What I’m Watching: Major Crimes

Major Crimes: Season 2, Episode 8 “The Deep End” (B+)

This felt like an event episode in many ways, starting with a helicopter approaching the crime scene with the journalist within charged to get the true story and not just what the cops were telling people. The fact that the supposed victim was actually the perpetrator was a great way to start things off with a twist, but that was outdone considerably by the fact that he was also guilty of an entirely different and much more major crime. The coach wasn’t featured nearly as much as the family of his victim, which was an interesting way to spin things. That allowed for the crime to take on a much grander nature, as Sharon’s very clever ploy to tell the media that they had cleared the coach of all allegations of sexual misconduct only served to bring forward more accounts, one of them recent enough to be used against him in a court of law. It’s difficult to see Rusty present and involved so directly in cases like this, and to see him lash out when Brenda checks in to see how he’s doing handling a very adult subject such as this. The part of Chris’ mom wasn’t a typical role for Lori Loughlin, and her interaction with Sharon suggests that the non-romance between Rusty and Chris isn’t yet over. I’m not sure if it will be the case, but I’d love to see Flynn and Sharon together at Flynn’s daughter’s wedding, which would be a rare glimpse into the personal life of one character defined previously only by his health and his friendship with Provenza.

What I’m Watching: The Deep End (Season Finale)

The Deep End: Season 1, Episode 6 “White Lies, Black Ties” (C+)

So this potentially short-lived series goes on out on a more ridiculous than quality drama note, but that’s okay. The characters are a whole lot of fun, and that’s what ultimately is important to a law show these days in my mind since so many of the same cases have been covered time and time again. These characters are certainly much more entertaining than those currently defending and prosecuting criminals on “The Good Wife” and “Law & Order,” so there’s something. I thought there was supposed to be a seventh episode of this show airing, but I guess that’s not the case. I would be happy if this show returned, however, because it’s a soapy show that still proves interesting and even occasionally legitimately dramatic. The solutions they come up with to help defend their clients, despite being overwhelmingly and unrealistically hopeful, are continually impressive, and the genuine excitement and pride the main characters feel when declaring them is an added asset. Seeing all of them dressed up in their tuxes and fancy dresses while they pitched their eleventh-hour deals was amusing, as was Rowdy’s attempt to convince Hart to allow certain musicians by tackling the dilemma legally. It’s a good thing that Addy finally broke the news to her boyfriend, but I don’t know if she’ll ever be able to be with Malcolm. Despite their overly cheesy proclamation of love that took predictably took place while everyone suddenly got silent, Liam and Beth should be fine, and I suppose Dylan will just go on being a single do-gooder. For the past six weeks, this show really has been my guilty pleasure. I hope it comes back for another round even though it likely won’t.

Season grade: B-
Season MVP: Tina Marjorino

What I’m Watching: The Deep End

The Deep End: Season 1, Episode 5 “An Innocent Man” (C+)

Perhaps my initial enthusiasm about this show was a bit strong, and there are certain elements which are now giving me pause about its quality. The ridiculous moments are at this point at risk of dominating the legitimate, serious ones, and that could be a problem. Maybe Addy’s boyfriend moving into her place without asking and then proposing only hours later isn’t a flaw of the show but rather a decent plotline, and at least it’s serving to help Addy and Malcolm get closer. I’m talking more about Liam punching the client to help him fake being sick and then using the phrase “given his verticality and lack of deadness” as a legal argument. The stubbornness of the judge, or rather the way she was so comically portrayed, is also somewhat problematic, but fortunately some of the more entertaining moments ultimately save the episode. Hart’s appearance in any scene is a boon for the show, and his best-delivered line this episode was “Gentlemen, tidy up. This is a place of business, not a dorm room.” It’s also good to see Rowdy actually stepping in and doing something helpful for once. The fact that he jokingly stole Dylan’s wallet at the end is something that I can work with, some boundary-pushing humor that does play out effectively on this show. Addy’s face when she walked in on Cliff and Susan fighting and her subsequent decision that she doesn’t use cream were funny, and, while it was a bit obvious, the way that their marriage problems played out was actually good for the episode. I also enjoyed how Beth was pissed off at Addy for keeping both her boyfriend and her birthday secret. Digging into the personal lives of these characters is exactly what this show needs!

What I’m Watching: The Deep End

The Deep End: Season 1, Episode 4 “Nothing Personal” (B)

I think more than anything that this show succeeds in having a good number of characters so that each of them can be paired up and mixed and matched each episode to create and expose compelling dynamics and interesting relationships. Unlike a show like “Grey’s Anatomy” where cast members are added constantly, this show has thus far kept it under wraps and I’m even starting to remember some of the characters’ names without having to look them up (not all of them, though). Granted this show is only in its infancy, but still, I’m enjoying pretty much every moment of it. Maybe this is my guilty pleasure show, but I think there are far too many other programs I watch that would fall under that description as well. Liam and Malcolm’s inane conversation comparing their heights was amusing, and it got so much better when Hart came in and said that he should be glad their belts were still buckled while they were measuring each other. His decision to give the case to the one who was taller was hilarious. Liam and Malcolm play well together because they’re both competitive but neither is truly interested in using dirty tricks or maliciousness to get ahead. Hart is a fearsome presence whose mere arrival in scenes improves them. Addy bouncing on her ball and falling off when he came in was just one of those moments. Rowdy’s advice to Addy that she’s smart, capable, and too little to hit was funny, and she countered right back with a piece of sage wisdom: “when is offering someone dessert ever a bad idea?” To top off all of this episode’s particular ridiculousness, how funny is it that Liam can’t order a drink in a bar because he’s only using Australian expressions? Liam is, unfortunately, way too gullible for his own good, though all that whispering was quite amusing.

