DROP DEAD DIVA “Change of Heart” Review

DROP DEAD DIVA “Change of Heart” Season 3 Episode 13 - This third season of Drop Dead Diva has been very hit or miss for me. There have been episodes I’ve really liked and some I could have done without. But this week’s season finale is possibly the best episode of the series to date.

There were two cases this week. In Jane’s, a death row inmate, Aaron Howard, wanted to donate his heart to his dying sister. This meant Jane needed to convince the reluctant sister to accept the heart, and petition the courts to change the form of lethal injection given so as not to damage the heart. The former was solved thanks to a little white lie from Kim, who was assigned second chair. The second was harder to solve and ultimately failed. The heart was eventually obtained when Howard hung himself, leaving him alive but brain dead; Jane and Kim just had to pull up a technicality in the original trial, giving a sympathetic judge the opportunity to overturn Howard’s conviction so they could claim the body.

The second case involved Stacey. After assaulting her boyfriend-slash-co-star in last week’s episode, Stacey found herself facing jail time after it was revealed that this wasn’t her first offence but her second. Her first offence was breaking into the home of a TV soap star and stealing – and walking out in – a pair of custom-made boots, but Stacey admits to Grayson that it was actually Deb. Grayson realises that they can claim the assault as Stacey’s first offence if they can overturn the ruling for the break-in. They find the boots in Deb’s belongings and use them to help Stacey walk free, thanks to a move taken from Cinderella – the boots didn’t fit, so she couldn’t have stolen them.

While both cases were really good, the best drama happened outside of the courtroom.

At the start of the episode, Kim asked Parker to make her a partner in Harrison and Parker. Reluctant, Parker made her second chair on Jane’s case and then went about his day. After Fred tells him that Elisa had to go to the emergency room, Parker races down there. He finds Elisa well – but their son with a broken arm. Parker doesn’t deal with the revelation well. Upset that it took him over seven years to find out, he later insinuates that Elisa just wants money and offers her a cheque. She leaves – not just the office, but town, taking their son and all her belongings with her.

With a little help from Kim, Parker realises he needs to make things right. He gives Kim her partnership and leaves her in charge of the firm as he takes time out to go and find his son.

Owen tells Jane of his imminent plans to take a year out and move to New Zealand to train on a yacht for the Americas cup. He wants her to come with him, but she tells him that she can’t leave her life at home. He accepts this and they prepare to part ways. But after Grayson’s in-court victory leads to an unexpected kiss between him and Stacey, which Jane witnesses, Jane decides she needs to leave and live her own dreams. She says goodbye to Owen at the airport and boards a plane to Italy, ready to start life anew.

Back at the office, Grayson admits that Stacey reminds him of Deb, and she tells him that she isn’t Deb — but Jane is. Grayson goes to the airport and tries to get onboard Jane’s flight, but he’s too late, in more ways than one. Someone has boarded the plane to see Jane; Owen’s decided to postpone his involvement in the Americas cup, preferring to spend time with Jane in Italy. As the episode ends, Jane looks happy. Grayson looks bereft.

There isn’t much to say about this episode that the episode itself didn’t say. This episode marked closed chapters and new beginnings, and it’s all the more delightful knowing that season 4 is officially a go. When the show comes back next year, everyone will be starting out in a new place. Jane will have moved on from Grayson and have returned from her sojourn in Italy; Parker will be a father, whether or not he’s found his son; Kim will be in charge of the law firm having proved herself worthy over the last three seasons; and who the heck knows where Fred and Stacey will be?

I haven’t forgotten about those two, I just have no idea where they will be when season 4 starts. Stacey admitted just how much she loved Fred this week, but then Jane told him about Grayson and Stacey kissing and the last we see of Fred he’s scanning the flight departures board. Is he even allowed to be away from Jane? Will the big bosses ‘upstairs’ draw him back to her to fulfil his role as guardian angel?

I’m really happy with the way things were ended this season. It opens up so many paths for the show to take and it changes all the characters for the better. With any luck, season 4 will show Grayson yearning for Jane/Deb, a refreshing change from her wanting him for the last three years. Either way, it was nice to see Jane happy at last.

What did you think of ‘Change of Heart’? Are you happy with how season 3 ended? What do you think will happen in season 4? Leave your thoughts and speculation in the comments below!