Bluff City Law

TV review by Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media
Bluff City Law Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Solid law drama addresses social justice, family issues.

NBC Drama 2019
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Parents say

age 16+

Based on 5 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Bluff City Law is a legal procedural that mixes dysfunctional family dynamics with social justice issues. There's lots of sexual innuendo, including conversations about infidelity. Drinking and arguing are frequent, too. The death of a parent is a key theme, and many of the cases involve difficult situations, like cancer-related deaths, alleged murders of young people, and other issues that some may find disturbing.

Community Reviews

Alasher81
Alasher81 Adult
November 12, 2019
age 18+

This title has:

Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
DEnny of Pa
DEnny of Pa Adult
November 4, 2019
age 18+

I Like it Much

I have always liked Jimmy Smits and have been sorry to see shows like Cane, and others come to ruin before they had a good run. Some people don't like to admit it, but this show depicts "real" world family relationships that can sometimes get complicated in a fallen world of multiple marriages, etc. I like the interaction of the "kids" ( Sydney and Emerson) learning how to cope with each other in such a world as is. All law show depict circumstantial suits that are usually resolved in an entertaining fashion and do not always represent the real world, BUT they are entertaining leaving the watcher with a good feeling of resolve. My opine is that all the acting is superb, with real emotion shown where it should. The ongoing case of George is interesting at very least, although to me it appears to be a bit ingenious. As a viewer I do not pick shows apart "critically" as many other do and I think Buff city is a good entertaining law show . I hope it last beyond Christmas. My biggest concern for that being its time placement across from several other very good shows , ( Bull and Good Doctor) both in 3rd or 4th seasons which may serves as harsh competition in the ratings.
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

BLUFF CITY LAW is a legal procedural about an elite group of Memphis, Tennessee, lawyers specializing in controversial landmark civil rights cases. After corporate attorney Sydney Strait (Caitlin McGee) suddenly loses her mother, she agrees to rejoin her father, Elijah (Jimmy Smits), at his elite law firm, where her mother also used to work. She quickly finds herself immersed in some challenging cases, alongside team members like Jake Reilly (Barry Sloane), Anthony Little (Michael Luwoye), Della Bedford (Jayne Atkinson), and quirky, young Emerson (Stony Blyden). But Sydney and Elijah must find a way to understand, and learn, from each other, if they want to continue to try to change the world for the better.

Is It Any Good?

This series mixes legal machinations with dysfunctional family dynamics to create a complicated but entertaining story. The professional conversations in and outside of the courtroom focus on the importance of obtaining legal and social justice for those who are victimized by corruption of the corporate elite -- juxtaposed against the imperfections of Sydney and her father, both of whom have made personal choices over the years that have caused a lot of pain to the people closest to them. These conflicts are interesting, but Bluff City Law still offers all the expected twists and turns of a solid legal procedural while still managing enough drama to give it a soapy edge for those looking for something with slightly more heart.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it means to have your civil rights violated in the United States. Even if these types of lawsuits are hard to win, why is it important for lawyers to take on these cases?

  • Are the cases tried in Bluff City Law based on real events? Or are they fictional? How can we know?

TV Details

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