 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Fairly Legal
Common Sense Media says
Truth, justice, and fairness from a likable female lead.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is a great choice for older teen girls who are looking for positive female role models on television -- and that's a task that's a lot more difficult than you might think. The show also pushes a message of fairness and compromise, but without being preachy. Content-wise, it's surprisingly mild, with veiled allusions to sexual activity and spare social drinking. That said, you'll hear some iffy audibles like "damn," "ass," and "prick."
What's the story?
In the wake of her lawyer father's death, Kate Reed (Sarah Shahi) changes jobs within the family firm, switching from an attorney to a mediator. She's never liked conflict much, so it’s a perfect fit -- plus, it’s a FAIRLY LEGAL way to make the legal system work better for everyone. Too bad she’s no good at resolving disputes in her own life, whether she’s avoiding her stepmother boss Lauren (Virginia Williams) or navigating divorce with her soon-to-be ex-husband, Patrick (Michael Trucco).
Is it any good?
With spunky mediator Kate Reed, the USA network has added another winner to its growing roster of great characters, joining the likes of unlicensed P.I. Michael Westen (Burn Notice's Jeffrey Donovan) and odd-couple agents Neal Caffrey and Peter Stokes (White Collar's Matthew Bomer and Tim DeKay). For starters, Shahi’s take on Reed involves a subtle scoop of Sandra Bullock that, whether intentional or not, makes her an instantly likeable female lead. And, like Bullock, Shahi’s also got great comedic timing, which adds zip to the show's lawyerly plots without veering into slapstick.
It's also refreshing to see a show about women in the workplace that doesn't feel like "A Show about Women in the Workplace"; in other words, Kate and Lauren -- who doubles as Kate's boss and the head of a major firm -- just happen to be women who work. Fairly Legal alludes to the challenges they face, including sexism from certain male clients and the fact that, although the women are similar in age, Lauren married Kate's father...not to mention the fact that each takes a completely different approach to the law. But the writers refuse to beat you over the head with the tired cliche that women can't work well together.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about female role models and how women tend to be portrayed on TV. Does the central character step away from popular stereotypes about women or reinforce them, particularly when it comes to interactions with her female boss?
What does Kate mean when she says that the world isn't black and white? Do you agree with her? In a "gray" world, what are the benefits of using alternative dispute resolution to settle legal disagreements as opposed to going to trial?
What's your impression of the legal system? Is the law set up to punish people or to help them change? Do lawyers, judges, and police officers have a responsibilty to put fairness above right and wrong?
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Overall pretty good
I just watched the pilot, and it was good. The episode began by Kate waking up in bed with her ex husband, and telling him that "there is no sex ever, and even if [they] do have sex, there is no sleeping over after sex." However, the show is not too bad. Kate sees things in black and white, though not defined by the boundaries of the law, but by the boundaries of what is best for the people involved. In the pilot, a young man headed to Yale was driving a car while his friend waved around a gun at the car next to his, and was about to be severely punished, but the kid didn't want his friend to pull a gun, and he tried to stop him. The kid was likely to get ten years, although the DA was going to plead five, but any time would strand him and he wouldn't get to go to college, so Kate fights to get the victim to drop the charges. If you can get past the sex, this show has good messages and a good role model in Kate.
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| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Network: | USA |
| Cast: | Michael Trucco, Sarah Shahi, Virginia Williams |
| Genre: | Drama |
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