A Televisual Feast

The last burner–written by David E. Kelley, credited solo (which I had commented on back when I finished the first season)–pulls “The Practice” out of its hole. Three cases–Bobby’s high school girlfriend is now a call girl, Eugene and Lindsay have a woman freaking from the doctor using maggots in her leg, Ellenor is trying to get a girl with Tourette’s back into public school (which had expelled her). Then there’s Jimmy’s whole “dial a lawyer” personal conflict, but it isn’t very personal because he’s not very smart. It’s funny how, after introducing Jimmy post-pilot as a sympathetic, likable schlup, has spent so much time making him into a creep who poses as a likable.

Two of the cases are great. Lindsay’s got some great courtroom stuff–fantastic, wonderful Kelley scene with her telling opposing council and the judge she’s not going to walk off from a sidebar without giving the jury the impression she’s chastising them–and Ellenor’s whole case is magnificent. It’s done without being cheap, sentimental and sensational (the three things the show’s been for episodes). It’s Kelley at his finest, reaching an emotional connection. Great, great, great work.

Unfortunately, Bobby’s case never goes to court and is instead all about the different paths Bobby and the ex have taken, but both end up doing “despicable” things for money. It kind of works, but would have been a lot better if Kelley hadn’t taken the plotless way out.

It’s not a perfect episode, but it’s a good one and the show’s needed a good one for quite a while.

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