(Season 7, Episodes 17-18)
Generally, we have no reason to think about the fact that acting relies heavily on body language, movement … you know, those intangible things we don’t consider because of how fluid a part of our own daily lives they are. Nevertheless, they are tools actors use to portray whatever character they’re playing.
So when a post-paralysis Christopher Reeve took the stage, it was astounding to experience how powerful an actor he was — stuck in a wheelchair, his skills were limited to his neck and up. And, of course, his voice. His death was a real loss.
7.17 “Burnout”
The character Reeve played, Kevin Healy, was no peach. With his wife on trial for murdering his brother, Healy was having an affair with his dead brother’s wife, who had done the deed herself. Too bad wifey got the guilty verdict (Caregiver’s Burnout as a defense was crazy weak), but Healy didn’t appear too broken up about it. Besides, now he has money for his care and a new woman to keep him warm. Thanks for playing!
Jamie took on the case of an old friend who was suing I don’t know how many law firms over a perceived industry bias — Andrea (Elisabeth Waterston) claimed that firms were not hiring her because she’d been raped. Possibly the most ludicrous part of Jamie’s case (although, really, it’s tough to determine that) was her argument that of course Andrea would have been hired otherwise by citing her scholastic resume. Really? “She went to an Ivy League law school, so that means her job prospects should have been secure.” As ridiculous as that is to say in general, this episode aired in 2003, when the economy was still hobbled post-tech bubble burst and September 11. Um, she didn’t get a job because she wasn’t the most qualified applicant. Do you forget that everyone else applying would have had virtually the same educational background?
Which ignores the fact that in an at-will employment state, employers don’t need to provide any proof for their staffing decisions, so there was nothing to point to that said “guilty.” Jamie’s using her own personal experience, coupled with her argument that public policy dictates preferential treatment for victims of crimes, was about as un-legal an argument as one could possibly make. Glad the judge awarded her the win in the motion, because that made sense (see: sarcasm).
7.18 “Capitol Crimes”
This episode started like an episode of The Wire, on a drug corner. Things quickly went nuts, with Troy Ezekiel (Sam Jones) firing madly across a crowded street at a rival dealer he feared was going to kill him. How he missed the guy I don’t know, but he did manage to shoot and kill an innocent mother of three.
Eugene and Jimmy landed the case, but Troy got yanked out by the Feds — Massachusetts doesn’t have the death penalty, so the only way to pursue capital punishment was for the Federal Government to step in, which it desired to do. The process involved an informal hearing with a board comprised of randomly chosen prosecutors from around the local Justice Department office.
Here’s where I got lost. The panel had no actual authority, just the ability to make a recommendation. So the fact that they ultimately found that the death penalty shouldn’t be pursued in the case means nothing as far as the Attorney General’s concerned. It’s a recommendation, nothing more. Why was everyone so surprised that the AG decided to pursue death?
I love seeing Steve Rhoades (David Garrison) when he pops up all respectable looking. On The Practice he’s played AUSA Theodore McNally a couple of times, not to mention his spots on The West Wing. Troy’s plea of a hard life, and Jimmy’s speech about politics, were all well and good, but neither spoke to the fact that Troy essentially shot randomly into a crowd. I think the point that both were missing was his wanton disregard for human life. I’m not saying he does or doesn’t deserve to be executed, just that the issue at hand in the case was largely ignored. At least by the defense.
No surprise that an old flame of Bobby’s, Sarah Barker (Teri Polo), was brought in, or that she and Bobby are destined for an affair. The convict seeing them kiss was really stupid and predictable, but it was also ridiculous that Bobby wouldn’t see and recognize his wife’s car from across the street. I liked that Bobby was back seeking advice and counsel from Rebecca, but this is one marriage long overdue for death.
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Aug 26, 2010 @ 13:00 EST5EDT
