Raising the bar: Justice à Manhattan

This show is well thought out and succeeds and falters simultaneously in the early episodes, but gets stronger as it continues into the second season. Although the writing and acting are a bit disjointed at moments, the fundamental plots are excellent and very well put together. Most people's expectations of a legal drama will be exceeded. The series touches on many moral and ethical issues that face western societies, particularly the United States. Every episode provokes thought and discussion about issues that do not have simple answers and which the American system of justice is ill-equipped to resolve. The acting and writing are not perfect, and there are cheesy/campy moments, but there are also moments where you can see that the acting and writing could really click. Having been a fan of Boston Legal, the Practice and The Good Wife, I feel very comfortable recommending this series to anyone who enjoys legal drama. The series is more serious than Boston Legal but less fun and sexy; and is more fun and sexy than the Practice but less serious. It also has a distinctly different aesthetic than either of those shows and outcomes are less predictable. The cast is strong and there are many familiar faces from ER. I hope the show continues. Not perfect. Not a 10/10, but it is thoroughly enjoyable.

L.A. Law & Hill Street Blues springs to mind when watching Raising The Bar, it has the same sort of feeling of colleagues working together and using each other in a supportive way. Each of the main characters has it's own idiosyncratic ways which endear you to them. What drew me to this series was tracking the career of 'Malcolm In The Middle' actress Jane Kaczmarek, I was curious as to what she was doing and to my delight she has taken a part the suits her down to the ground. I wouldn't say the role is challenging but rather something which fits naturally with her previous role as the domineering mother and not forgetting the the same role she voiced in 'The Simpsons'. Unfortunately there is a familiarity with Raising The Bar which could stop it from being anything other than a series that gets shelved after a few seasons.... A series that will get a a thumbs up from the T.V. Execs is that of Kaczmarek's acting partner in 'Malcolm In The Middle' Bryan Cranston, that series is really breaking the mold, simply awesome!

I just discovered this show and cannot believe it was canceled. It was fantastic.

Just another reason why I don't bother with television anymore. (I stumbled across this gem on Netflix, after the fact.) The execs that make the decisions about what stays and what goes are so out of touch their audience.

I just discovered this show and cannot believe it was canceled. It was fantastic.

Just another reason why I don't bother with television anymore. (I stumbled across this gem on Netflix, after the fact.) The execs that make the decisions about what stays and what goes are so out of touch their audience.

This was the best legal show that Hollywood ever produced, what real courtroom fighting is all about, it was closest to reality that TV show can be.

You wont find black & white picture of the life in and around the court in this one, where good guys, relying on "the Law", tough but impartial and objective judge and honest infallible jurors always win, instead you will be hit with reality and dirty nature of the courtroom, procedures, and petty little personal agendas and vanity. You wont see "the Law" as ultimate, unmistakable, perfect, God given, instead you will be presented with sort of law-market where lawyers on the both side of aisle sell and buy, you wont meet knights in shiny armors on "peoples" side, nor on the side of defense, especially not on the bench, but marketeers and traders in a dirty trade we call Law - so, forget the fantasies like Law & Order (although another first grade show), The Practice, LA Law, especially Boston Legal or Fairly Legal, not to mention Ally McBull(sh.t), etc.

Stories are mostly simple every day life stories, real and very interesting, the plot solid, acting mostly solid....

It's a shame it was canceled ! To me it's a complete mystery why viewers actually rejected it, something so different that breaks every cliché ?! Unbelievable .... 10 of 10

The reviews of "Raising the Bar", totally miss the point of this series. This series offers great insight into the politics of justice as opposed to the principles of justice, whereby personal agendas of judges, prosecutors, and defense lawyers intrude into the judicial process to over-ride the truth of a case. This is the reality of "justice" which is generally ignored or brushed aside. No other series exposes this reality as well as "Raising the Bar", if they try do it at all.

The inner workings of behind the scene trading of favors in "deals" is fully exposed. The truth of a case is often a secondary consideration with judges and opposing attorneys. Such political skewing of principle is the corruption that exists in all human transaction - economic, political, or judicial. However, we often ignore this and wish it away, as a part of our ignoring much of reality that is uncomfortable to us. This series can shake up your perceptions of the law and government.