(Season 3, Episodes 21-23)
Season three ended strongly, with some big cases drawing to a close, and some other major issues being left open to be resolved at a later date. And it really is amazing just how many of these clients keep on coming back for more.
3.21 “Infected”
There’s no way that the Rider Strong murder trial was really what had Helen all worked up. On a macro level, it had to be because her ineptitude has allowed countless killers to walk free. From a micro perspective, this was clearly about the nun killer case, and she proved it when she started ranting about the nun in little Gary’s (Strong) closet. And what kind of a judge hands out 20 years for perjury? This case better come back around again.
While Bobby and Eugene were bogged down with a man suing a hospital after the death of his wife following plastic surgery, Rebecca took on the pro bono defense of an attempted murderer. The bias in that courtroom was overwhelming, and it was impressive that Rebecca was able to wade through that and get the jury to see what we’re to imagine was the truth. Her client was found not guilty, but could their relationship really end with him walking out of court without thanking her? There’s another one that needs to be revisited.
3.22 “Do Unto Others”
This was a Eugene special, in which he defended a rabbi accused of rape. Whatever the explanation behind it, I think everyone agreed that the sex was forcible, even if it might have been consensual in theory on some level. I’m not really sure how he was found not guilty.
But the heart of the episode was that it appeared to be a precipice for Eugene, with him visibly shaken after the jury announced its verdict. I liked that ex Sharon (Aunjanue Ellis) was back, and that they were spending time together, but where’s her turnaround coming from? And are we to believe that this really is meant to be some pivotal moment for Eugene? Why can’t he just take pride in his work, both the good and the ugly?
3.23 “Happily Ever After”
Life or death situations on a legal drama, huh? Interesting choice. I suppose it’s not enough to have cases be the cliffhangers. Lindsay got stabbed, and called out “nun” to Bobby as she passed out, which kicked off a great sequence of events. But before we get to that, do they really have an audible answering machine in their office? Really?
First all of the nuns from the murdered nun’s convent were brought in for questioning — I loved Father Patrick’s (Robert Prosky) line to Helen after all was said and done: “With Catholics like you, who needs Protestants?”
Then, when Jimmy spotted the surveillance picture of Bobby and Lindsay in Judge Kittleson’s (Holland Taylor) office, with Lindsay’s face scratched out, she was arrested. Then Lindsay woke up, and reported that it was a man in a nun’s habit — so the nun killer got paid a visit by the police, and died in a shootout. Only it wasn’t him, as he had a new kidnap victim sitting in his apartment, snatched that same night. Then a videotape from Joey Heric (John Larroquette) arrived … could he also be Susan Robin’s killer?
It was really interesting watching all of that unfold, and seeing George Vogelman (Michael Monks) in a nun’s habit at the end of the episode was fantastic. I always knew he was guilty, and sick. Does he have some relationship with Joey Heric? And is there a reason that the same few clients continue to resurface for this firm?
There was one circle closed on the episode. Bobby defended a man accused of carjacking and murder. Yes, his snapping was of note, but even more so was Judge Hiller (Linda Hunt) feeling the need to make amends for her part in the nun killer Fourth Amendment issue — she ruled against a Sixth Amendment violation claim cited by Bobby and refused to throw out the charges. Did that balance the scales of justice?
The big news, however, was Bobby’s proposal to Lindsay, and her acceptance. The event, combined with Helen being there — I hate her as a third wheel, but the scene was really funny — was the real question mark going into the break. I don’t imagine that they get married, or that Bobby and Helen are done, so where does this leave everybody?
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Oct 29, 2009 @ 11:00 EST5EDT
