Detective Drucker serves an ominous search warrant. Mickey applies leverage to extract sensitive information. Lorna juggles multiple crises at the firm. A game-changing charge ups the stakes, forcing Mickey to make his toughest decision yet. Surveillance footage gives Izzy a new angle on the case.
"You're the One That I Want" was written by Matthew J. Lieberman & Isabella A. Rodriguez and directed by Darren Grant
The vibes shift the moment Lorna hears Dana plans on submitting a new indictment for murder under special circumstances. She informs Mickey his bail will likely be revoked. The prosecution has found evidence that Mickey killed Sam over money. Mickey believed he was making progress. He identified Alex Gazarian as the man responsible for framing him for Sam's murder. He seeks more information from the FBI. Agent Ruth essentially tips him off about Sam being an informant. Everything is more complicated because he's the client whose life is on the line. He can't step a foot over the county line even when answers are potentially right there in the police precinct. Bamba is targeted with a parole violation for how he parked the Lincoln. The raid signals Lorna's client that the firm isn't stable enough to handle his case. Everything is completely overwhelming. Mickey tries his best to keep it together. He doesn't tell Legal about the looming indictment. He loses his appetite. He prepares for the worst. Lorna has the more visible breakdown. She can't handle the stress. Maggie has become the only person she can confide in about her fears. She's afraid of letting Mickey down because she's new to being a lawyer. She can't handle the case. And so, Maggie decides to step in.
The vibes shift the moment Lorna hears Dana plans on submitting a new indictment for murder under special circumstances. She informs Mickey his bail will likely be revoked. The prosecution has found evidence that Mickey killed Sam over money. Mickey believed he was making progress. He identified Alex Gazarian as the man responsible for framing him for Sam's murder. He seeks more information from the FBI. Agent Ruth essentially tips him off about Sam being an informant. Everything is more complicated because he's the client whose life is on the line. He can't step a foot over the county line even when answers are potentially right there in the police precinct. Bamba is targeted with a parole violation for how he parked the Lincoln. The raid signals Lorna's client that the firm isn't stable enough to handle his case. Everything is completely overwhelming. Mickey tries his best to keep it together. He doesn't tell Legal about the looming indictment. He loses his appetite. He prepares for the worst. Lorna has the more visible breakdown. She can't handle the stress. Maggie has become the only person she can confide in about her fears. She's afraid of letting Mickey down because she's new to being a lawyer. She can't handle the case. And so, Maggie decides to step in.
It's a tantalizing prospect to see Mickey and Maggie on the same side. It requires Maggie to set aside her typical role within the system. She's no longer representing the government. She has a personal relationship with the client. No one informs Mickey about the change before it occurs. That preserves the surprise for the audience. Maggie was already invested. Now, she's taking on more of the load. Her presence offers reassurance. She will set her convictions aside because of her love for Mickey and Lorna. The family is already tangled in this mess. She stands proudly in it. She believes in Mickey's innocence. That's what her representation suggests. The confidence is warranted. Dana still believes in the strength of her case. Detective Drucker raided the office for a reason. He found what he was looking for. He receives that clarity. Meanwhile, the Haller & Associates team is still scrambling to put the pieces together for their own case. Izzy and Cisco find a link between Gazarian and the individuals who own Biogreen. That was a victory that could only be celebrated briefly. All that hard work still slipped away. That's how elevated this uphill battle has become to provide exoneration for Mickey.
Grade: B-
"50/50" was written by Lisa Quintela and directed by Darren Grant
Mickey returning to prison was inevitable based on the new charges. Yet the hour finds a masterful way to convince the audience into believing he won't. Mickey needs to be free to prepare his defense. He also needs to mourn Legal who suddenly dies from a heart attack. He can't put Hayley through any more turmoil. The judge allows Mickey to decide which outcome he wants. He can remain free if he waives his speedy trial right. Or he can maintain his trial date while in prison. He opts for the latter. His loved ones are stunned. He has been passionate about proving his innocence as quickly as possible. He needs to restore his reputation. Others have suffered because of this case. He didn't see how Lorna was struggling. She was overwhelmed. Maggie had to step in. She handles herself well as a defense lawyer. She knows how to poke holes in the case Dana and Drucker present. It's far from a damning piece of evidence that was discovered in the storage unit. Maggie aims to discredit its importance in establishing motive. Dana still secured a new indictment. The judge only has so much discretion. He uses that to offer Mickey this choice. Mickey opts for speed. It's a decision he makes in the heat of the moment. He doesn't know all the circumstances of what's happening elsewhere. It's a decision that extends from his ego. He may argue this is how he honors Legal. He's doing what he loves without delay or trepidation. That's how Legal lived.
Mickey returning to prison was inevitable based on the new charges. Yet the hour finds a masterful way to convince the audience into believing he won't. Mickey needs to be free to prepare his defense. He also needs to mourn Legal who suddenly dies from a heart attack. He can't put Hayley through any more turmoil. The judge allows Mickey to decide which outcome he wants. He can remain free if he waives his speedy trial right. Or he can maintain his trial date while in prison. He opts for the latter. His loved ones are stunned. He has been passionate about proving his innocence as quickly as possible. He needs to restore his reputation. Others have suffered because of this case. He didn't see how Lorna was struggling. She was overwhelmed. Maggie had to step in. She handles herself well as a defense lawyer. She knows how to poke holes in the case Dana and Drucker present. It's far from a damning piece of evidence that was discovered in the storage unit. Maggie aims to discredit its importance in establishing motive. Dana still secured a new indictment. The judge only has so much discretion. He uses that to offer Mickey this choice. Mickey opts for speed. It's a decision he makes in the heat of the moment. He doesn't know all the circumstances of what's happening elsewhere. It's a decision that extends from his ego. He may argue this is how he honors Legal. He's doing what he loves without delay or trepidation. That's how Legal lived.
Legal offers wisdom to Lorna before his death. She believes Bamba's case is impossible. She ultimately succeeds in getting the parole violation for gang association dropped. She can only do so much with the unregistered gun charge. Legal celebrates. Good behavior means Bamba will likely spend less than a year locked up. That needs to be a win. It's the only way to function within this profession. Lorna has to sell the deal to her client. It means both Mickey and Bamba will be in prison once more. Lorna delivers the news about Legal. That moment also plays with misdirection. Cisco found Gazarian. He was made immediately. He was assaulted by the mobster's goons. The worst didn't happened. They planned on abducting him. They ran away because they were caught. That tragedy hasn't hit Lorna yet. It's all hitting at the same time. The team was barely hanging on previously. Izzy's relationship with Grace is steadily getting stronger. The narrative has presented a way for Grace to help with the ongoing investigation. The threats remain real and active. Mickey demands a speedy trial. However, Cisco will not immediately be able to work as an investigator. He's injured. He needs time to heal. Mickey will miss Legal's funeral. All of this has to mean something. The sacrifices are immense. They occur in the name of love. That unites them against seemingly unstoppable forces. The show presents that burden while never leaving the audience feeling manipulated with the decisions made.
Grade: A-
