Police misconduct, abuse of power, lies, corruption, racial bias, the attitudes and stereotypes of the public/media/authorities, inhumane prisoner living conditions, and failure of social restoration for inmates who've gotten out. A very emotional series indeed, and I try not to use that word lightly. I hadn't heard of this particular story before the series was made but I don't think it'll leave me since, and of course everyone else should watch it too. Obviously since I haven't been through anything like this I can't actually FEEL the anguish and desperation of the Central Park Five, as their lives were stolen by the authorities, but DuVernay translates all these emotions to the screen wonderfully, helped in massive part by the performances (Jharrel Jerome really is the MVP here and I'd love to see him get more good work like this in the future). Thankfully the CP 5 eventually get their freedom back and were given money but that doesn't even begin to heal the wounds of being sentenced to prison for years wrongfully, surrounded by people who actually did their crime, and having to go through all that pretty much alone. I'd put off watching this for a short while now cus of how naturally aggrivating these kind of shows are, I think you'd have to be in a certain mood for it. These kind of injustice/wrongfully blamed storylines always piss me off. But it was absolutely worth it, this'll definitely aggravate you but in a good, purposeful way. And it really is so well made that you'll be caught up in the story and the characters no matter who it focuses on, no one felt short-changed of or got more screen time here than you wanted them to. It's excellent. Absolutely heartbreaking stuff Essential viewing Watch it