I picked up this show to write about because, frankly, I hoped that by being forced to write out my thoughts, I might figure out what I think of it. It has some good performances, it occasionally has interesting cases, and yet quite a lot of the time it makes me want to bash my head against something.
Usually the thing that inspired head-bashing is Kate, who manages to combine a big heart and thoughtlessness, but tonight it’s the show itself. I realize this is not the most nuanced show, but was it not enough to have Natalie/Christy’s (Betsy Brandt, slumming it from Breaking Bad) acts take place twenty years ago and she has two children now? Was it necessary to pile on that she didn’t do anything in the crime itself but watch? Maybe if she’d done something and then shown remorse it would’ve felt more real, but as it was, they were so busy painting her as an angel there was no real dilemma. There’s little exploration of the issues, and rarely any real question about whether Kate will act, or really if anyone will act, because to do anything else would make them look terrible. The show likes to say that Kate works in shades of gray, but honestly this show stacks the deck far too much into black/white and takes the narrative easy choice.
However, that said, it was immensely satisfying to watch as Justin and Kate played Davidson so perfectly. I do enjoy the delicious nasty edge that Esai Morales brings to Davidson, and I’m glad it seems he’ll be an ongoing presence into the last episodes of the season. I am now curious what his counter move will be. Well-played, Show.
Not well-played — I do not for a single second believe Kate doesn’t know how to drive. She chooses not to, yes, and she refuses to have a car — all right, that’s quirky. But she didn’t learn as a supposedly rebellious teenager? With the peninsula or Santa Cruz within reach? To say nothing of wherever she went to college and law school? Come on, show, do better for cheap laughs.
Wow, Beth is a cartoonish piece of work, isn’t she? Though in the end, at least they gave her a little more justification. I thought it was an interesting choice of not having Ben apologize. Even if it lacked sincerity, most people I think would try “I’m sorry,” rather than just saying “yes, I was terrible and I warned you I was terrible.” That doesn’t make it better. Nor does it make it better that he didn’t intend for the book deal to come out until after the plea; that was still a shady and unsympathetic move. Both Justin and Kate were justifiably angry about that. So Ben’s little puppy eyes did not move me at the end when Kate and Justin walked out hand in hand. He screwed that one up all on his own.
It certainly does prove that he’s just as self-destructive as Kate and Justin, though. Because those two desperately need to talk before they blow up again. The show has always given short shrift to showing Justin’s point of view, but I have no idea what he or Kate are thinking right now. Is this habit? Are they thinking splitting was a mistake? Are they starting over? They already tried the friends-with-benefits approach and Justin hated it the first time; are we supposed to think he’s okay with it now or are we supposed to pretend the first season didn’t happen? If this is supposed to be a triangle, it might help if we were given some clues about his side. Kate’s side is a little better, but still, it needs work.
I am however very pleased that at least we got more Justin in this episode. I was feeling very cranky that he was such a minor player for a stretch there. The show is always more interesting when we have more of the characters we already know, and less of the characters of the week, whom we’ll never see again.
One last note about “the triangle”– please, USA, could you ease up on promoting it? If that’s the only thing your show has going for it, I’m sorry, but that’s not enough. I certainly don’t need to be bashed over the head with it in every single promotional item to come out of the show. It makes the triangle feel more artificial than it already is.
Clacked by Liz Tamura 
on May 19, 2012 @ 09:21 EST5EDT
This was actually my favorite episode of the season so far. I loved the mother on the lam story. For her to get caught because she witnessed a fake accident was unfortunate.
I have also been about Kate and Justin finally growing up and realizing they do work together and getting back together … until … Kate is with Ben. At first I didn’t get the two of them, but during this episode I could see the sparks there. Kate is double downing on Justin, because she is afraid of her feelings for Ben. That’s a problem. (Still favor her with Justin, though.)
My favorite part was seeing Kate, Justin and Ben all work together to do the right thing. And, it was especially awesome because they screwed over Davidson.
Beth was way over the top, but it she fit this show’s tone. It was reminded me a lot of some of the out-of-the-norm lawyers that The Good Wife has show up. She was just a bit crazy.
I can see that there is chemistry between Ryan Johnson and Sarah Shahi but they just don’t work for me in a romantic relationship because their combined maturity adds up to 10. Or maybe 8. Even Shahi acknowledges that Kate is immature (in the post about Lauren) and everything about Ben potentiates that. And Ben’s pissing contest with Justin does him no favors.
I could see Kate with Justin again if she ever grows up but with Ben, it’s two kids in the sandbox.