Catching Up With THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLIDER

 Article first published as THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER Review on Seat42F.

SPOILER WARNING: This review contains spoilers about the first (and only the first) episode of the series.

Marvel’s second MCU television series premiered on Disney Plus this weekend. THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER, as the title implies, follows Sam Wilson, a.k.a. The Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes, a.k.a. The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan). Doing what, it’s not quite clear in the first episode, as the two do not come into contact. Nor are two more important characters from the films, Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) and Zemo (Daniel Bruhl), anywhere in sight. But the first hour is a set up as to where the two heroes currently are and what their state of mind is before the six-episode story really gets going.

The premiere of THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER starts with a big action sequence featuring The Falcon before it gets personal. I know a lot of people watch Marvel for the big action sequences, and this one should satisfy them. It’s a start-of-the-movie bit, with the hero versus a gang of villains. Not even close to a final showdown, but something to get people excited.

Personally, I thought it went on a little long. Perhaps it did so because there was almost no more action the rest of the episode and they wanted to take care of that segment of viewership. But things got a lot more interesting for me once we checked in with Sam the person, not Sam the hero, and that’s what I hope THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER is primarily about.

Sam is not a man out of time, but he is a man out of step with everything around him. His family has been suffering financially, his sister, Sarah (Adepero Oduye, 12 Years a Slave), having to take care of the family business herself when Sam blipped out of existence for five years. (And can we PLEASE have a series set DURING the blip??? I need to see that!) Sarah doesn’t welcome him back with open arms. Sam is determined to hang onto the past, which causes conflict between them. The question remains, will it be possible for him to do so? Or does he need to move on?

Along similar lines, Sam willingly gives up Captain America’s shield to the Smithsonian, not able to see anyone else but Steve Rogers as the Cap. But by handing over the shield to the U.S. government, he gives up control of Steve’s legacy. So like his family’s business, things may now have taken a turn that he doesn’t have anything to do with and can’t get back.

By contrast, in THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLIDER, Bucky is trying to make up for the past rather than change it. He is in therapy with Dr. Raynor (Amy Aquino, Borsch) and slowly making amends for the wrongs he did as the Winter Solider. This isn’t easy, but he’s trying, and that’s what matters, even if I’m not sure he’s feeling it does. At least this is something that gives him purpose, considering almost everyone he knew is dead and he’s a man out of time.

He also dips his toe into the dating pool with entertaining results, proving just what an old man he really is at heart. It’s the type of comedy mined for Steve in the films, but somehow seems even more amusing when it happens with Bucky.

Of course, there is a villainous group rearing their heads halfway around the world, as Sam’s friend Joaquin (Danny Ramirez, The Gifted) is looking into. This will probably be the mission that brings Sam and Bucky together. Zemo and Sharon Carter are probably connected, too. I’m guessing that will be the main thrust for the next five episodes.

But I hope as THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER takes off, it doesn’t forget what this first installment was about: two men searching for their place in the world. I find that tale more compelling, and that’s the one I want to see more of. Sure, they can go kick butt against supervillains and that’s entertaining. However, rich characters are the heart of the franchise, and with six hours to tell the story, there’s plenty of time to explore that here. Let’s hope they do.

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER releases new episodes to stream Fridays on Disney Plus.

Who's the BOSCH

Article first published as BOSCH Review on Seat42F.

Amazon’s new drama pilot, their first ordered to series, BOSCH, begs the question: do we need another police procedural? True, BOSCH is also a character study of a tormented man who is on trial for killing an unarmed suspect, so he’s not solely focused on whatever new cases he gets into (against orders, of course), but none of this is very original or groundbreaking. Perhaps the title character in this show takes a things a step further than his broadcast network peers, the writers digging a little deeper, but the first hour feels like yet another retread on very familiar ground.

The thing is, I just can’t jump on the Bosch band wagon. When Luther, Elementary, House, and so many other shows have given us a very similar leading man, there just isn’t enough here that feels fresh or new. Sure, there are cosmetic differences, of course, the quality of this program is at least as high, if not higher, than those others I’ve named. But at the central core, Bosch is lacking originality. And, like nearly half of the shows on television today, it takes place in L.A., a totally uninspired setting.

