaned in, proving that television could not only entertain but also challenge its audience.
Let’s examine how this quiet revolution unfolded and why The Defenders remains a landmark in TV history.
When The Defenders premiered in 1961, most legal shows were formulaic and lighthearted. Shows like Perry Mason focused on neatly solving cases with little moral ambiguity. But The Defenders wasn’t interested in tidy resolutions.
Starring E.G. Marshall as attorney Lawrence Preston and Robert Reed as his son and legal partner Kenneth, the show revolved around a father-and-son law firm taking on cases that often hit close to home.
Robert Reed (CBS/Screenshot)
The Prestons weren’t just lawyers — they were advocates for justice, even when the stakes were personal or politically charged.
The show wasn’t afraid to let the good guys lose. Courtroom victories weren’t guaranteed, and episodes often ended on an ambiguous or bittersweet note, reflecting the complexities of real-life justice.
Tackling the Taboo
What made The Defenders revolutionary wasn’t just its storytelling but the topics it dared to address. In a time when most TV shows avoided controversial subjects, The Defenders boldly tackled the issues of the day.
One of the most groundbreaking episodes was The Defenders Season 1 Episode 30, “The Benefactor,” which centered on a doctor charged with performing an illegal abortion.
The Benefactor (CBS/Screenshot)
Airing in 1962 — more than a decade before Roe v. Wade — the episode examined the doctor’s motivations and the moral dilemmas surrounding abortion long before the topic was openly discussed on television.
The episode was controversial, sparking debate among viewers and critics.
But it also set a precedent for TV dramas to explore complex social issues, paving the way for shows like Grey’s Anatomy and The Good Wife to tackle abortion with nuance and depth.
At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, The Defenders used its platform to explore themes of racial injustice. Episodes examined issues like segregation, police brutality, and discrimination in ways that felt both timely and urgent.
William Shatner on The Defenders (CBS/Screenshot)
One memorable storyline featured the Prestons defending a Black teacher accused of inciting a riot. The case highlighted the systemic racism of the era while forcing viewers to confront their own biases.
Another standout episode delved into the trial of a Nazi war criminal. The case wasn’t just about guilt or innocence but about the moral responsibility of those who followed orders versus those who gave them.
In a post-World War II world grappling with the Holocaust’s legacy, this kind of storytelling was both provocative and necessary.
The Legacy of The Defenders
Though it only ran for four seasons, The Defenders left an indelible mark on television.
Its willingness to tackle controversial topics paved the way for a new era of legal dramas — ones that weren’t afraid to blend courtroom drama with social commentary.
Jack McCoy – Law & Order (NBC / Virginia Sherwood)
Shows like Law & Order owe much of their DNA to The Defenders.
The iconic procedural has made a name for itself by pulling stories “ripped from the headlines,” often addressing real-world issues like sexual assault, immigration, and political corruption.
While The Defenders didn’t have Law & Order’s longevity, it laid the groundwork for the show’s blend of legal drama and social relevance.
Similarly, The Good Wife followed in The Defenders’ footsteps by exploring the personal and political dimensions of the legal system.
Alicia Florrick’s journey from scandalized wife to powerhouse attorney often mirrored the complexities of The Defenders, tackling everything from abortion rights to government surveillance.
What makes The Defenders so remarkable isn’t just what it accomplished in its time — it’s how relevant its themes remain today.
Carroll O’Connor on The Defenders (CBS/Screenshot)
Many of the issues it addressed, from racial injustice to reproductive rights, are still hotly debated.
In an era when TV dramas often prioritize sensationalism over substance, The Defenders reminds us of what the medium can achieve when it dares to challenge its audience.
It proved that television doesn’t have to shy away from difficult conversations — in fact, it can start them.
The quiet revolution of The Defenders lies in its ability to blend entertainment with conscience. At a time when TV was largely escapist, it showed that storytelling could be a force for change.
It wasn’t just a legal drama but a call to action, urging viewers to think critically about the world around them.
The Defenders (CBS/Screenshot)
While it may not have the same name recognition as Perry Mason or Law & Order, The Defenders deserves its place as a trailblazer in TV history.
Its influence can be felt in every legal drama that dares to tackle the tough stuff, proving that sometimes, the quietest revolutions have the loudest echoes.
What do you think about legal dramas that tackle controversial topics? Have we lost some of that courage in modern TV, or are today’s shows still carrying the torch lit by The Defenders?
Share your thoughts, and let’s celebrate the legacy of TV’s first legal drama with a conscience.
Sadly, The Defenders is unavailable to stream, but you can find some episodes for free on YouTube.
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