Alan Ritchson is an Army vet who joins Ranger School at an advanced (for the Rangers) age. He is singularly focused on fulfilling a promise to his brother, at the cost of developing team camaraderie or trust. On the last 24 hour trial, it turns out that aliens are invading and he and his training team are thrown into the middle of it. Pretty good.
3 stars (out of 5)
Seasons 1-7
Kyra Sedgwick stars as LAPD Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, head of the Priority Homicide division (later Major Crimes). She is hired by J.K. Simmons and their past relationships (in D.C. and Atlanta) are a running plot device, as is her relationship with her FBI beau and eventually husband, and Atlanta native mom and dad. Johnson's unique ability is to get confessions from criminals, which makes prosecuting crimes that much easier. She is also a bit of Dr. House of law enforcement, and a little bit of Law & Order vibe with the LAPD headlines and federal oversight after Rampart playing their own role. What makes this series particularly welcome is that the cast is largely intact throughout 7 seasons, so there is not any necessary false drama to write major characters out of the script. Great series.
4 stars (out of 5)
Does this get better with age? Or is nostalgia that much stronger with age? In this rewatching (my first in a decade), I am amazed at how many quotable one-liners that are part of my lexicon originate with this film. "You've mocked me once, never do it again". Every generation needs a signature cult film... this is mine.
5 stars (out of 5)
Season 1-4
Two upstart LA lawyers are making their name with their unconventional style as they win every case. They look out for the little guy and never give up. They get hired into a big firm to "fight the zombie culture" and find themselves a new mentor/guru. And they keep winning cases. The tone is "wacky-fun", reminds me a bit of the old serial Ed. It's definitely dated, with a frat-culture vibe and really 1D characterization of women. So mostly I might recommend this as background noise if you need a law show running in the background in the middle of the night.
3 stars (out of 5)
Season 4
Picking up where #3 left off, the Lincoln Lawyer (because he used to practice out of his Lincoln) is on trial for murder. Micky Haller and his crew have to prove his innocence, outsmart the criminal underworld, outsmart the DA, outsmart the FBI, outsmart... well, you get it. Somehow, even though this is predictable and largely stereotypical, it is fun to watch. Great ensemble working together to tell stories.
4 stars (out of 5)
Season 1
A buddy cop comedy-drama set in small town eastern Washington. The twist here is that the buddies are siblings -- she the intuitive "spirit of the law" cop, he the by-the-book oddball -- with police chief dad running the show. Entertaining, if not original. Gives Resident Alien or Monk vibes.
3 stars (out of 5)
