One of the more uneasy programs that will premiere on television this year is “Shots Fired,” which tackles a current hot button issue in the U.S.: Police violence.

Right from the opening scene, where a police officer guns down what is later revealed to be a male teenager, viewers get sense of the brutal intensity this show has to offer.

The entire episode is riddled with distrust and uneasiness from citizens of the community toward law officials.

Race is also a strong element of the plot that cannot be ignored. Perhaps the show’s ultimate purpose is to give viewers a cold, hard slap in the face. It is an honest and tragic look at the state the country is falling into, due to prejudice and assumptions before the truth is even told.

The subjects of race and prejudice are addressed in the form of a powerful speech delivered by lead investigator Preston Terry (Stephan James, “Race”),  who, along with his partner on the case, Ashe Akino (Sanaa Lathan, “Now You See Me 2”), deliver magnificent performances, one of the few bright spots in the midst of such a gloomy story.

About mid-episode, this story takes a shocking turn ,as the investigating pair makes a visit to the home of a woman named Shameka Campbell (DeWanda Wise, “Underground”), after getting a tip that she knew further information regarding the shooting. Although during this visit, it is revealed that Campbell has actually recently lost her to son to what is implied to have been a police shooting as well, she also makes mention to the fact her son’s death was not properly handled by police. These complete mishandlings put further emphasis on the absolutly unjust racial prejudice that seems to be a central component of the show.

Aside from the aforementioned focus on racism, viewers get to see what life is like for Akino outside of work. It shows her dealing with being a divorced parent and struggling to convince her ex-husband that she is capable of spending time with her daughter despite, dealing with what is implied to be anger issues.

This aspect is very important to the show and it displays depth, not only to the character, but to the entire story. It is a reminder that law enforcement officers are humans too. They deal with their own issues outside of work, just as everyone else.

At the end of the day, despite the overall dark and somber tone of the new series, it is still one that viewers should continue to watch. There is a greater lesson that is far more important than whether a TV show is enjoyable.

Those willing to learn can catch the show on Fox, Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. or any time after on Fox.com