The Firm: A Legal Drama That Misses the Mark

And speaking of mobsters, they continue to pose a threat to Mitch, determined to eliminate him. This contradicts the film’s ending, where Mitch brokered a truce with the mob and avoided witness protection. The premiere episode attempts to reconcile this discrepancy with jarring, revisionist flashbacks in the first 10 minutes.

Having exhausted their creative energy on these logical leaps, the writers seem to have little left for the weekly plot. The storyline is remarkably weak and implausible, even for a TV legal drama. Mitch is compelled by a well-meaning judge to defend a teenager accused of a schoolyard murder. Upon learning that the deceased student’s father plans to hire a hitman to target his young client, Mitch takes a questionable course of action. Instead of contacting the police, he enlists his brother to impersonate a hitman and solicit the job. This far-fetched scenario would likely leave the writers of “The Good Wife” green with envy.

Josh Lucas, known for his role opposite Patrick Dempsey in “Sweet Home Alabama,” delivers a competent but passionless performance. He portrays Mitch with a blandness that fails to captivate. Juliette Lewis, recognized for her portrayal of Alma Garret in “Deadwood,” is unfortunately confined to an uninspired and underwhelming role. Callum Keith Rennie, known for his work in “Battlestar Galactica,” stands out as Mitch’s brother, Ray. Unlike David Strathairn’s portrayal in the film, Rennie convincingly embodies a character capable of manslaughter.