It seems like by now we should probably have found something that bothers us about Mitch McDeere. But despite last week’s secrets and this week’s murder charge (remember that guy who threw himself over the balcony in episode one? Evidently, if you flee after a man throws himself off a balcony, it’ll seem like you killed him), it seems that Mitch, with his good looks and gentle demeanor (we know, right? Gentle, even with a mob boss who wants to kill him—ladies, he’s taken), is every man’s nemesis and every young litigator’s shining beacon of hope. While we’re lost in his dreamy, arrogance-free gaze, there’s the matter of his boorish brother Ray to wrap our heads around. Our take on Ray, Mitch’s black sheep brother, and how you can use desk sex to get what you want in our TV brief after the jump.
A perfect man isn’t something television viewers want in a protagonist; they want to see failures succeed and successful people fail. But if McDeere is that charming and wonderful, he should probably have an evil twin, or at least a not-so-perfect brother to even things out. And that’s why The Firm has Mitch’s brother Ray (sadly, no evil twin to report just yet). Ray is an ex-con, and through a series of shady dealings (intimidating a witness to tell the truth, posing as a detective), he proves that his private investigator skills are essential to Mitch’s success. If not for his tendency to “uncover the truth” (this week, he conveniently stumbled upon lost security footage that helped Mitch win his case), those nightly family dinners would probably yield different results. (Read: more alcohol, fewer potatoes. Likely in front of a TV.)
And crafty dealings aren’t his only moves. While April and Mitch had a marital spoon session last week, this time we witness the prowess of Ray, who uses desk sex with Tammy to steal her copy of Sarah Holt’s house keys. Work and play. Tammy doesn’t care about this underhanded move, because Ray brings back an important shredded document from Sarah’s home and Tammy helps him piece it together on the sex desk. Turns out, the document lists nurses who were tending to the old woman Sarah is accused of murdering—something she hasn’t shared with Mitch, making him a bit of a gullible fool. Not that it matters—while Ray has suggested that Mitch not be so quick to trust Sarah, he’s too busy celebrating the victory of both his defendant and the first case he and his wife took on in D.C. Yeah, you work hard, Mitch, but there’s no time for toasts when your No. 1 client is pulling a fast one. You’re a successful litigator, presumably a good lover (your wife appeared satisfied last week) and the father of a lovely daughter, but you’re certainly not the perfect specimen we thought you were. And seriously, someone should wipe down that desk.
Our observations on where The Firm got it right (Order in the Court) and where it got it wrong (Objections).
Yes, Ray’s “the wild card.” But when will Mitch realize that his brother’s right about bed corner–folding Sarah (who is obviously guilty of at least lying)?
Claire reads her parent’s litigation files for fun. Clearly she is a genius, which explains her social ineptitude among her classmates. Looks like she’ll get the last laugh in 20 years when they’re pumping her gas.
After Mitch and the gang win the D.C.-originated case, the Firm toasts him as “man of the year.” We’re starting to feel fairly inferior just watching this show.
Abby has a heart of gold. After the D.C. case client comes to her crying about potentially being evicted, she’s tempted to give her money. Instead, Mitch just wins the case. What a guy.
Discovering that Sarah knows more than she said about the woman she’s accused of murdering is a big deal. But so is your boyfriend using sex to steal the key to someone’s apartment to obtain evidence illegally. Talk to him, Tammy. Come on.
Claire calls Mitch and Abby out on their PDA. Thank you, Claire.
I heard the show The Firm is going to be cancelled….what a shame I love the show.
February 12, 2012 at 6:42 pm | by Sharyn Ulich