It’s possible to stay in the crime genre and make something fresh. HBO’s True Detective last year proves that. But BOSH isn’t True Detective, so it fails on an essential level.

The best thing I can say about BOSCH is that it casts Titus Welliver (Lost, Argo, Sons on Anarchy) in the main part. Welliver definitely deserves leading man status, and he easily handles the material, being allowed to show his depth and range in a way he hasn’t yet. From his buried pain over what he did, to the face he has to put forward both for the sake of his profession and so that he can try to live with himself, he’s not a shallow man. Bosch is no House; he is quite likeable. Circumstances have brought him to where he is, not mistakes he made with foreknowledge.

He is joined by an excellent ensemble. The other major characters include Scott Wilson (The Walking Dead), Annie Wesching (24), Lance Reddrick (Fringe), Amy Aquino (Being Human), Abraham Benrubi (ER), Amy Price-Francis (King), Alan Rosenberg (Cybill, Luck), Valerie Cruz (Off the Map), and Jamie Hector (The Wire). So many familiar names, and all of them memorable. One cannot complain about the casting.

What will set BOSCH apart a bit, for those who love the genre so much that they haven’t yet grown tired of it yet, is the dual narratives. Because Bosch is facing his own challenges while working at his job, and his personal story probably won’t only pop up a couple of times per season, as it would on CBS, there’s something interesting in every episode. It’s not enough for me, but it will likely be enough for many viewers.

So, at the end of the day, I don’t think it matters if BOSCH has smart writing, convincing acting, and well-developed characters. All of those things are true, and the series definitely is near the top of its field, but the market is too saturated. With Amazon just trying to break into scripted drama, it may have been a safe path to choose something tried and true, but it’s also a boring one. We didn’t need another show like BOSCH, and while it may make Amazon seem like a legitimate contender in the original content market, it also signals they may not forge their own identity, which is sorely needed to set them apart.

Bosch’s first season is available now on Amazon.com.

He's the BOSCH

Article first published as He's the BOSCH on TheTVKing.

Do we need an other police procedural, even if it's couched in a character study of a tormented man? That's what Amazon is delivering to us in Bosch, one of their first two drama pilots, currently streaming free on their website. The titular detective is simultaneously on trial for the murder of an unarmed suspect, while still digging into fresh cases, against orders. Can he escape jail and find peace?

It's hard to argue that Titus Welliver (The Good Wife, Lost, Sons of Anarchy, Argo) doesn't deserve a leading role. He absolutely does, and he definitely handles the main part of Bosch well. He lets us see the hurt it causes him to know he killed someone, beneath the bravado he must maintain to sleep at night and continue to do his job. He's a good man who accidentally did a bad thing, with cause, and thus a likeable protagonist.

The problem is, we already have plenty of these. Shows from Luther to Elementary to Justified to House have already given us pretty much the same archetype. There are differences of course, but these tend to be only cosmetic, and what sets each apart tends to be the quality of the writing and the ensemble, rather than any real originality in storytelling.

Bosch does lean towards the higher end of the spectrum. Part of this is because of the dual narratives, the court case and the current investigation, balancing each other nicely. Another part is the enjoyable ensemble, which includes Scott Wilson (The Walking Dead), Lance Reddick (Fringe), Amy Aquino (Being Human), Annie Wersching (24), Alan Rosenberg (Cybill, Luck), Valerie Cruz (Off the Map), Abraham Benrubi (ER), Amy Price-Francis (King), and Jamie Hector (The Wire). It's a great group of performers.

Bosch is better than most of the other crime shows. The writing is smart, the acting is convincing, and the characters are well developed. These are adjectives I frequently use to describe good shows, and it applies here, too.

But because the market is inundated with this type of drama, though,, it's not necessary to make another. I don't know if Amazon hopes that by delivering something so familiar, we'll see it as a legitimate television content provider. What is more likely, though, at least for those of us that consume lots of TV, is we'll see it as lazy, yet another clone for an already crowded genre.

