HARRY’S LAW “With Friends Like These” Episode 11 – So please, tell if if it’s sad that I take ten times the enjoyment in a relationship that’s over (Adam and Rachel) than I do from one which is current, if troubled (Malcolm and Jenna).
Maybe it’s just the acting. That has to be a large part of it. Because Nate Corddry and Jordana Spiro are basically freaking great, and Aml Ameen and Brittany Snow are basically teh suck. Additional good news is that Chunhua is gone. Adam kicked her to the curb, Irene Keng got to play “pretty and pouty” for her exit, and we’re all the happier.
Well, sort of. We have one episode to go, and they really need to do something about Ameen and Snow. There were small moments this season when Snow showed something, but Ameen never has; dude is literally one of the most bland characters on TV this year. But were I plotting season two, I would plot to jettison them and pick up two new people. That’s how bad they’ve been. Yechh.
The episode of Harry’s Law opened with the talkative Thomas “Tommy” Jefferson (Christopher McDonald) imparting words of wisdom onto Harry: “This is a is a golden opportunity, Harry. Think of the possibilities. This man was literally caught with a smoking gun in his hand. Outlook, Harry! Outlook!” Figures ol’ Tommy would be table to take lemons and make appletinis with ‘em. Nothing daunts that dude.
Unfortunately, that was all we saw of Tommy for this episode. His blustery void was filled by the (unclothed) frame of Josh “Puck” Payton, the bedeviled D.A. The more I see of Paul McCrane, the more I like him. Sure, he at times reminds me of Frank Gorshin (that’s the Riddler to all you 60′s Batman fans), but that’s a good thing. I think there’s some quality manic behavior yet to be tapped in Puck, and judging from the teaser for next week’s season-ender, we’ll get even more of that. I’m really liking McCrane. Loved his line to the jury: “And you can suck my res judicata!”
Such language! Dare I suggest a Harry-and-Puck romance in future days?
(Probably not if he ends up in the loony bin, eh?)
Another quality cameo was Gregg Henry, seen only in flashbacks as murdered lawyer Mitchell Eaves. Henry is one of those guys you see everywhere but can’t quite place him—mostly because he has been everywhere and in just about every thing. I’ve personally loved the guy ever since he played the noble yet cagey Sheriff Bourne in episode two of Firefly.
Ah, Firefly. Those were the days. Don’t get me started.
Anyway, Henry put some real venom behind the words that got him shot—some serious dickishness on his character’s part—so I’m convinced this guy is like gold and can play anything. Kudos also to Mark L. Taylor, who played the schmuck who was driven to pull the trigger, Lou Drummond. Not easy to make some of David E. Kelley’s lines sound real (and this was an all-Kelley episode by the way), but he really put me in dude’s shoes. All in all excellent guest casting this episode.
So back to Adam and Rachel. This thing needs more coverage, more time to marinate. Because there’s something going on in Rachel’s head that’s not just an affection for the way things were, and not just guilt over the fact that she has these feelings for her old flame. I think Adam nailed her heart to the wall with his “I’ll always, always cheer for you” speech.
Hell, I wanted to date Adam after that speech. And being male, he’s really not my type.
So next week we get the season ender. Harry’s Law is almost done. Can’t wait to see what Kelley has concocted.
Follow me on Twitter! That’s @Axechucker, but come on, you knew that. Like who goes to their first Daemon’s TV review to read about the second-to-last episode of Harry’s Law?
Please make sure to read our comment policy before posting a comment.