Maggie goes full McFierce as she locks horns with a volatile witness. A video shakes up Lorna's pretrial hearing. Mickey contemplates the unthinkable. Boxed in between Death Row Dana and a full-on federal probe, Mickey makes a last-ditch gamble that could be his salvation - or his undoing.
"October Surprise" was written by Matthew J. Lieberman & Audrey Lipsmire and directed by Paula Garces
Gazarian entered Mickey's orbit through the Lisa Trammell case. As such, it's hardly surprising to see Lisa appear once more. She provides testimony against Mickey. Dana tries to establish a pattern of Mickey being vindictive against clients who refuse to pay. She argues that Mickey turned Lisa into the police for her ex-husband's murder as punishment over legal fees. Lisa was a con artist. She deceived Mickey throughout the second season. Her tricks worked for awhile. Mickey felt morally justified for what he did. Lisa aims for revenge. It's simply derailed by the letters she has written in the years since. She threatened to make him pay. This is her way of doing so. It affords the narrative a way to connect many of the stories told across its series run to date. It doesn't have a huge impact on Mickey's trial. Maggie even states it's probably a wash for the jury. Lisa's inclusion is mostly a way to reward viewers. It's enticing to see her once more. Yet something more is still going on. That's always the case with Mickey. Nothing can ever truly come together until the conclusion of the season. This stunt runs the risk of being nothing more than filler. It's a convenient distraction. It keeps the prosecution busy before the defense starts its case. Even then, Mickey and Maggie are still grasping at straws.
Gazarian entered Mickey's orbit through the Lisa Trammell case. As such, it's hardly surprising to see Lisa appear once more. She provides testimony against Mickey. Dana tries to establish a pattern of Mickey being vindictive against clients who refuse to pay. She argues that Mickey turned Lisa into the police for her ex-husband's murder as punishment over legal fees. Lisa was a con artist. She deceived Mickey throughout the second season. Her tricks worked for awhile. Mickey felt morally justified for what he did. Lisa aims for revenge. It's simply derailed by the letters she has written in the years since. She threatened to make him pay. This is her way of doing so. It affords the narrative a way to connect many of the stories told across its series run to date. It doesn't have a huge impact on Mickey's trial. Maggie even states it's probably a wash for the jury. Lisa's inclusion is mostly a way to reward viewers. It's enticing to see her once more. Yet something more is still going on. That's always the case with Mickey. Nothing can ever truly come together until the conclusion of the season. This stunt runs the risk of being nothing more than filler. It's a convenient distraction. It keeps the prosecution busy before the defense starts its case. Even then, Mickey and Maggie are still grasping at straws.
Jeanine claims not to know anything. Gazarian did something to piss off his family. It was enough to kill him. Jeanine is still afraid for her life. She won't be safe if Cisco abandons her in a hotel. She probably knows more than she has already shared. That's probably the missing piece. The FBI are a huge angle in this story as well. Mickey believes Sam was either already an informant or being recruited as one. Either way, he was killed for that. Agent Ruth comes to court to hear Mickey present the case. That's enough to convince the judge to issue a warrant demanding compliance. Mickey needs the opportunity to fully explore the depths of this case. Dana only sees a big distraction. Mickey wants to confuse the audience instead of focusing on the facts at hand. It's a familiar tactic. It's still likely to result in a massive payoff. That's how the show operates. It's such an immense relief when everything works out. That's what Lorna feels when she exonerates Carter. She proved that the neighborhood security guard was likely responsible for the murder. That joy and appreciation for her work is why she became a lawyer. She receives that clarity. It's ecstatic. Yet Mickey is thrown one last curveball. He's abducted by the deputy charged with protecting him. He has never truly been safe. The risky gambits he takes in life always threaten to catch up with him.