What would set Bosch apart from its peers? Well, letting Bosch leave the law enforcement profession behind would be good. Or seeing him actually go to jail, the story following him as his life changes, and then the fight to overcome that. I'd like to see Bosch himself do more than just stay in the structure he's accustomed to. But this seems quite unlikely, as it's a much more challenging type of show to tell. Or, at least they could make the setting somewhere other than L.A., which has been done to death.

Making a brand new crime show worth watching isn't impossible; HBO's True Detective has proven that. Bosch just isn't True Detective-caliber, even as it's a notch above anything on the broadcast networks.

Bosch's first episode is available now on Amazon.com

BEING HUMAN "Old" and "New" Again

Article written for Seat42F.

Season four of SyFy’s BEING HUMAN feels very much like a continuation of season three, even though three months have passed. The same recurring characters populate the universe, and each of the main players have been in a holding pattern since we last saw them. But by the end of “Old Dog, New Tricks,” that is no longer exactly the case.

The most important change for the show is that Josh (Sam Huntington) is now only a human during the full moon. He gets about half an hour with Nora (Kristen Hager), his new wife, before and after her turn as a wolf, then spends the rest of his time prowling the woods. No one knows why he is this way, let alone how to fix it, so he’s kind of in a pickle, the full weight of which is spelled out late in the hour.

This is really depressing for any newlywed pair. They finally get hitched, committed to spending the rest of their lives together, and then they are ripped apart. Nora does spend much of her day, along with Aidan (Sam Witwer), near Wolf Josh, trying to keep him under control and caged when possible. But it’s certainly not the same, a real damper on their union.

Aidan’s relationship with Kat (Deanna Russo) is progressing nicely. They are attending functions together and spending lots of time alone. Though Aidan makes excuses about working long shifts so he can get out to assist with Josh, he seems able to be attentive enough to keep her happy. It looks like Aidan might finally find some joy, though of course that’s only tentative until Kat learns who Aidan is.

But before Aidan can feel too settled, a few wrenches are thrown into his tranquility. Kat says something that makes him uneasy. Blake (Janine Theriault) and a very surprising familiar face show up in an unexpected place. And his wife, Susanna (Katharine Isabelle), makes an appearance.

It’s a sure thing that no one on BEING HUMAN is allowed to be happy. These latest tribulations threatening the romantic lives of our heroes, the details of which I’ll withhold for now, are only the latest in a long line of such occurrences. Every drama needs conflict, but it seems like Aidan, Josh, and Nora have more than their share, never even getting a moment to breathe and recover before being thrust into the next emergency. It would be nice if, for once, we learn they’ve had an extended period of bliss in between seasons, even if we only glimpse it.

Now, I haven’t mentioned Sally (Meaghan Rath) yet, and that’s because she does seem to be living her nirvana. She’s spent months luxuriating in a spa with a nicer, softer version of Donna (Amy Aquino). Although she is apart from her friends, it’s hard to complain about such a reprieve, no longer dealing with the woes of existence and other ghost problems. Sally is finally relaxing.

Of course, all is not exactly how it seems. There is more going on than Sally realizes right away, and she will soon be fighting to change her circumstances, no matter how good they might appear to the outside viewer. But, until this wakeup call hits, Sally does appear to be enjoying herself.

I really find Donna a fascinating character who has by no means outlived her usefulness. Introduced as an evil villain, we’ve seen a few more layers late in her run, and now Donna reveals some things about herself that only make her more intriguing. She is certainly more knowledgeable than any of the others on the show about the supernatural world and how different realms work, which is a useful skill. As long as she isn’t trying to actively destroy Sally or those Sally cares about, there should be no objection to her sticking around a little while longer.

“Old Dog, New Tricks” spends time catching us up with everyone before embarking on the next legs of their journeys. Some of these paths are easy to see coming and others are less so. Four seasons in, BEING HUMAN continues to surprise and find new directions to take the cast in, and this installments shows no signs of that slowing down.

BEING HUMAN airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on SyFy.

Third Season of BEING HUMAN Released

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'Being Human - The Complete Third Season' on Blogcritics.

Being Human (soon to be returning to Syfy for a fourth season) is releasing its third season on Blu-ray and DVD. The four-disc set contains all 13 episodes, as well as a handful of special features. It will be on sale January 7th, and is a great way to catch up on a very exciting  batch of installments.

