Series Review: Netflix’ Tokyo Trial
Rating: 3.5/5
At the end of World War-II, legal precedence was set against the waging of aggressive war, and in all the excitement following the Nuremberg Trials, it was easy to overlook the obstacles facing the Military Tribunal for the Far East, where the greatest act of military massacre in the war (and in humanity thus far) had been conducted by The Allies, and the answer to the question of ‘Who instigated the war in Japan?’ wasn’t quite so cut and dried.
Over the course of 4 episodes, the series tells the story of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, which presided over what was left of the Japanese political and military upper-echelon on the matter of war crimes, crimes against peace and crimes against humanity. Comprising of preeminent legal minds from across the allied nations, the members of the tribunal soon reach an impasse when Justice Pal (Irfan Khan) questions the act of condemning prisoners for acts which were not crimes at the time when said acts were committed.
The series successfully showcases the fears, doubts and prejudices of each judge, which are in turn ruled by their own backgrounds and common hatred of the War. However, it is interesting to see the interpersonal politics that are brought to bear by some of the judges in order to uphold the verdicts that they find emotionally gratifying but are in fact legally unsound. Unlike shows/movies based on the Nuremberg trials, Tokyo Trials takes a hard look at the irony of countries like France, Britain and America sitting in judgement of others who have been accused of military expansion. Irfan Khan’s character while possessing relatively small screen time plays a crucial role in highlighting the feudal spirit possessed by Judges who claim to represent nations that have protected freedom.
Certain aspects of the show however, are both trope-y and naive which can disrupt the overall cerebral atmosphere that the show manages to create. However, it still makes for an entertaining experience as the perspective provided is fresh, and the quality of the acting is superb.
