Looks like someone’s got a case of the Mondays: besides seriously lacking sex this week, Mitch McDeere gets closer to breaking from his mostly pristine image—exactly what we’ve been waiting for. Mitch gets a little cranky when he’s being interrogated for murder, ’cause what’s a litigator to do without his motley crew (including his brother, who keeps stumbling upon evidence to help Mitch solve cases) and late-night mystery-solving dinners? An honest man would ride it out, but Mitch just gets angry. More on the worst week of his life after the jump.
The Firm really enjoys flashbacks, and it’s really taken to its present-past-present structure. We admittedly find it a bit confusing. Cut to three weeks earlier: Mitch is not happy when Tammy and Ray present him with Sarah Holt’s shredder contents (finally, he’s beginning to realize that not everyone is playing for Team Mitch). And it gets worse: after denying Claire a cellphone, Abby “loses” her at the museum (Claire was actually in a different room the whole time doing extra research for her book report, because she’s a real keener) and there’s a judge (Victor Garber) running for office who’s trying to balance his conviction rates by sending people who aren’t black to the slammer. (A major bummer for Mitch, considering his latest defendant is Serbian.)
And so the cracks begin to show. Convinced the judge was winking at him as a sign to waive the jury (or maybe it was just a botched pickup attempt?), Mitch does just that and leaves his innocent defendant sentenced to eight years for assault. But after we watch Mitch hurl a few tantrums, Ray steps up once more to save the day: he plants a bug on the judge’s campaign button and the judge admits to everything on tape. We’re starting to think that life is a lot easier for Ray. The McDeere gang discover through an IP address that Sarah has ties to her alleged victim’s insurance company, so Mitch goes to their headquarters to meet with an IT person—or so he thinks. Enter Martin, the future balcony jumper (yes, the very man Mitch is accused of murdering in the present day), who presents Mitch with a secret document he’s placed inside a pamphlet. Mitch is so caught up with himself he doesn’t even pick up on this sly move—blinded by his own frustration, he throws the pamphlet down in a fit of disgust, and like magic, the paper drops out. What a grumpy Gus.
And that’s the big shocker moment for this week. This episode ends back in the present day in the interrogation room, where Mitch is still without his brother and wife to keep him in check. Ray can’t save Mitch behind metal bars, but he can learn about them quickly if he needs a little background info.
Our observations on where The Firm got it right (Order in the Court) and where it got it wrong (Objections).
The Mob Boss’s son returns! Upon being challenged by a member of “the family,” he insists on waiting for the perfect time to strike down Mitch McDeere, which shows power and restraint (he’s also handsome in that dimly lit lounge).
If Claire’s so smart, why is she talking to a strange middle-aged man at the museum? She gives him her full name, too, which is an amateur move for anybody, let alone a so-called 10-year-old “genius.” That Chekhov’s gun rule better come into effect.
Claire wants a cellphone, so she makes a list of rock-solid points to present to her parents. They deny her (only to buy her one when they think she got kidnapped), but we know her intellect will likely be their—and all of our—undoing. Claire is starting to win us over. (Hi, Claire!)
Lack of sexy time. After the last two episodes, we were hoping for a little something-something in a new, hip location. We’re suggesting Sarah’s apartment, on top of the paper shredder.
Tammy and Ray are this show’s Karen and Jack (if Jack were straight, and he and Karen had sex all the time). It’s exactly as glorious as you think.
Martin the Balcony Jumper has a fierce case of the sniffles. We hope this is an allusion to a cocaine habit—if it isn’t, he should learn to take a sick day.
is anyone really watching this? is toronto life only interested in it because it is filmed here? the ratings look like it will be cancelled soon….amazing how the washington capital hilton lobby looks just like the hilton lobby downtown toronto!
February 6, 2012 at 6:23 am | by imisstomcruise