Canterbury's Law (1.2)

Monday, March 17th, 2008 at 8 PM

FOX

Canterbury's Law, Season 1 - Episode 2 - "Baggage"

Much to his chagrin, Lackey #1 was never again allowed to wear his favorite pink sweater. (FOX)

Marmot: So, Canterbury's Law, Episode 2: Attack of the (Lawyer Show) Clones. How was it for you?

Manatee: I felt better about it than the pilot, still not 100% hooked. I did notice a startling similarity to another FOX show however - HOUSE! Do you see that? It's very much Canterbury's roost, and she as 3 lackeys, if you will, trailing her at all times, like Yes Men.

Marmot: I don't watch House, but from what I've seen of the show...you're right! And instead of a limp, she has a missing son. Wow.

Manatee: They probably figure if it worked for them once try it again, just add new setting, a few new actors, and shake. You have this kid missing thing that pops up (computer screen, flashbacks – Fox, enough with the flashbacks this mid season!) It gives this show a flavor of procedural, a flavor of character driven, but I think it will get old – fast.

Marmot: Variations on a theme. It's like Maroon 5 songs - they're all a little different, but essentially exactly the same. I'm glad they found their footing, even if it's trite and predictable. And the Evil Secretary of Defense from Independence Day was the murderer! Doesn't he ever learn?

Manatee: That guy is creepy looking (James Rebhorn).

Marmot: Well, I guess he wasn't evil in Independence Day, just cowardly. But in the face of intergalactic war, is there really a difference?

Manatee: Not really. What do you think of this as a law show? Is there anything new here? Too much of the same old? I’m not really buying the Canterbury character. She’s too all over the place. She’s this “tough” lawyer, but then you see an emotional side, that quite frankly is not touching (therapy and the last scene with the “psychic”). I remember on The Practice, you had a firm of tough defense lawyers who were out for money…sometimes they did not even care if you were guilty or innocent. They wanted to win competitively and win for the money. That brings a nice aspect to the lawyer theme, a bit of a moral question, a conscience that you the viewer must address (not the character). Even tough Canterbury is the star of her firm, she is mixed between tough lawyer and whore,. …I mean lawyer with a heart of gold. I don’t like this dynamic, not working for me.

Marmot: Nothing that excited me. It's pretty run of the mill. I might be willing to give it another chance to see where it's going, since the 2nd episode was such an improvement over the pilot.

Manatee: You know what was a big improvement, I noticed it looked with Aidan Quinn used a little " Just for Men" hair color for the series.

Marmot: HA. Good point. That reminds me, why is the PI she uses so grabby? And why isn't he wearing the fedora that the prosecutor is using? A fedora is standard-issue PI gear. You get it when you sign up, along with a drinking problem and a glass door with your name on it.

Manatee: He seems a little overly sexually charged. But I HATE that fedora. I say lose it. I thought that guy was a cop most of the 1st 2 episodes. Lawyers don't where those hats. Also, I thought the show took please in NYC, but it's really RI. Who knew?

Marmot: It's Rhode Island? I thought it was NYC, too. And Fedora does act like a cop. Like Dick Tracy breaking up the speak-easy. It's so out of place.

Manatee: There was an ambulance or something that said Providence Hospital, and the side of the hospital said RI Hospital. How 'bout that detective work?

Marmot: Nice. You should get a fedora and an glass door with your name on it. And a drinking problem.

Manatee: You says I don't already?!