Doubt

I really like legal dramas and there have been a lot of good ones that I have watched over the years. This will not be one of them. The dialog did not seem at all natural and was very quick and choppy. It seemed that the characters were supposed to be acting cute, but came off as more childish. The soundtrack was poor and distracting. This is no Goodwife, Boston Legal, Suits etc. There are just too many better series on Netflix or Prime to wast your time on a show that this seems to be. If you can not grab me in the first half of a pilot, you lost your chance.

Those who panned just don't understand. Doubt is a fantastic mix of production and direction, the acting adequate and almost lost in the artistry. Katherine Heigel, the big name star is probably the weakest performer and is still adequate. This series is so cleverly done it can be a comedy, black comedy, light hearted courtroom drama; whatever the viewer is in the mood for at the time. Costly production with masterful edits - a shame to cancel but those who panned just don't understand.

Sadie Ellis (Katherine Heigl) is a tough New York defense lawyer working for her mentor Isaiah Roth (Elliott Gould). He took care of her after failing to keep her mother Carolyn Rice (Judith Light) out of prison when she was two. Sadie is in love with her pediatric surgeon client Billy Brennan (Steven Pasquale) who is being prosecuted for the murder of his girlfriend 24 years ago. Albert Cobb (Dulé Hill) and Cameron Wirth (Laverne Cox) are fellow associate lawyers. Tiffany Simon (Dreama Walker) is a junior associate. Nick Brady (Kobi Libii) is the ex-con recent law graduate desperate to work for Roth. Lucy Alexander (Lauren Blumenfeld) is the bad assistant.

Wow! That was quick. I'm not saying this is a particularly good show. It has plenty of solid actors trying to get their footing. It seems to be straddling both serious and more quirky turns. It has the potential of figuring it out. The doubt about Brennan's guilt could be compelling. It's worth a look but it couldn't get a good audience. The main problem is probably Heigl.

She has had difficulties since leaving Grey's Anatomy. I don't think people like her. She is a try-hard Type-A personality woman and that rubs many the wrong way. I look back to her most successful role in Knocked Up which uses her persona to the movie's advantage. She may not like it but she needs a schlubby guy who both infuriates and be her better half. It's a terribly trope but one that works all too often. She has tried almost every other way and it hasn't worked. Maybe a villain would work.

***** addition *****

After finishing the final burn off episodes, the show improves markedly after some stumbles in the first few episodes. The clunky comedic attempts are fazed out. Billy Brennan's case could go more back and forth but it does end with a nice cliffhanger. Overall, the show finds its footing after its quick cancellation.

Honestly I found this show an easy watch the characters were easy to relate to and sometimes I think that's what you need after a long day at work. I don't understand the negativity I found it enjoyable not to much violence and gore could watch with my teens :). And love the fact they brought a transgender person into the show if any thing that gave us a bit of diversity.

I really like a few of the actors in this series, specifically Dule Hill. But even my fandom does not help me with this show. The over acting, the predictability, the stereotypes, the choppiness, the damn music and lastly, most of the characters are just plain bad.

I made it thru the halfway point and shut it off for good. I then went in to my CBS All Access account and removed the show from my WatchList. I don't care what they do short of starting with a clean slate, I will not be back....