After three episodes, it is clear that The Whole Truth is the best new law procedural this year. While it certainly isn’t The Good Wife or Boston Legal, it is better than The Defenders and Outlaw.
The show stars Maura Tierney as prosecutor Kathryn Peale and Rob Morrow as defense attorney Jimmy Brogan. Each episode, Jimmy and Kathryn go against each other in a case.
The battle this week involved a highly respected Judge, Rubin Wright, who was arrested for murder. He was charged with getting a friend released from jail and then alledgedly gave an order to kill him only an hour after the man’s release.
The prosecutors put a lot of emphasis on a recording of the judge with a drug lord, Santiago, where he told him to take care of the victim. However, they found much more than the recording.
It seemed that the judge had received bribes for acquitting people that were involved with Santiago. However, he claimed that it was a coincidence and that it was not true.
The defense focused on the fact that the judge was a highly respected man of the law. In the end, he was found not guilty.
That led to what I think is one of the best parts about this show. At the end of each episode, they give major clues about who actually committed the crime. So, they basically show the viewers who did it.
In this episode, he actually did call the hit on the man, and the court got it wrong. That is one of the best parts about this show. There are other good elements in the show but first let’s see what is bad about it.
Even if you don’t know tons about the law, it seems odd that the two leads are always facing each other. In the first two episodes, they went at it, and then in this episode, they were in the middle of a case against each other when the judge was arrested. The show never explains why these two lawyers are always going at it with each other.
The supporting cast is just ok. On the defense side, Jimmy gets help from Alejo Salazar, played by Anthony Ruivivar, and Lena Boudreaux, played by Christine Adams. Both seem weak.
On the prosecution side, Kathryn gets help from Terrance “Edge” Edgecomb, played by Eamonn Walker, and Chad Griffin, played by Sean Wing. I like Terrance, but I don’t like Chad. Although he did pretty well in this episode, he was completely useless in the first two episodes and actually got in the way.
I have been repetitive in this review because I wanted to show both sides, just as the show does. That is what the hook of the show is, and it is the reason why I like it.
I love the fact that they show both sides of the case equally. One side is not portrayed more than the other. And, again, I really that they show the viewer who did it in the end.
The other thing I like about this show are the two leads. Tierney plays this role well, as Kathryn is a tough, stressed out prosecutor and Morrow plays his roll well, as Jimmy is the more laid back, cocky, and sometimes funny one.
I like Jimmy more and I also like the fact that they are friends as well. They do hang out at times, but once they are in the courtroom, they go at it pretty good. This show continues to improve, and I hope that it stays on the air.
Unfortunately, the ratings have been terrible, and ABC is probably going to let it go. Until then, you should certainly check it out.
College Couch Potato Grade: B
It is a good show, although no Boston Legal. And, I do like that they show both sides, but Maura Tierny is not that great of an actress. Never liked her much on ER and have tried, but still don’t like her much here. Also, yeah, don’t get how these two are the only lawyers in their respective offices and they always go against each other. Kind of leaves me feeling like they wanted to cut costs. Better if they had 5 or 6 different attorneys for each side who could face off against different ones each week, forming different dynamics and relationships. But, nobody from ABC asked what I think…Keep up the great reviews!
Ive never even heard of this before. O.O wow, go figure *goes to look it up* Great review, keep them coming.