Grade: B-
"The Law of Innocence" was written by Ted Humphrey & Dailyn Rodriguez and directed by Liz Friedlander
The FBI couldn't let Mickey jeopardize their case. That meant allowing him to be convicted for a crime they knew he didn't commit. They were willing to make that sacrifice. Mickey forces everyone's hands into doing the right thing. He can't suffer in jail. That's not justice. He was innocent of Sam's murder. The only one who believed in his guilt was Dana. Even when confronted with the truth, she reluctantly goes along. It pains her to do so. She allowed herself to believe. Mickey manipulated the system. Jeanine was never going to testify about all she knew. No one asked her to do so either. Instead, Lorna tricked the FBI into believing that was going to happen. Jeanine knows just enough about the Armenian operation to be useful. Mickey stalls for as long as he can. The deal is arranged in the judge's chambers. That's where the true power resides. The FBI and District Attorney want to impose their own deal. Mickey demands to be heard. He wants exoneration. He will settle for nothing less. He pushes his luck repeatedly. Ultimately, he prevails. The charges against him are dropped. He is a free man once more. He provides Jeanine to the FBI. An investigation will be opened into Officer Collins. Mickey can hardly believe it himself. He requires the comfort of Maggie's hug. They got incredibly close once more. Hayley sees that connection even though she spent the trial in Mexico. Nevertheless, Maggie believes her life is in San Diego. She has to make that work even though she dropped everything to be there for Mickey. She knows he would do the same for her. That leaves their dynamic in a complicated place.
The FBI couldn't let Mickey jeopardize their case. That meant allowing him to be convicted for a crime they knew he didn't commit. They were willing to make that sacrifice. Mickey forces everyone's hands into doing the right thing. He can't suffer in jail. That's not justice. He was innocent of Sam's murder. The only one who believed in his guilt was Dana. Even when confronted with the truth, she reluctantly goes along. It pains her to do so. She allowed herself to believe. Mickey manipulated the system. Jeanine was never going to testify about all she knew. No one asked her to do so either. Instead, Lorna tricked the FBI into believing that was going to happen. Jeanine knows just enough about the Armenian operation to be useful. Mickey stalls for as long as he can. The deal is arranged in the judge's chambers. That's where the true power resides. The FBI and District Attorney want to impose their own deal. Mickey demands to be heard. He wants exoneration. He will settle for nothing less. He pushes his luck repeatedly. Ultimately, he prevails. The charges against him are dropped. He is a free man once more. He provides Jeanine to the FBI. An investigation will be opened into Officer Collins. Mickey can hardly believe it himself. He requires the comfort of Maggie's hug. They got incredibly close once more. Hayley sees that connection even though she spent the trial in Mexico. Nevertheless, Maggie believes her life is in San Diego. She has to make that work even though she dropped everything to be there for Mickey. She knows he would do the same for her. That leaves their dynamic in a complicated place.
Sam was killed because he was skimming off the top of the Biogreen scam. The FBI wanted him to become an informant. Mickey believed that story. That didn't occur. Gazarian killed Sam because he stole from him. He framed Mickey because he wanted revenge. It really was that simple. Gazarian's family killed him because he brought too much attention to their operation. The FBI is closer than ever to unraveling this conspiracy. That includes preventing Mickey's assassination. Agent Ruth doesn't like Mickey. She still protects him. That's her job. She's loyal to it despite the complications often forced upon her by others. It becomes more obvious to Mickey just how much people dislike him. Yet he enjoys the comfort of driving around the city in his Lincoln once more. He refuses to allow anyone to take that joy away from him. There are plenty of complications in his life. Things are starting to get back on track. Lorna and Cisco promise never to let the stress of a case get between them again. Izzy and Grace are happy. There was no big twist pertaining to Grace. She was genuinely interested in Izzy and wanted to help however she could. It was that simple. Instead, the season closes with Mickey being greeted by his sister. He's stunned. That's especially true considering she saves his life when he's about to be shot. It adds more mystery to his life. He has a fair understanding of the world and the failings of people. This new family twist will shake things up. Nothing is ever too easy. He also has the skills to handle whatever is thrown at him.
Grade: B+
