TNT's FRANKLIN & BASH returns
tonight with the season two premiere, "Strange Brew." Stanton Infeld
(Malcolm McDowell) would like to make Jared Franklin (Breckin Meyer) and
Peter Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselar) full partners at his law firm, where
they have been working. To do so, the duo must earn the votes of two
thirds of the existing senior partners. Infeld sends them to meet with a
beverage company head (Kevin Nealon, Weeds), who, if they woo as a
client, will help their chances. Unfortunately for them, keeping the
client happy may mean abandoning their values.
FRANKLIN & BASH is about two lawyers
who care about more than just the law, or their careers. They care
about people. Their bold, outlandish stunts are part of their draw, but
the real reason Infeld is so in awe of the boys is because they bring
something to the firm that it's lacking. Infeld is ingrained in his
ways, though, and so he doesn't always give them a leash of unlimited
length. "Strange Brew" tests the resolve of all three, as Infeld insist
they keep the client happy, and Franklin and Bash think about how much
they might want a spot at the big table.
The series is pretty light-hearted. As
such, while FRANKLIN & BASH may flirt with heavy drama, it stops
short of committing to it altogether. Things work out in the end because
the core fan base doesn't want the story to end on a downer. The
characters can face tough situations and question themselves, but at the
end of the day, the good guy must win, and justice has to prevail. It's
not a new formula, but it's certainly one that regular viewers of this
particular show count on. In this, "Strange Brew" may take the path of
least resistance, but that's what the people are looking for them to do.
This does not make FRANKLIN & BASH a
bad show. While it will never sweep the Emmys or any other awards
ceremony, it is still very entertaining. That is why, even when the
ending might seem a little too neat, it is still a good episode.
Besides, Franklin and Bash are not the
only ones affected by their promotion. They have friends to consider,
too. Their new position allows them to hire Carmen (Dana Davis) and
Pindar (Kumail Nanjiani) full-time. This is good, because as a subplot
of the episode reveals, Pindar is in need of the mental health care that
will come with being a permanent employee. Some of his social problems
can now be traced back to his ex-roommate's girlfriend, whom Pindar
clearly had an attraction towards. Though, how Pindar deals with the
woman speaks to a previously existing condition.
Becoming senior partners is not without
risk. Hannah (Garcelle Beauvais) tells Damien (Reed Diamond) she
supports the change because of a moral clause that might help them get
Franklin and Bash fired for good. Is Infeld aware of this clause, and
does he already have a plan to get around it, like he negated the five
year waiting period that would have delayed partnership for some time to
come? Or is he just not considering the implications, as he sometimes
doesn't. Franklin and Bash's behavior will not change, and to keep the
show going, they will not be fired, no matter how much Hannah and Damien
scheme against them. So where is this plot going? Perhaps it's just a
new source of ongoing, low-stakes conflict for the coming season.
Another great thing about "Strange Brew"
it the wealth of guest stars. Besides, Nealon, Martin Mull (Clue,
Sabrina The Teenage Witch) and Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters, Oz) both play
judges for various trials that Franklin and Bash bring to court. Kat
Foster ('Til Death) is an attractive cop that Bash hits on while
fighting a case against. Eddie Jemison (Hung) is an old friend of
Franklin and Bash's, who was arrested by the hot cop. Is this a sign
that good comedy actors are now lining up to appear on FRANKLIN &
BASH?
Basically, "Strange Brew" is a return to
same zany-hijinks-in-a-legal-setting recipe that attracted viewers last
year. The quality of the stories and acting remains about the same. In
short, it's mindless summer fun. FRANKLIN & BASH airs Tuesday nights
at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.
Article originally published at Seat42F.com
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