NEW YORK (CNS) -- The name of a TV show's executive producer isn't always of great interest to its viewers. But the fact that Marcia Clark, once the lead prosecutor in the murder case against O.J. Simpson, served in that capacity behind the scenes of ABC's limited series drama "The Fix" is significant, especially given the program's plot.

This is, after all, the story of a prosecutor getting a second chance to put away a high-profile defendant she previously failed to convict. "The Fix," which debuts Monday, March 18, 10-11 p.m. EDT -- and will continue in that time slot throughout its 10-week run -- thus feels like something of a revenge fantasy for Clark.

Older viewers, at least, will not need to be reminded why Clark might dream of getting her own back. As a deputy district attorney in Los Angeles, Clark was in charge of proving Simpson's guilt in the brutal slaying of his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend, Ron Goldman. Simpson's controversial acquittal in the case roiled race relations at the time and divides the nation still.

This real-life background casts a long, distorting shadow over "The Fix."

Forty-something Los Angeles County prosecutor Maya Travis (Robin Tunney) serves as Clark's alter ego. In the flashback to 2010 that opens the pilot, Travis suffers a humiliating defeat when popular actor Sevvy Johnson (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) is found not guilty of murdering his ex-wife Cassandra and one of her pals.

Eight years later, Travis is enjoying life on her ranch in rural Washington and is happily paired with live-in boyfriend Riv (Marc Blucas). One day, Deputy District Attorney Matthew Collier (Adam Rayner) shows up on Travis' porch to inform her that Johnson is the chief suspect in the murder of his much younger girlfriend, Jessica Meyer (Taylor Kalupa).

As a physically imposing black celebrity, Johnson is obviously a stand-in for Simpson, though with some differences. Johnson, for example, has gained fame exclusively as an actor whereas Simpson's initial notoriety came on the football field -- only later did he turn to acting. More significantly, Johnson is British by birth.

At Collier's urging, Travis reluctantly returns to Los Angeles to help tie Johnson to Meyer's killing. As evidence mounts against him, she engages ever more closely with the case and, predictably, is eventually installed as lead prosecutor by politically opportunistic District Attorney Alan Wiest (Breckin Meyer).

Defense attorney Ezra Wolf (Scott Cohen), who successfully represented Johnson in his previous trial, is convinced that managing the optics of the case and rehabilitating his client's image will be the keys to winning this time. To that end, Cohen hires a social media consultant, Ares Ahn (Abraham Lim), to win Instagram and Twitter users over to Johnson's cause.

As it did in the Simpson case, domestic violence figures prominently in "The Fix." But, in contrast to the real-life situation, the defense manages to uncover strong, credible evidence against Ben Mitchell (Michael Gladis) who discovered Meyer's body. Johnson also pursues his own suspects.

Besides the murders and domestic abuse, the episodes of "The Fix" available for review include a harshly violent physical assault, a suicide, some implied sexuality and occasional coarse language. Those elements suggest "The Fix" is best suited for mature audiences.

But adults will need to overlook the show's essential lack of credibility if they're going to stick with it.

When, for instance, the evidence begins to point to someone else and Travis says, through tears, "I don't want it to be him. I want to see Sevvy rot," her emotions may be relatable on one level. But, given that she's supposed to be a seasoned prosecutor, obligated to follow the truth wherever it leads, her reaction ultimately rings false.

Largely due to Lim's overly broad performance, the extravagant flair with which Ahn micromanages Johnson's social media campaign registers as equally far-fetched. And melodramatic subplots involving a gambling addiction, extortion and a mole in the DA's office further stamp "The Fix" as implausible.

Memorable as Mr. Eko in ABC's long running hit series from the 2000s, "Lost," Akinnuoye-Agbaje is a good character actor playing a character actor -- not someone projecting the charisma the premise requires of him.

In time, viewers may look back fondly on this series as a source of campy fun. But, they'll have to try to ignore the grim real-life story on which it's founded -- and forgive some serious dramatic flaws as well -- in order to do so.

- - -

Byrd is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service.