• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, September 17, 2025

Before we get into this TV Blog about the new Netflix crime drama “Black Rabbit,” a word about the most tiresome device in TV storytelling today -- the “sometime earlier” gimmick.

This is the one that gets flashed onscreen after a few minutes into a show’s first few scenes. In the case of “Black Rabbit,” the words “one month earlier” appear 10 minutes into Episode One.

In the show, the words appear at a cliffhanger moment, when one of the show’s main characters -- New York City restaurant entrepreneur Jake Friedkin (Jude Law, above photo) -- is seen in closeup lying frightened on the floor of his restaurant while someone points a large handgun at his face. 

It’s a heist, in which a pair of armed robbers has invaded the crowded restaurant to steal jewelry. Within a few minutes, the scene threatens to explode in violence.

Then suddenly, the show abandons Jude Law’s frightened expression and goes to the same restaurant dining room “one month earlier” at a much sleepier time on a typical day before the start of business. 

The show then starts to reveal more about the life of the Jude Law character leading up to the gun in his face.

The TV Blog has nothing in particular against storytelling devices. But when you see the same one used over and over again, you begin to wonder whether Hollywood screenwriters are relying on one device a little too much, particularly when it is not especially necessary.

It is not particularly necessary for “Black Rabbit” either. It is a show whose story stands on its own, whether or not the show applies flashbacks to tell it.

The title is the name of the fictional Manhattan restaurant that is at the center of the show. Jake Friedkin is one of two brothers who founded the restaurant, but the other brother is AWOL.

The brother, Vince Friedkin (played by Jason Bateman), is not on the scene, having gone off the deep end into a life of drugs, alcohol, compulsive gambling and grifting.

In Episode One, however, after running into trouble in a western city, he comes east to seek refuge in his former community, and also money from his brother. 

What could possibly go wrong? Well, a lot of things. Wherever Vince goes, trouble follows -- otherwise there would be no show. 

“Black Rabbit” has been widely publicized, in part because of the star pairing of Law and Bateman -- which is why they appeared together as presenters at Sunday’s Emmy Awards.

Overused storytelling devices aside, “Black Rabbit” is a top-notch, hard-boiled crime thriller. 

Maybe they will be on the stage at next year’s Emmys receiving awards instead of giving them to someone else.

“Black Rabbit” premieres Thursday (September 18) on Netflix.