It's sad to see the firm breaking up as the final season draws to an end. I had come to love the series as each episode left me thinking at the end - something that these crime-based shows can rarely do. Take for instance, the episode in which the Romanian girl asks Alan Shore to represent her because her parents are going to get her married at the age of 13 against her wish. I simply couldn't understand why the judge ruled that she be released to the custody of her parents. Granted, he didn't have the right to impose the American laws on citizens of a foreign country - especially when it was a matter of their own cultural practices. But I think it was wrong of him to conclude that if the majority of the girls from that country, who are the same age as the girl in question, don't find the practice unfair or wrong, then it is not wrong. That logic is twisted. The girl's mother says that even the Hindus go for arranged marriages. True, but that doesn't mean that all Hindu girls should go for an arranged marriage. So, if this girl thinks that she should not marry a stranger and that too at such a young age, no matter what the practice is in her country, she should not be forced into it. I felt sorry for her.
Then there was the case of Alan's childhood friend who was accused of killing the woman he was having an affair with. Shore's accusation that the friend's mother killed the woman out of jealousy was simply unacceptable and completely uncalled for. His motive was to point the finger of suspicion at as many people as possible in an attempt to let his friend off the hoo. I feel that the same could have been achieved if he had said that the mother killed the woman to save her son's marriage and the family's reputation. The end doesn't always justify the means.
On the contrary, I found myself in agreement, albeit partially, with the judge's ruling in the matter of the woman who ends up punching a law-enforcement officer when he tries to escort her to an area designated for protesters during a presidential visit. I agree that it is ridiculous to park such protesters in an area where they would hardly be noticed by the president. It is equally, if not more, absurd to assume that all those who aren't carrying any protesting banners are on the president's side. But I wasn't too sure why the woman expected to be let off with just a slap on the wrist. The policeman was after all just doing his job. I said I was in partial agreement because just like Ellenor I thought the punishment was a bit too harsh. Judging from her expression though, I think the judge did leave some room for appeal and possible reduction of the sentence. That part was not cleared in either that or the subsequent episodes. And now that the series is coming to an end, I doubt if it ever will be. BTW, that bit about the US going to war with Iraq so that the Iraqi people could have freedom was simply hilarious.
I never liked the character of Eugene Young - because I found him to be too uptight and in general angry with the whole world. Setting impossibly high standards for everyone might be acceptable if you don't yourself fall short of them. He, however, fell short of them miserably when he didn't hesitate to accept the money that Alan Shore brought in with his corrupt and illegal practices but was quick to fire him on the same grounds with a measly cheque for $15000. It served him right when the firm was ordered to cough up a hefty sum in damages. He never tired of talking about integrity but it didn't strike him that he wasn't following his own advice when he neglected to tell Ellenor about his interviews.
Another character that always seemed to irritate me was that of Jimmy. I sometimes wondered how a lawyer can be so downright stupid. Did he ever talk about his desire to work for his people in his neighborhood when the firm was doing well? But he is the first one to bail out of the sinking ship.
I really feel sad for Ellenor. She is left behind as everyone follows the philosophy of 'each man to himself'. But she has the grace to say sorry when she realizes her mistake and tell Eugene that she will be proud of him if he is elected as the judge. Personally, I think that she made a huge error of judgment in bringing Alan to her firm. It should have been obvious that his style of functioning was at odds with the prevalent culture there. He was bound to be on a collision course with Eugene. And it could have ended only one way. To her credit, she fights for her friend right till the end and doesn't shy away from telling him that he is going to end up destroying himself one day if he doesn't seek help soon. It was naive of her, though, to hope that things could still work out. But all said and done, I think she was wrong when she told Eugene that he was the soul of the firm. I think in many ways, Ellenor herself was the soul of the firm - the very essence that gets left behind in the end.
I am going to miss this series.
Then there was the case of Alan's childhood friend who was accused of killing the woman he was having an affair with. Shore's accusation that the friend's mother killed the woman out of jealousy was simply unacceptable and completely uncalled for. His motive was to point the finger of suspicion at as many people as possible in an attempt to let his friend off the hoo. I feel that the same could have been achieved if he had said that the mother killed the woman to save her son's marriage and the family's reputation. The end doesn't always justify the means.
On the contrary, I found myself in agreement, albeit partially, with the judge's ruling in the matter of the woman who ends up punching a law-enforcement officer when he tries to escort her to an area designated for protesters during a presidential visit. I agree that it is ridiculous to park such protesters in an area where they would hardly be noticed by the president. It is equally, if not more, absurd to assume that all those who aren't carrying any protesting banners are on the president's side. But I wasn't too sure why the woman expected to be let off with just a slap on the wrist. The policeman was after all just doing his job. I said I was in partial agreement because just like Ellenor I thought the punishment was a bit too harsh. Judging from her expression though, I think the judge did leave some room for appeal and possible reduction of the sentence. That part was not cleared in either that or the subsequent episodes. And now that the series is coming to an end, I doubt if it ever will be. BTW, that bit about the US going to war with Iraq so that the Iraqi people could have freedom was simply hilarious.
I never liked the character of Eugene Young - because I found him to be too uptight and in general angry with the whole world. Setting impossibly high standards for everyone might be acceptable if you don't yourself fall short of them. He, however, fell short of them miserably when he didn't hesitate to accept the money that Alan Shore brought in with his corrupt and illegal practices but was quick to fire him on the same grounds with a measly cheque for $15000. It served him right when the firm was ordered to cough up a hefty sum in damages. He never tired of talking about integrity but it didn't strike him that he wasn't following his own advice when he neglected to tell Ellenor about his interviews.
Another character that always seemed to irritate me was that of Jimmy. I sometimes wondered how a lawyer can be so downright stupid. Did he ever talk about his desire to work for his people in his neighborhood when the firm was doing well? But he is the first one to bail out of the sinking ship.
I really feel sad for Ellenor. She is left behind as everyone follows the philosophy of 'each man to himself'. But she has the grace to say sorry when she realizes her mistake and tell Eugene that she will be proud of him if he is elected as the judge. Personally, I think that she made a huge error of judgment in bringing Alan to her firm. It should have been obvious that his style of functioning was at odds with the prevalent culture there. He was bound to be on a collision course with Eugene. And it could have ended only one way. To her credit, she fights for her friend right till the end and doesn't shy away from telling him that he is going to end up destroying himself one day if he doesn't seek help soon. It was naive of her, though, to hope that things could still work out. But all said and done, I think she was wrong when she told Eugene that he was the soul of the firm. I think in many ways, Ellenor herself was the soul of the firm - the very essence that gets left behind in the end.
I am going to miss this series.
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