Fairly Legal Review: Series Premiere
There are few shows that hook me on the pilot episode, but Fairly Legal may be one of them. For me, the trick is to combine great characters with an interesting premise that will make me want to come back for more.
I think Fairly Legal has done that.
I’ve never been a huge fan of law shows, but a mediator is more interested in the people and their stories than the law, so I find the show’s premise satisfying. I'm also quickly falling for these characters.
Sarah Shahi is Kate Reed. I liked Sarah on the NBC series Life and I find her even more appealing here. The actress is fun to watch and her character is smart, funny, gorgeous, and just flawed enough to be truly interesting. Kate is the anti-lawyer surrounded by lawyers.
Her ex, Justin, is played by Michael Trucco. I enjoyed Michael’s stint on Castle last year. I’m glad he’s sticking around this time. Kate and Justin have a complicated relationship (we’re divorced but still having great sex!).
Kate appears to be the one holding all the cards here. Justin seems desperate to get her back. I can’t wait to see how far he’s willing to go and to find out what broke them up in the first place. Perhaps it has something to do with him being an assistant district attorney and her jumping ship on the law profession.
Despite Kate’s Wicked Witch of the West ringtone for her step-mother Lauren, I’m thrilled they haven’t made her a caricature. Lauren and Kate may not get along, but Lauren is fighting to save the law firm.
Speaking of ring tones, I love the Wizard of Oz theme Kate uses. Where can I get these? They also had the added benefit of quickly telling me what Kate thinks of the people in her life. Her late father was The Wizard. Her ex is the Tin Man. (Is he really missing a heart?) Her poor brother is the Scarecrow, replete with a ring tone that sings "if I only had a brain." It's both funny and insightful.
Leonardo, Kate’s assistant/sidekick, looks like great fun. Using his Dungeons and Dragons connections to get information from friends inside the police force was inspired. And his prized possession is a Sarah Michelle Gellar inscribed Buffy the Vampire Slayer watch. I think I’m going to like Leo.
Finally, the show has my long time favorite, Gerald McRaney, as Judge Nicastro. I’m still not sure if the judge will be Kate’s nemesis or father figure, but McRaney never fails to make me happy.
They say characters are welcome on the USA network and they are obviously welcome on Fairly Legal. I’m looking forward to getting to know these people a whole lot better. How about you?
C. Orlando is a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.
More Fairly Legal News
Fairly Legal Canceled by USA
USA Network Status Updates: Common Law, Necessary Roughness, Fairly Legal
Summer Show-Down: Renew or Replace?
Fairly Legal Season Finale Review: Courage Is An Angel
March 10th, 2012 1:25 PM
Is the actor that plays Leo, the assistant, the same actor that sings in the Ashley Furniture Store commercials? Thank you, sincwewly Mildred
Rank: New User
June 30th, 2011 9:57 PM
I'm just watching the show on Hulu. These plots are as believable as Bones. No, that isn't a compliment. The bruinette is cute, the blonde is cute but too skinny. Sandwich girl was hot hot when she modeled the superhero costume.
So we have a fair cast & no plot. Wish she wore more skirts.
April 19th, 2011 11:56 AM
When michael was on castle everyone said he was hot but I hated him so I didn't see that he was hot till I watched fairly legal. I didn't like him cause he was in the middle of castle and becketts relationship and made Beckett very happy in the few episodes he was in, but I thought he was a good actor. I saw fairly legal on iTunes top charts and sidereal but I don't like legal stuff and the season picture looked weird but when I saw an ad on tv with Michael I decided to watch fairly legal and I love it now.
April 16th, 2011 11:33 PM
LOVE LOVE LOVE this show!
March 27th, 2011 11:51 PM
Love, Love Love this show...the storyline is interesting and is looking forward for the next season....I was a bit disappointed with the season Finale, looking forward to Kate and Justin working things out but I guess we'll find out if they do on the next season....
March 26th, 2011 12:47 PM
This show is such a disaster that I miss Tom Greene and his attempts at humor. Mexican telenovelas are based on more surprising and better written stories, with vastly better acting. Sarah Shahi is an insult to the acting profession, as is the jackass in the role of her assistant. Sarah should try a job posing for the Penthouse, that's the only thing she might have SOME talent for. After all the crappy reality shows, Fairly Legal just might be the TV's all-time low point; a complete, utter disaster no one with an IQ higher than the room temperature could possibly like.
March 18th, 2011 4:27 PM
Having been a client/ buyer of many TV shows, I find Fairly Legal a mindless series with Sarah a very poor actress and a very poorly... untrained star... designer shoes don't make a show!... and a cast that has no continuity. It shouldn't be renewed...compare it to Burn Notice, Blood Brothers, the original CSI...Royal Pains, etc. Fairly Legal shoud be dumped...and her "ass" and ""what-do-you-thinkof them apple's"...is stupid as a repeated promo!
February 26th, 2011 9:57 PM
yes watching this all the way from ireland.....and loving it.....sick of all these serious csi....law and order shows...people getting pumped with bullets and sliced open... light hearted non gorey shows are more than welcome on my tv!
February 24th, 2011 4:34 PM
this show is horrible. very unrealistic. one of the first scenes in the pilot where she talks the guy robbing the store owner and gun point to settle with a couple cases of beer? i was dumbfounded of how horrible that scene was. Like anyone robbing a store at gunpoint would ever even consider doing that. the main character is also mean to her ex and step mother for no reason at all, it makes no sense and needs to be more realistic
February 11th, 2011 5:24 PM
This show is ridiculous. It is so unrealistic even a three year old could see that. Where in life do you see people that would so easily go along with her bossing them around, vs. just telling her to kiss where the sun doesn't shine. For example there is no way that a man that just spend 20 years of his life in prison for something he didn't do would listen to her telling him how to live. b) If a cab driver hit me while I am riding my bike, the last person I would listen to, on how I shouldn't drink coffee while riding a bike, (never the less let her take it away from me) is some lady that jumped out of the passenger's seat and acting like a boss. My response would #1 is Who ta hell are you? and #2 to the cab driver: Do you have insurance? I find it almost offensive that the show is about some lady running around and bossing people around, while presenting herself as a perfect angel. Please get this garrbage off the air!!