Doubt

It's a shame this show was canceled. It's also a shame I did not discover this until after I finished watching the last episode. I see a lot of people didn't like the first few episodes. I think the chemistry on the show definitely improved as it went on. And let me say the cliffhangers they left us with at the end of episode 13 were stunning. I would really like to see where this goes. It did get a little over the top, though.

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.

This funny and, yes, very quirky legal lightweight drama was a pleasure. So much better than so much we see today. A feel good series with fun and tongue in cheek humor and yet some very decent messages and moments. The characters are likable and fun and don't have to take themselves so seriously in order to be a pleasure to watch and fun to experience. Focus on the transgender community right now is so important and a light should be shown on its acceptance and should be targeted. I will miss this funny and pleasurable escape. A real shame.

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.

I just finished the first season of Doubt. I went online to see when it will start back up and am so disappointed that it won't be back. Unfortunately the Pilot wasn't the best representation of the show. But if you stick with it, you will become addicted. To bad for some reason summer TV shows do not always do that well. People are out more and there are not a lot of good shows I hope you will reconsider and air a 2nd season of Doubt.