In case you’re not familiar with the series, Being Human revolves around three friends living together: a vampire, a werewolf (actually, two), and a ghost. The friendship of these usually conflicting supernatural types, earns them attention in their social circles, both positive and negative. The series explores how they cope with their relationships and special “gifts.”

When season three begins, 15 months have passed since events in the second season finale. Aidan (Sam Witwer) has been buried in the ground, and Josh (Sam Huntington) and Nora (Kristen Hager) continue to search in vain for Sally (Meaghan Rath), still trapped in limbo. Our favorite characters are now split up, having gone through some experiences on their own.

They soon reunite, of course, and their fondest wishes begin to come true. Sally is brought back as an actual, live human. Aidan is free of other vampires, who are plagued by a contagious, deadly disease. And Josh is no longer a werewolf, having killed his maker. On paper, it looks like everyone has found their happy endings, and they can finally enjoy their existence in the house.

But, as one might expect, this utopia doesn’t last long. Nora still has to answer to Liam (Xander Berkeley) for the death of his daughter. Josh finds himself feeling a little left out, no longer being supernatural like those he loves most, which is really too bad, since he is finally ready to accept the beast inside of him. They both have to decide how much they value Aidan. This does come between them in some ways, but in others, it allows both Nora and Josh to find themselves before permanently committing to each other.

Sally gains a new boyfriend, Max (Bobby Campo), who runs a funeral parlor. Their relationship gets complicated, though, when she begins to rot and develops a taste for human flesh. She really struggles with what to tell Max about the weird stuff, if anything, and it seems unlikely they can maintain a relationship while death hangs between them. Especially when the witch that resurrects Sally, Donna (Amy Aquino), sees something special in Sally that she wants for herself.

Aidan’s story is more rooted in the past. We see flashbacks of his relationship with Susanna (Katharine Isabelle), just after he turned, and how is family is torn apart. This informs his present situation, as he falls for a girl named Kat (Deanna Russo) and considers making a sick boy, Kenny (Connor Price), his new son. If only Blake (Janine Theriault) and the rest of the vampires would continue to leave him alone.

The American version of Being Human has the luxury of a lot more time to serve larger stories than the original British series. One thing I really like about the American series is that is often brings back characters seemingly killed off. Death does not necessarily prevent a character from popping back up when not expected. The series has definite through lines over multiple seasons with its recurring players, and it will be exciting to see how this element informs the show over its lifetime. Season three leaves fans with some major, excellent cliffhangers that will definitely have lasting impact into the fourth run.

As far as extras go, this set is a little light. There are no deleted scenes or audio commentaries, the two most common inclusions in such releases. There are a couple of minutes of OK bloopers for each installment, organized by episode, though they go a little long, and a minute and a half teasing the cliffhangers, but not providing any information about them at all, really. Better is a forty-five minute behind-the-scenes featurette, and fifty minutes of the cast at last summer’s Comic Con are included, which is actually very cool. I wish more shows released their Comic Con panels on disc.

This season is a terrific one in story, even if the special features could use just a little more. Being Human The Complete Third Season is available for pre-order now and will be released this week.

Being Human has no shame, about Ray or otherwise

Grade: 95%

BEWARE! SPOILERS BELOW!

SyFy’s American remake of BEING HUMAN is back for a third round this week with “It’s a Shame About Ray,” airing Monday at 9 p.m. ET. It’s been fifteen months since we last saw the roommates, and fifteen months since they last saw each other. Josh (Sam Huntington) and Nora (Kristen Hager) search in vain for Sally (Meaghan Rath), still trapped in limbo, and Aidan (Sam Witwer), still buried in the ground.

Fifteen months. I can’t believe that the series make such a time jump, but it really works. The past year plus hasn’t been all that interesting for the characters, with little happening, so it makes sense to skip over it. It also allows a reset, of sorts, and puts everyone in different places from where we left them. It really starts the year off interestingly.

