The Practice virgin’s diary – Bobby’s reign comes to an end

(Season 7, Episodes 21-22)

This will be the last of my virgin diary entries for a while … I can see two weeks out, and FX has yet to schedule an airing of the eighth and final season of The Practice. It’s just as well, since I think after almost 150 episodes I could use a bit of a break. I’d be unhappy if they decided to forego it altogether, but I appreciate a little time off.

At the same time, for the second time in seven seasons the powers-that-be at the network decided to skip an episode. I think I’m better off without it, based on my assumption that it was a whole lot of Bobby and the convict drama, but it seems weird that the execs didn’t notice that episode 20 never aired.

7.21 “Baby Love”

Apparently Bobby had an affair during episode 20, because this episode began with his convict wife wanting a divorce and Bobby admitting to sleeping with Sarah Barker. Ellenor completely ruined the joyousness of the occasion by butting in and trying to reconcile the pair. This was time for celebration, and she was acting like they were throwing away something of value. Their marriage has never made any sense whatsoever.

Eugene faced The West Wing’s Speaker Haffley (Steven Culp) when he defended a pregnant woman standing trial for the murder of her significant other. While I appreciated her desire to press on with the trial before she gave birth, it of course wasn’t until the end that I understood the real reason behind it — the baby was someone else’s, a neighbor who testified on her behalf during the trial.

But the case was interesting, and it brought into question whether claiming defense of others is viable when discussing a fetus. It brought up abortion, but not in a political way; the episode turned the topic into a conversation, not a lecture. I wonder if David Kelley was sleeping while someone else wrote this episode.

Since when are Jamie and Claire friends? I think this was the first time we’d ever seen them speak, but they were dishing on boys like old pals. It was a clumsy way of telling us that Jamie liked Eugene, something that had not been expressed to us naturally so needed to be shoehorned in.

The convict asking for Jimmy’s help on a deposition made no sense; Claire the newbie’s a more savvy attorney … as evident in her HUD research during the case against the landlord whose tenant got injured as the result of a faulty balcony railing. Only thing? Jimmy was the lead attorney and Claire was completely out of line for surprising him with it too. If the convict had employees to spare Claire should have been fired. Funny seeing Jimmy lecturing her about anything, let alone bridling her enthusiasm for bad cases.

7.22 “Goodbye”

I stood and applauded when Bobby announced that he was resigning from the practice. It was long overdue, but the moment was just as sweet regardless of how late it came. It’s about time he get lost.

Of course, my joy was tempered by the firm’s offer to the convict to return. I’m 99.99% sure she leaves the show as well, but just the attempt to keep her around got me all worked up.

Jimmy and Rebecca had an interesting case — a suspected murderer on the run got caught, and the big reveal was not only that his supposed victim was still alive, but that she was the woman sitting next to him posing as his new wife unaware of his sordid past. I liked the twists there.

Seeing Jamie and Eugene together was extremely awkward and uncomfortable. I hope it’s not something that continues to be pursued next season. I didn’t like it.

But it was great to see some early scenes of the show via flashbacks of Bobby’s years at the firm. Back when I liked Bobby and the convict … good times. But with those days long gone, it’s a good thing they’re leaving.

See you next season? I’m not sure yet. But hopefully I’ll get my extra helping of Alan Shore yet.

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Sep 09, 2010 @ 12:00 EST5EDT