(Season 5, Episodes 15-16)
It wasn’t the most fascinating or compelling case, but episode 14’s terminated teacher was left in the middle, with Ellenor essentially challenging Principal Steven Harper (Chi McBride) to a court battle. And the question of why Superintendant Marsha Shinn (Debbi Morgan) seemed to be gunning for her client also hung in the air. So where’d it go?
Instead, we moved on to Ellenor’s battle with her sperm donor, and Rebecca’s continued hospitalization. And the rape of a little girl. Not slouching, just strange.
5.15 “Awakenings”
Ted McGinley guested as Ellenor’s longtime best friend and sperm donor — who couldn’t imagine Jefferson D’Arcy in that position? But when Michael (McGinley) decided that he wanted to be a part of the baby’s life, Ellenor took him to court. Good for Jimmy for standing by her after initially being so judgmental, but Jimmy? I know everyone else was busy, but if anything screams “We don’t care about you!” it’s leaving her in the hands of Jimmy the Grunt.
He actually did okay, but his biggest mistake was in arguing the prosecution’s case and not ignoring it. Remember, Ellenor and Michael had a signed contract wherein Michael gave up any and all parental rights. So why was Jimmy arguing against the prosecution’s myriad studies and statistics about single parents? The judge spun some mumbo-jumbo about also needing to weigh “best interest of the child,” but when it came down to it, he would never have been able to overturn that legal document. If he had, sperm bank donors around the world would start demanding custody of their “children.” Do you really see that happening, Jimmy?
Lucy caught another rape crisis center case, this one involving an 11 year-old. Helen came in to prosecute the rapist, but it was really strange to see the father not emoting at all. I’m not suggesting that he had something to do with it, but he was a single father whose 11 year-old daughter had just been raped … he was awfully calm.
And in bloopers news, Rebecca went missing in the hospital, only to end up in the maternity ward and miraculously wake up. I’m getting that this show isn’t particularly good at closure.
5.16 “Gideon’s Crossover”
Finally some explosions from papa in the rapist case! Except it’s that he wants it both ways — he wants Helen to make sure the rapist goes to jail, but he doesn’t want to expose his daughter to a trial. I couldn’t even imagine, but why do so many people have trouble grasping the concept of short-term bad versus long-term good? And why do the writers seem to think that Helen’s specialty is her people skills?
Bobby landed on a murder trial that found a man accused of killing his stepdaughter after having an affair with her. This one, of course, will get a part two, and it’s looking like the girl’s mother may have killed her out of jealousy. She sounds nice.
And in a crossover with Gideon’s Crossing (what’s the connection?), Andre Braugher (hi Owen!) guested as Dr. Ben Gideon, a friend of Ellenor’s who examined her after she experienced complications with her pregnancy. And everything seemed okay until she fainted back at home … maybe Andre should stick to car sales or detective work. But it was great to see him!
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Jan 21, 2010 @ 16:00 EST5EDT
My recollection is that ABC only approved the crossover with Boston Public (a Kelley FOX show) if he would do a crossover with another ABC show, namely Gideon’s Crossing, so that’s why there were two crossovers so close together that season.
*POST AUTHOR*
Thanks. This is what happens when you watch 10 years later. :)