Review by: Sean Kayden
Who says lawyers can’t have fun? This summer, both TNT and USA network look to be kicking off the excitement in the most unconventional, unabashedly way possible. Each cable outlet debuted their freshman law shows, Franklin & Bash and Suits, respectively last month. Both shows, while treading in the same terrain, have something innately unique and refreshing about them. Granted, one may say why watch two shows with similar vibes? Well, the pilots for each series were considerably strong and easily among the best with the inclusion of Showtime’s Shameless this year. If you’re like me, you find it difficult to resist witty, clever and genuinely humorous dialogue within the confines of the buddy comedy genre. Franklin & Bash and the guys from Suits are a few charismatic dudes I’d chill with any day of the week. With them, the party seemingly never eases up. And since it’s summer, I’m perfectly fine with that.
Franklin and Bash tell the story of two budding lawyers who play by their own rules. Breckin Meyer portrays Jared Franklin, the too-cool-for-school, self-assured party boy. However, he’s more about doing the right thing than just merely racking up the victories in court. Mark-Paul Gosselaar depicts Peter Bash, the slightly more mature, grounded legal partner of the two. The two together are a bro-force to be reckoned with. Things drastically change for them when a big law firm, headed by the eccentric Stanton Infeld (Malcolm McDowell), recruits the two best friends soon after they display unusual, but convincing tactics in court. The first episode was uproariously funny. While often jocular and airy, there was just something unequivocally charming about the show. The two leads are perfectly cast in their roles and significantly play well off one another. The courtroom drama is merely a backdrop for this wickedly funny dramedy. At its core, Franklin and Bash simply specialize in the ridiculous. And at the same token, it’d be ridiculous on your part not to tune in.
Suits plays the drama card a little more than F & B. Although, that gives Suits the edge for creating more emotional depth. Plus, on occasion, you’ll find razor-sharp humor. Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) is a lethargic but an extremely bright college dropout with a photogenic memory that has allowed him to pass the bar exam without attending law school. He has immeasurable potential, but has never truly utilized it in the finest way. Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), one of Manhattan's best lawyers and self-proclaimed #1 closer in New York, hires Ross as his new associate after being completely impressed with him and his story. Problem is, Ross never went to Harvard (the firm only hires Harvard grads) and the two must keep it a secret. Honestly, the situations that arise in Suits feel to have more at stake than ones in Franklin & Bash. For the character, Mike Ross, the viewer can sympathize for him more because he’s a good guy, who is close to his ailing grandmother and he sincerely cares about the well being of others. Suits may appear to be less “fun” than the other guys, but they make up for it effortlessly with realistic scenarios, intelligent writing and avoid the same beat-for-beat story structure found in consecutive episodes of F & B. Even with only three episodes in the bag, I’m confident to say that these are a pair of “suits” you’d actually want to be friends with.
Look for Franklin and Bash on Wednesday nights at 9pm on TNT and Suits on Thursday nights at 10pm on USA.
Published on July 9th, 2011 by Mountain Views News.
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v05/htm/n28/p12.htm
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