(Season 2, Episodes 13-16)
Less court appearances for Bobby, truncated screen time for Lindsay, less law and more emotion from Eugene … unfortunately, it’s the Jimmy and Ellenor show right now. Of course, Ellenor only pipes in when, you know, someone who knows something about the law needs to add their two cents (sorry Jimmy), and otherwise just sits idly by making faces. Plus, who forgot to do wardrobe advising for Rebecca? Those hats mean what?
2.13 “Civil Right”
I wonder if it’s a positive or negative thing that Jimmy was tasked with arguing his mother’s right to marry her female partner. Was this the loser of the week (literal and figurative), or a big plot for him to juggle? I tend to see it backwards, and say that, if it was Jimmy doing the lawyering, it was meant to be just filler. For, Jimmy couldn’t be dumber if he tried.
I’m also wondering just what, if any, Ellenor’s role is on the cases she second-chairs. It’s rare that she does much more than scold her colleagues off-stage. I mean, with Eugene questioning his profession (again), she still refused to step up. I’d say that’s a good place to make a discretionary spending cut.
How is it that these lawyers can get away with rolling their eyes at their clients? Do criminal defense attorneys seriously abhor what they do? And, what’s the deal (in general) with the court hindering a lawyer’s ability to defend their client? I understand objections to points of law, but allowing their own impatience to dictate how much time an attorney can spend traveling down a road that’s going somewhere? Or letting them know they have a “short leash,” or that they’re “on thin ice?” Is how a judge’s day is going reason enough to condemn someone to jail?
Another play called and then punted: the man who was molested by his female dentist. “The Grunt” is bringing in tons of losers, but the description for this episode specifically mentioned the molestation case; what happened to it after the initial interview with Rebecca?
2.14 “Pursuit of Dignity”
I love the guests on this show, mostly because they are subtle, both in their recognition level, as well as in the roles that they play. Kathleen York (Toby’s ex on The West Wing) plays Sharon, a prostitute who gets caught. Oh, and she was also Bobby’s prom date. Her drama was all about trying to keep things hush hush, so her kids wouldn’t find out. She even pleaded the issue with a cop, and argued with Bobby’s recommendations because of that fact. Guess what, lady — you’re a criminal! The world can’t tiptoe around that because you’d hate for your children to know their mommy sleeps with men for money!
Want more guests? Lindsay’s case (doctor and maggots) had Harriet Sansom Harris (Bebe Glazer from Frasier) and opposing council Harry Lennix (most recently of Dollhouse). It’s a game that David E. Kelley plays well.
I liked hearing Rebecca address the court in the Tourette’s student case, but, where was the law? No, she’s no lawyer, but lawyer shows bend way too much to the emotional, and tend to ignore the law a lot. It makes for nice drama, but then we lose what we all came for.
What’s up with the old line, “Tell me exactly what he/she said”? I know that The Practice is far from the only culprit, but these cliches bug me because, a) what different does the phraseology make?, and b) who the hell remembers?
By the by, mucho appreciative that Lindsay, et al, told Jimmy the truth about his ridiculous commercial. And the fact that the story didn’t back off from criticizing him, with Lindsay and Eugene apologizing. Instead, they did the right thing, with Eugene questioning what Jimmy wanted from the profession. He’ll still suck, but at least he won’t be bringing the rest of them down with him.
2.15 “Line of Duty”
Or will he? LOVED that opposing council proposed sanctions against Jimmy, for being capriciously litigious. He DID have to make the argument in open court, Ellenor, because it’s the only way that the point will be hammered home. Jimmy’s a bum, but thinks he’s just small-time. There’s a big difference.
And, why not try setting the client’s expectations, or discovering what a lawyer is, you know, supposed to do during a trial? This was the cancer cluster case, by the way, that had dropped by the wayside a few episodes back. I’m not surprised it wasn’t just ignored, but I’d have imagined it would have been ongoing, even if only in the background, these last few weeks. The show needs to work on continuity.
With Helen, as well. She comes and goes, and yet is Bobby’s serious squeeze, Lindsay’s best friend, an important ADA, and a solid contact for the firm in the DA’s office. So why does she continue to drop in and out? Weird.
This time her coming back lands Bobby in jail. I don’t know about attorney obligations, and the like, but it sounds to me as if there was no case to make for putting Bobby in jail. I think Kelley just likes seeing his lawyers there (personal issues with them?). And, um, Bobby? You’re not the world’s greatest gift to TV lawyer orators (see Alan Shore) — pretend as if you believe your colleagues are qualified to have bar credentials.
2.16 “Truth and Consequence”
Becs is in danger! Rebecca witnessed a robbery and murder, identified the doer, and is quickly threatened by his gang. Gives Eugene the chance to go big brother, and Bobby little sister. Nice. Helen essentially having him murdered, by two cops, was shockingly brutal. Only, shouldn’t the rest of the gang be after Rebecca now? Is that little chestnut going to go unnoticed?
Who Helen should have had murdered is Jimmy. Or anyone can do it, if they so choose. You see what he’s done to me? This is someone who requires everyone’s time and energy, to coddle him, massage his ego and hear his stupid speech about how he’s not good enough time and again. I’m hoping his 166 episode credits for the show is a typo (maybe 16?).
I will give him credit where credit is due, though. The cancer cluster plaintiffs were completely out-of-line to question his motives in recommending a settlement with the energy company. I agree with them that it was an insult, and that no admittance of guilt is counter-intuitive, but to suggest that Jimmy’s in this for selfish reasons? For the money? He is too desperate (and pathetic) to have realized that that was a “you’re fired” moment — him firing them — but he should have at least admonished them for what they said about him. Dope.
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Aug 27, 2009 @ 16:00 EST5EDT
