Fairly Legal

A legal drama that's not a legal drama? Kate Reed is an ex-lawyer who's now a "mediator" - a kind of referee for disputes out of court (as she demonstrates in an amusing scene in the pilot where she mediates between an armed robber and a coffee shop owner).

The show is well cast and filmed with real quality and an eye for both visual appeal and new techniques (watch out for the "un-steady cam) that makes a refreshing change - and of course it always helps if your main character is a 4 alarm fire.

Shows real promise and you'll want to know more about the characters. Let's hope they run with it.

This series has lots of energy mostly via its lead Kate (Sarah Shahi) and Leonardo (Baron Vaughn) as a "fairly legal" mediation team. The concept and the character backgrounds is made interesting in the first episode with plenty of room for development.

I do like the "affectionate" exchanges between Kate and her former legal "professionals" personified in Kate's brazen disregard for protocol. Kate's character is immediately given speed and license to turn human disputes around whichever which way she can. If the rest of the series lives up to episode one then it'll have my attention.

My one reservation is the apparent lack of chemistry between Kate and co-star Justin (Michael Trucco) which is apparent through the kind of characters they play as well as an on screen indifference.

Still promising though.

This show had all the makings of a great show but unfortunately it never gained enough of an audience. The characters are interesting enough but nothing revolutionary. They are comical though and the cast do a really good job at portraying their respective roles. Kate Reed is particularly entertaining.

I personally found season one to be better than season two. Season two seems a little less "sparkly" but it still feels engaging.

The show may not have aired for many seasons but it's a solid comedy drama with plenty of heart and interesting legal story lines. Give it a go and you won't regret it.

I liked Fairly Legal at the beginning, but after a few episodes, Sarah's character started to annoy me. She is bossy, slightly rude, thinks she's seen it all, knows it all and has an answer to everything, and patronising at times also. "I can solve everything and listen to me, shut up, do this, don't do that, etc" and her own life is a mess with conflicts with everyone in her life... Also, I find some plots uninteresting and the humour at times really falls flat. The idea of the show is quite good, and it started well but went downhill I think, mainly because her character is not likable enough and plots are not very well thought or covered. Shame.

Fairly Legal is a new show with a lot of potential for a few season run. This show focuses upon court ordered mediation and in particular the young woman who is assigned by the court to settle disputes between parties before they get to the formality of trial.

Sarah Shahi plays a perky and quirky former attorney who steps down a bit in the legal food chain to take on the job. She has the notion that things be kept on an informal basis, it makes life and the consequences for the parties involved a whole lot easier.

The show has a nice Ally McBeal feel to it. Showing up in a few episodes is Gerald McRaney as a judge. I liked his character and hope to see more of him.

I'd give this show a look.