Canterbury’s Law (1.4)

Friday, April 4 @ 9pm

FOX

Canterbury’s Law – Season 1, Episode 4 – “Sweet Sixteen”

While dealing with the aftermath of being arrested and jailed overnight for jury tampering and perjury, Elizabeth defends Izzy and Linda, high-school students accused of soliciting murder. When Linda secretly switches lawyers and cuts a deal, it's a case of she said-she said, and Elizabeth must learn to decipher high-school doublespeak if she's going to save her client. (Fox.com)

"Your Honor, there was not a collective gasp when I announced a surprise witness. I move for mistrial."

Manatee: Why do I have such a hard time following this show? Thank goodness for DVR otherwise how could I rewind every 3 minutes to replay dumb scenes?!

Marmot: It's because the show is boring and predictable. I had to re-watch a scene or two, myself. I could make a list of all the characters and storylines and characters I don't like about this show, but I think it would be easier to list what I find interesting: Martin (the office assistant). Who is this guy? What's his MO?

Manatee: He showed up once in last week's episode, with some small remark, about what I can't remember. But this week he was all about the corny sexual jokes! And it was not even funny!

Marmot: If this show ever gets a spin-off, it should follow his life. What kind of assistant blatantly comes on to two female superiors and then tries to sit in on a staff meeting? Only an awesome one.

Manatee: I was glad to see the token black guy getting some more face time, in a legit courtroom kind of way.

Marmot: That stuff caught me off guard. In all the other episodes, I thought him and the girl in the office were her minions. I didn't think they had cases of their own. It just made me realize that I have no understanding of how the legal system works.

Manatee: Well, you may not know, but I don't think the writers on this show do either! haha. But I get the impression that Canterbury is a micro manager and oversees everything and they are always minions... just either as 2nd chair or as office researchers. Though last week, Black guy did have his own case which he handed off to white chick without a license.

Marmot: Oh that's right. I think I would hate to work for her, in any business. Imagine you're there, cooking up a Big Mac, just doing your job and Elizabeth Canterbury busts in, screaming "SESAME SEED BUN, NOT REGULAR! You're off the burger!"

Manatee: I really have little feeling toward that character. I can't even feel bad for her that she was thrown into jail and had to be bailed out at 3 AM. Or that her husband left her... I mean she was cheating for goodness sake!

Marmot: That's where I got a little confused last week. Did she cheat once, or was it continuous? And is that worse than him sleeping with one of his students? (Side note: a college professor sleeping with one of his students? How cliché.)

Manatee: That's a good question. I assumed that it was a repeative thing... not just a one time mistake. Maybe that's because I assume she is a bad person. But sleeping with your student is pretty bad, and cliche. When Russell bailed her out, she was a total b-i-t-c-h... and I was hoping for maybe a sentimental moment there. It didn't come. Then when she calls Russell again to "bail" her out at home, she's totally cold - there was almost a moment where we saw some emotional fiber (she starts crying, he notices her husband's closet is cleaned out, etc) and it turns into a CSI Miami moment. Russell: "Why'd he leave?" Canterbury/Caruso: "I think the question is, (puts on sunglasses) why didn't he leave earlier?" (MUSIC CUE: The Who)

Marmot: Oh my god, if Juliana Marguilles would only channel Caruso all the time, this show would be ten times as watchable.

Manatee: She also has the most abusive courtrooms ever!

Marmot: Every one of those court scenes is so ridiculous. Even Markie Post was held in contempt when she was on Night Court. Of course, she was never arrested for jury tampering, but that was because it was only a half hour show. And there was no jury.

Manatee: I was wondering, wouldn't it be a conflict for her to be defending while he is prosecuting her client? Shouldn't there be an asst DA on the case, or one of her other "children" (as she likes to call them)?

Marmot: You would think that there is some kind of a conflict of interest there. But this is Rhode Island. Normal rules don't apply. I mean, come on, it's barely even a state.

Manatee: That's true, it's not really a state... and I don't think there are rich people there either, which means that whole rich vs. poor theme was crap!

Marmot: You know, I never really saw much of a difference between the rich girl and the poor girl. There was the (oft-repeated) line about Poor Mom having to mortgage her house to pay for Canterbury, but lawyers are expensive people.

Manatee: I guess that since the Rich girl got off pretty easily - that was supposed to show you the difference in class. But honestly, I think a better ending would have been if the rich girl and poor girl were in on the plan together. Since they came off as such morons, what if the rich girl hatched the idea to get off with the DA and the poor girl was in on that... then they set it up to turn on each other, so that they could both get off. Following me? That's a more Law and Order ending.