Take Three: The Deep End

The Deep End: Season 1, Episode 3 “To Have and To Hold” (B)

This show is settling into what seems like its normative pattern, and I think I like it. I’m particularly enjoying the bonds forming between all of the newbies at the firm. Beth and Liam’s relationship is heating up and getting more serious despite some bad advice from a bizarrely sedated Rowdy. Beth and Addy were fun together as they only sort of repelled the come-ons of their highly objectionable client, and seeing them get react to the outfits they received was entertaining. Their dynamic with the least intimidating senior lawyer at the firm, Susan, is also great, and I don’t mind the high-fiving as much I might have thought I would. The sweet dynamic building between Addy and Malcolm is also nice, and I’m loving Addy more and more every episode, especially in this one where she declared herself Malcolm’s brother’s lawyer to the principal of the school. Turning to the major case of the episode, it was fantastic to see Hart impart some of his wisdom to Dylan because he really seems like a good guy but he’s still fierce and intimidating to be sure. The big guest star of the week was Julia Ling, who made a splash on “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” before going on to star in the first two seasons of “Chuck” as Buy More employee Anna. Unfortunately, she was victim of budget cuts and therefore it was good to see her here, even if she didn’t have the chance to do anything comedic. Though it may eventually become tiring, it is nice to see so many positive and life-affirming verdicts for the cases on this show.

Round Two: The Deep End

The Deep End: Season 1, Episode 2 “Where There’s Smoke” (B)

To be honest, I’m actually still liking this show. I realize that it’s terribly playful and a bit over-the-top, but the new lawyers are just trying so damn hard that it seems worth it. It’s also quite entertaining and certainly engaging, so that’s definitely a plus. I am finding it impossible to remember any of the characters’ names, but I don’ t think that’s a major issue since I can already identify them by their faces and they’ll probably all end sleeping together anyway. I like how the structure of this firm works, and I think that the characters on all the different levels play very well together, at least for entertainment purposes. I enjoyed Hart and Rowdy bursting into laughter about the deathly serious marijuana situation presented to them moments earlier by Addy and Malcolm (I may just call him Eggs if I can’t remember his character’s name on this show next time). The dynamic between Addy and Malcolm is also fun, with Malcolm’s sarcastic response about her waiting twenty years for them to build a new train and her response to his offer that it was both convenient and nice. Dylan is definitely still getting the hang of things, which is fine, while Beth proved herself quite impressive in the face of intimidation and manipulation by her father. The subplot of Liam unable to match any woman’s kiss to the quality of his first kiss was actually quite fun, and really sunk in dramatically with his pause after Beth came up to him and did her worst. This show is soapy, sure, but I think I’m just going to deal with it and like it. Also, if you're looking for an expert on something scientific, I would definitely trust Dr. Pierre Chang from "Lost."

Pilot Review: The Deep End

The Deep End (ABC)
Premiered January 21 at 8pm

Consider this the most pleasant surprise of the year so far. I had expected to outright dislike this show, which had been advertised as “Grey’s Anatomy” with lawyers instead of doctors. While it does certainly have its share of soapy plotlines, it has a strong cast and most importantly, the potential to improve considerably in the future as the relationship are drawn out and expanded upon in the coming episodes. As the technical lead of what’s really an ensemble show (no surname in the title to identify an actual main protagonist), Matt Long does a terrific job of being both likeable, fresh-faced, and stoically moral in his first few days of being a lawyer. Long was great on The WB’s one-season wonder “Jack & Bobby” five years ago, and it’s no surprise that he’s capable of handling this part. The other truly fantastic performer in this cast is Tina Marjorino, whose standout turns in the otherwise awful films “Waterworld” and “Napoleon Dynamite” indicated that she was bound for greatness. Here she’s found a role that really does suit her, and it will be a delight to see more of her as the show continues. The rest of the young lawyers are better both performance-wise and character-wise than would be expected, and there seems to be quite a bit of hidden depth underneath all of their outwards shallowness. Mehcad Brooks, who has traded eating human hearts on "True Blood" for a law career, only appeared briefly at the end of the episode, but he should provide a good anchoring presence on the show as well. Billy Zane makes what could be a cartoonish villain great by chewing the scenery just the right amount, and he has an awesome nemesis in the form of Clancy Brown, who is intimidating and awe-inspiring with just one demeaning look. None of the cases from this first episode stand out as superb, but I have faith that things will turn around and this show will become more compelling at time goes on. It’s already infinitely better than I ever thought it would be.

How will it work as a series? Law shows rise or fall on an episodic basis depending on what the case of the week is. This show has an exciting added component of being primarily an ensemble show, and therefore many cases should result in at least one or two good ones at a time. This format has worked well for series like “The Practice” and “L.A. Law” in the past. Even if it’s not fresh, there’s still plenty of material to be milked.
How long will it last? It appears that I’m the only one who actually liked this show, and ratings were disappointing in its first airing. I wouldn’t give up on it just yet, though, since I think ABC will probably still keep it around for a while to see how it does. From the looks of things, however, I’m not sure this series will make it past the summer, but I certainly wouldn’t mind if I did, at this point at least.

Pilot grade: B