What a way to live, though! Josh’s frustration as they visit with psychic after psychic is understandable. For over a year, he and Nora have been looking for a way to bring their friends home, and to no avail. It’s amazing that Nora still has the patience she has, and that Josh is still participating. Most people would give up after a year. Which just goes to show how strong a bond the main characters of BEING HUMAN have.

Of, course, Josh has other issues, too. He definitely feels guilty about killing Ray (Andreas Apergis), and that doing so only cured him of the werewolf curse, not Nora. Apparently, murdering one’s maker does not extend the fix to the next limb of the family tree. For Nora to be a human again, Josh must die, and Josh has to live with the knowledge of what he has done to her, and that he can’t do anything about it, other than killing himself, which would also hurt her deeply.The U.S. version of BEING HUMAN has differed pretty drastically from its UK counterpart by this point, and Josh being human again is just one of the many ways. One wonders if Nora satisfies the werewolf contingent for the series, or if Josh will have to be turned back, possibly by Nora in some sort of poetic justice. Josh as a human or as a werewolf both present intriguing possibilities, so hopefully the human thing will be explored, at least for a little bit.

Nora and Josh do catch a break when they find a witch named Donna Gilchrist (Amy Aquino, The Finder, Harry’s Law). Donna can bring Sally back, but she needs $2000, the heart of someone Josh or Nora have murdered, and Sally’s body. And the spell will return Sally as a human.

It’s a dark spell, to be sure, but I like how it all ties into Ray’s body, and Josh and Nora’s story. I do think that Donna has some dark plans having to do with Ray, as glimpsed at the end of the hour, and I don’t know what her motivations are to help, because I doubt it’s just for the money. There’s a mysterious and enticing character here, and I hope Aquino sticks around for awhile.

So Sally is brought back to life in “It’s a Shame About Ray,” as a human. Before you say “like Josh,” though, there are complications with Sally’s resurrection. Namely, she stuck close to Nick (Pat Kiely) and Stevie (Robert Naylor) while in limbo, and brings both of them through the door into her body with her, not realizing the consequences.

From the way that Sally lies gasping on the bed, one has to wonder, is she suffocating because three souls don’t fit in one body? Or is that just a symptom of her recovery from the traumatic ordeal of being resurrected? Will the three take turns sharing control of Sally’s body? If so, will the writers make the obvious sex-related jokes out of the situation? Or might the boys have woken up in their own bodies, buried under ground and decomposing, not having the suave made from Ray’s heart to restore their physical forms, like Sally did? What will happen next? So many questions, AND we get a Stevie Nicks joke out of it! Well done!

The third member of the trio, Aidan, is the most alone, as usual. And yet, he’s not. He hallucinates Sally and Josh with him every step of the way, below and above the dirt, proving his feelings for them are just as strong as how they feel about him, something that one might have doubted earlier in the series.Aidan has been through a terrible experience, being buried alive and left there, then dug up by a crazy member of the Amish cult, who subsequently dies after trying to kill Aidan. He needs Josh and Sally, and yes, Bishop (Mark Pellegrino), too, to help him will the motivation to survive, being close to a final death repeatedly. Aidan isn’t as much a loner as he would have his friends believe, and with their moral support, imagined or real, he should eventually be able to get home.

As “It’s a Shame About Ray” gives us this very personal story for Aidan, we also get clues as to bigger going-ons in the vampire world. Mother (Deena Aziz) is dead, as is much of her order, due to a very timely human flu. Their civilization is crumbling around them. Will Aidan want to get involved, and if so, how might he see himself in the new power structure?

The only thing I didn’t like in the hour was the flashback where we see Josh not turn into a wolf, and Nora does. It seems unnecessary, and as the only glimpse we get of that time period, extraneous. It is already explained well enough without showing it, and the scenes does almost nothing to add to what is already understood about the characters.

This episode of BEING HUMAN is probably one of my favorites of the series, giving three separate stories for the three main characters, and yet, connecting them in intimate ways. It balances the character-driven plot with the larger action arcs, and does so in a way that feels completely organic. It may have taken three years, but if this episode is any indication, BEING HUMAN is truly finding its stride.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on Seat42F

Not even a hurricane can stop The Finder

FOX's The Finder uses a hurricane to excite in the last episode before taking a little over a month off. "Eye of the Storm" finds the characters hunkering down to ride out major wind and rain, but a televised report of a missing girl makes Walter (Geoff Stults) spring into action. Limited to any hunting he can do from his bar, Walter makes use of those trapped with him, as well as Isabel (Mercedes Masohn), who remains in town. Despite the challenges, Walter manages to solve the case.

