As a late comer into the NCIS fold I found actor Michael
Weatherly something different. Here we had a handsome and wisecracking
character who was often shown to have flaws at the same time. It endeared him
to the followers of the show and his loss was on that many felt. They were
rewarded with a new series starring Weatherly in a different role that took
some of those characteristics with him while at the same time creating
something completely different.
Enter the world of Jason Bull (Weatherly). Bull is a
psychologists and trial science expert who has assembled a team for his company
Trial Analysis Corporation (TAC). Their job is to use various means to insure
that whoever employs them ends up with a not guilty verdict in court. They do
this by using a sampler jury whose interest share those of the prospective
jurists being chosen for each trial. In doing so they can get a relative idea
of where the jury is going at all times.
Each member of Bull’s team employs skills they each have.
Marissa Morgan (Geneva Carr) is the office
manager/psychologist/neurolinguistics expert who keeps them all corralled and
relates to Bull via earpiece what happens when the mock jury reacts. Benjamin
“Benny” Colon (Freddy Rodriquez) is Bull’s former brother-in-law, ex-NYC
prosecutor and the in house legal counsel. Chunk Palmer (Christopher Jackson)
is an ex-All American footballer who now works as the team’s fashion stylist
for its clients. Danielle “Danny” James once worked in narcotics and for the
FBI but now serves as their lead investigator. And Cable McCrory (Annabelle
Attanasio) is their resident computer hacker.
Season one introduced us to this cast of characters and
allowed us to become acquainted with each and their own specific identities and
quirks. With Bull we were allowed to see that he is cocky but with good reason
as he has only lost a few cases. But while confident in the courtroom we see
some failed moments in his personal life including his failed marriage and his
lack of commitment to women.
As this season progressed we saw more flaws in Bull than
righteous moments. He became short with his employees. Cable broke the law and
he abandoned her on the surface, keeping an eye on her behind everyone else’s
back. She returned to the fold but with a tight leash in place. The character
gained weight, drank more than normal, slept more often on his office couch
than at home and took less care of himself or his appearance.
Something was bothering him but it was never quite clear
what. A few near misses on cases and his confidence seemed lacking. His
abilities seemed off. Not noticing a man Marissa was becoming attached to
taking advantage of her and nearly causing her to go broke didn’t help but he
worked to correct that issue, a thread in more than one episode this issue. His
company was also on the verge of collapse this season due to everything taking
place. And to finish things off the final scene in the last episode had him
suffering a heart attack on the court house steps where people merely walked
over him.
A down in the dumps trial lawyer? A company about to go
belly up? Support characters losing their cool and going to jail? Does that
sound like entertainment to you? Well it should because while all of these
things happen like many series on CBS they all revolve around a surrogate
family. And families have fights, spend time apart, make up, talk to one
another and end up helping one another. That holds true for the character in
this series.
And while Weatherly is definitely the anchor here displaying
what appears to be a sense of comedic and dramatic timing that many actors only
wish for, the entire cast performs to perfection. Each one contributes
something to not just the team but the entire make-up of the stories being told
as well. It’s not always about a paycheck coming for services rendered but it
becomes personal as well, wanting to do the best you possibly can and taking
personal issue with failure. This is a team that cares about one another and
the clients they take on.
The personal drama that shows on screen each week is matched
by the court room drama as well. The technical sequences in showing how a
company like this works is fascinating. The argument is placed that it doesn’t
work and then evidence to the contrary is displayed. Does it work in real life?
I don’t know but they have me convinced here.
There is a lot to choose from on TV these days that’s
actually quite good. Choosing what shows to watch is never easy. So let me
offer you some help and tell you that yes, BULL is good TV. And yes, it will
entertain you. So if you’re behind in watching the series then thank goodness
you can pick up the first two seasons of the series on disc. This one take what
they offered in the first season and turns it upside down and comes out just
before the third season begins. So pick up a copy and jump on board, binge
watch it if you must, before that third season starts.
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