Canterbury's Law

We enjoyed this series immensely and were sorry to see it end. Arm chair lawyers can pick nits with courtroom details, but the series is refreshing because it probes the darker side of the justice system and the irony that breaking its "rules" can on occasion result in more just outcomes. Good scripts and music. Julianna Margulies is excellent and as Canterbury pushes the envelop for female leads in television. She has gone on to great success in The Good Wife, so it's probably unrealistic to think that someday, she might return to this project. Even so, it will remain in her acting portfolio as solid evidence that she's one of the very best around. Thank goodness all six episodes are available on Watch Instantly in Netflix.

I'm enjoying the show, mostly. MOST shows I've grown attached to have a weak start, because they're rushing to show us the new characters - but over time, they spend less time developing the characters, because you know them by then. In the pilot, I thought I would hate the Russell character, because for one, I'd fire him outright, and for another, I don't want some wet blanket always raining on the lead character's ideas. It's weak. He's developing well now, and I think he might prove to be my favorite on the cast.

I wasn't crazy about this latest episode, because the main plot line - her eventual arrest - took the whole hour, while minor plot lines, such as her relationship with her husband - I couldn't care less about. A staff member who is studying law and another who is being encouraged by his dad to jump ship. So basically, an episode where the overall story moved very little - where "nothing happened". I'm willing to keep watching it a few weeks.

This show isn't necessarily good or bad.. But The Good Wife's a lot more intriguing. Elizebeth Canterbury stars a "controversial" lawyer who bends the law while going through personal issues(a missing son and her husband not lovng her). I gave this a shot on Netflix. It's a good watch if you have a lot of time in a day. I really can't stand the main character. She comes across really cheesy. The story line is actually quite good if the show were developed onto further seasons. I see where they're going with this. Prosecuting Attorney v. Defender of the Defenseless. The pilot would have been better if you realized that she's dealing over her missing son. Also the show doesn't make sense to me until the last episode.

Defense attorney Elizabeth Canterbury (Julianna Margulies) is willing to cross the ethics line to defend her clients. She and her husband Matt Furey (Aidan Quinn) are still struggling after she lost their son three years earlier. Her law partner Russell Krauss (Ben Shenkman) is a former prosecutor who likes the straight and narrow path. Russell's former boss, Deputy Attorney General Zach Williams (Terry Kinney), is out to get Canterbury after losing to her. Her investigator Frank Angstrom is also her former lover. Her associate Chester Fields is rebelling against his political father. Her other associate Molly McConnell is struggling to pass the bar.

There is an issue with some of the characters. Canterbury is always the one who believes in her clients' innocence and nobody else believes it. It happens far too often. It's silly that her underlings keep harping on their clients' guilt. They're defense attorneys whether the clients are innocent or guilty. There are some issues with believability. The acting is all solid. This mid-season replacement was quickly cancelled. That's probably for the best since Margulies would go on to lead a better show although the two lead characters have many similarities. In The Good Wife, she has a softer edge with more rooting interest. She's not as militant. In this one, her strident nature is problematic. It's an intriguing show but I need recalibrations with some characters.

I disagree with the previous viewer. I actually am enjoying this new show. The dialogue is smart, and the plots so far have been interesting. I also think it is more multi-layered than most shows of this ilk on TV presently. It's a different role for Julianna Margulies, and I love the character she is playing. It's nice to see a strong "over-29" woman, who is complex and able to think on her feet. She (the character) has been through a huge tragedy, and it gives me pause to think how that might affect her. I also enjoy Ben Shankman in his role and hope Aidan Quinn will get a bigger role in future episodes. I just feel like the series needs time for everything to gel. The cast feels a bit rough in the way they interact, but that often gets resolved within the first season. Give it some time and another view or two!