OK, so finding a missing girl in a hurricane is a little far fetched. Making light of it with scenes of Walter and Timo (Toby Hemingway, Black Swan) struggling in and out of the door to the bar may also be a little tasteless. However, those things do not prevent "Eye of the Storm" from being a great episode. The threat of the storm, and the cleverness it takes to get anything accomplished around it, make the case of the week quite exciting. It also allows for great visuals and humor, as handled with the light-hearted tone of the series. This is enough to overcome any complaints about the premise.

The major B-plot is incredibly cliché and predictable. Willa's (Maddie Hasson) seemingly tough probation officer, Christina Farrel (Amy Aquino, Harry's Law, Brothers & Sisters, ER), gets trapped in the bar with them. Of course, she sees Willa break several terms of her probation, including using the internet and associating with Timo. But, caught up in helping find the missing girl, Christina exposes a softer side of herself, and all is forgiven, with a recommendation that the court allow Willa supervised computer access.

Yes, there is little originality in Christina's story and character because it's been done a thousand times before. However, Aquino is such a fantastic actress, that those things are forgotten about throughout most of the episode. Every time a "twist" involving her occurs, viewers may remember that they already knew that it would happen. But then Aquino's performance takes over again, and keeps the plot enjoyable, no matter how unoriginal it may be.

That's kind of the story of The Finder at large. There isn't a lot of unique things in it. It's a crime series with quirky characters, something extremely prevalent on television today. Yet, by putting together this particular cast, and bringing in great guest stars like "Eye of the Storm's" Aquino, Laura Slade Wiggins (Shameless), and M.C. Gainey (Lost, Justified), The Finder soars. Add to that great gags, like Walter printing out an entire internet site for them to puruse, and the show somehow manages to be fresh and worth watching. It must be the magic influence of creator Hart Hanson, who accomplishes a similar victory with his other show, Bones.

Besides the above happenings, Michael Clarke Duncan continues to deliver a riveting performance as Leo, who doesn't always say all that many words, but exudes a presence that carries every scene he is in. Also, the relationship between Walter and Isabel is developing nicely, and Willa's inevitable break from her gypsy family is played wonderfully. All around, The Finder is making itself a show to watch.

So make sure to watch The Finder when it returns to FOX on Fridays in April.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here to catch up with streaming episodes of The Finder.

Harry's Law dances its "Last Dance" of the season

     NBC's Harry's Law just completed its first season this past Monday night. Only twelve episodes in the freshman season, not atypical, considering it did not premiere in the fall, though it is ending its run over a month before most of the spring finales. That's bad news, because it's been an enjoyable ride. At first, I thought it a lesser sibling to David E. Kelley's other awesome legal dramas, The Practice and Boston Legal, but it began to come into its own in the second half of the season, setting itself apart from the other two, and starting to define its identity. Good news for fans of the show, it looks pretty likely it will be renewed for a second season, though it is not yet official.

     While overall I am quite satisfied with the first season, I have some requests for season two. First, expand the cast. Four main characters is pretty small, especially for a Kelley series. Tommy (Christopher McDonald), Rachael (Jordana Spiro), and Damien (Johnny Ray Gill) all deserve upgrades. I would not argue against Peyton (Paul McCrane) or Judge Coulis (Amy Aquino) also making the cut, though find them less likely to, since they are more outside of the central circle. In a perfect world, Kim (Camryn Manheim) would join them, making a case for focusing on both the prosecution and the defense as The Practice did. But that is likely unrealistic, as she has already starred in a Kelley drama. I'd add Richard Kind to the list, but despite my affection for the actor, his character of Marty may not have the legs for full-time status. Just please make him recurring.

