PILOT REVIEW: Harry's Law

HARRY'S LAW

Starring: Kathy Bates, Nate Corddry, Brittany Snow, Aml Ameen
Created by David E. Kelley
Written by David E. Kelly, Directed by Bill D'Elia

Harry's Law is a new legal drama from David E. Kelley (no stranger to legal dramas) and starring the award-winning Kathy Bates. In it, Bates plays Harriet Korn who is fired from her job as a Cincinnati patents lawyer and then forms her own legal practice in a building that her assistant Jenna (Brittany Snow) also uses as a shoe store. Kelley's trademark quirkiness is apparent from very early on when Harriet is walking on the sidewalk and knocked to the ground by a young man Malcolm Davies (Aml Ameen) fighting a drug charge and attempting suicide. After she has no injuries, she is walking again and right outside what becomes her store, she is hit by a car driven by rival lawyer Adam Branch (Nate Corddry). This unique intro forms her law practice as Branch joins the team and Harriet defends Malcolm on his drug charges. The show then proceeds more like a standard legal drama but still with some quirk.

There are things to like about Harry's Law and things to not like. It's no surprise that Kathy Bates is the standout of the show. Bates has a commanding presence in every role she's in and this is no different. She was a perfect casting choice to play an offbeat lawyer who doesn't always play by the rules. She is funny yet persuasive in the courtroom. I'm a big fan of Brittany Snow who plays ditzy assistant Jenna but she needs some better lines. With what she was given, she did a nice job with it. Aml Ameen was solid as the defendant and the blowhard rival lawyer (seemingly a recurring role) was good. Nate Corddry's character is the most interesting one. He had some funny lines (claiming his mother died in childbirth with his older brother) but his courtroom rant was over the top. The jury's still out on him (pun intended).

Harry's Law had some strong courtroom moments, particularly when Bates is speaking even though it came close to being preachy. Perhaps the even better part though was the interaction between the new team in the legal practice/shoe store. Kathy Bates really makes this show though as not every actor could make the dialogue and the character believable, but she does. It's worth coming back just for her with the hope that the supporting cast and writing can find its footing.