     I'm also almost ready for a new office. Because the shoe store has served so little function, I think it will be time to upgrade the digs by at least the middle of season two. I like the idea of Jenna selling shoes at the same place the other practice law, but it has not yet been very important to the story, and certainly never been a major plot element. We can loose the store easy enough, though they should stay in the same neighborhood, as that has become a character unto itself. Kelley said that Harry would begin to work her way up the ladder as the series went along, so let's see a bit of that. Just not so far up that she forgets where she is starting from. In conjunction with the set improvements, we also need some more income. Perhaps Tommy could join forces, but retain his type of clientele?

     In the finale, Harry (Kathy Bates) defends Josh 'Puck' Peyton, a frequent court room sparring partner of hers. Peyton, known for his tendency to repeat phrases, has been facing a bit of a breakdown, having stripped and ranted in the courtroom an episode earlier. Apparently, the craziness continued as he walked into a house that wasn't his, something that happened off screen before the episode begins. Harry is drawn to Peyton as she seems to be to all misfits who are essentially good people, and defends him. He gets off with a time served sentence, and a beautiful friendship is born. Let's hope Peyton's leaving the D.A. will not keep him off the series.

     Could there be something more than friendship between Harry and Peyton? While Harry seems to resist any romantic story, Peyton does ask her to be his date to a legal gala. She turns him down because she already has a date, the often obnoxiously over the top Tommy Jefferson. Here, Harry is sought after by two men, at least to accompany them for the evening. Yet, only her offense at Tommy complementing another woman shows even the slightest interest on her part of anything beyond one evening. Personally, I'd love to see Harry pursue either Tommy or Peyton, both fun characters. This is a side of the character that needs development.

     I do not understand the hesitation to take these steps towards romance. Perhaps it's because Harry's personality is so off putting, though that argument begins to fall apart when you look at just how many people befriend her whether she wants them or not. Either way, I think the older group needs to be given their relationship due as much as their younger counterparts.

     Both Tommy and Harry have had exes appear on the show, both played by fabulous actors. Harry's Marty (Richard Kind) is a defense lawyer, while Tommy's Kim is an assistant D.A., which opens up the door for both of them to return. It also means a Tommy-Harry pairing could come complete with already introduced past baggage to get in the way.

     Adam (Nathan Corddry) has ended his love triangle as things come to a head with Rachael (Jordana Spiro) in the finale. The two work together to try to stage an appeal for a client on death row (The Blind Side star Quinton Aaron). Of course, their feelings get in the way, as Adam has recently left his girlfriend and declared ongoing emotions for Rachael. Rachael, in turn, proposes to her boyfriend as a reaction. Her strong mood swings, one moment hating Adam, the next calling him her best friend, exhibit her own feelings for him, even if she has trouble deciding what to do. Kim lets the engagement slip in her office, making Adam ask for time apart from Rachael as soon as the case is finished.

     Honestly, I didn't know which element of the Adam and Rachael scenes to care about more. Obviously, I love me a good serial plot, and things between Adam and Rachael have been brewing for some time. I could have jumped up and down cheering when she shows up at his office at the end of the episode and kisses him. I assume she then left to break up with her fiance.

     On the other hand, Aaron makes a fantastic guest star, and his story is extremely moving, especially after he loses his appeal. I hope he returns in season two so that Adam and Rachael have anther chance to save him from execution. I believe he's innocent! Both Kim and Adam and Rachael made such strong arguments, I can accept that the duo lost. Yet, Aaron is such a great get for the show, it would be a shame not to see him again.

     I'm still not totally on board with Jenna (Brittany Snow) and Malcolm (Aml Ameen) as a couple. She has such a strong personality that he is likely to be completely overshadowed by her. Plus, Malcolm is on the verge of getting his life together, and has a lot of work ahead of him. I don't know he can possibly do well in law school and put up with the very high maintenance Jenna. I like both of them separately, but think they would work better with other people. Should they continue, at least stop the pattern of her getting angry at him in every episode and giving him the silent treatment until he has to apologize for something he didn't even know he did. Three consecutive episodes of it is fine, as have already been done, but any more, and it'll get old really quick.

     Thank you Kelley, Bates, and the rest for a nice show that proved pretty darn entertaining. I look forward to more of it.


Article first published as TV Review: Harry's Law - "Last Dance" on Blogcritics.

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