Shonda Rhimes may have left ABC for Netflix’s seasonal climates, but his legacy and influence can still be felt on his old network, especially on Thursday nights. Stepping on the intimidating heels of Scandal‘s Olivia Pope i How to get away from murder‘s Annalize Keating is the fearless Katey Sagal, who takes on the role of Annie “Rebel” Flynn Ray Bello, based not so loosely on Erin Brockovich (who also produces Rebel). If you’ve seen that 2000 Oscar-winning film, the setting may sound familiar to you: AA serious and earthly advocate takes on a multitude of minor causes as his own personal life falters.
Like Erin, Rebel has three children and three husbands (for reasons of symmetry, the series coincides with one child per spouse; in addition, Erin is divorced from the three, while Rebel’s current marriage is in full swing at the end of this pilot). She does not have a law degree: A Rebel line drawn directly from the film when everyone continues to assume she is a lawyer: “I hate lawyers.” (A better line is when a viewer asks if Rebel is that famous lawyer and someone responds:She is not a lawyer. It is very strong. ”) What it does have is lots of smart and moxia that allow for she to open herself to a multitude of situations of David against Goliath, always next to David. Rebel works for a bigger, real lawyer (Andy Garcia’s Cross plays the role of real-life mentor Ed Masry), frustrated and overwhelmed by his efforts, but seemingly powerless to combat such a dynamic force of nature.
If Rebel were played by almost anyone other than Katey Sagal, her selfless, holy stance would be almost too much to take. Fortunately, the charisma of the TV vet, polished to perfection for decades on the small screen, makes Rebel’s character an attractive drawing. Unfortunately, due to the complicated family life of the protagonist, Rebel ‘The pilot has to offer a mega exposure load to place a not insignificant number of characters: Rebel’s gynecologist son Nate (Kevin Zegers) is the product of the union with her first husband (Matthew Glave), a policeman; the number two girl Cassidy (Lex Scott Davis) is a daughter similar to Rebel herself, which only makes her want to rebel and go to work for her father corporate lawyer Benji (James Lesure), whose sister is Lana (Tamala Jones) he is Rebel’s best friend; child number three Ziggy (Fugitives Ariela Barer) he’s just a teenager out of the rehabilitation that Rebel adopted ten years ago with her third husband Grady, who may be leaving (John Corbett, playing refreshingly for once).
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There are so many family ties between cross-references that the episode makes a lot more sense in the second viewing, though that means holding on to a dialogue as well-deserved as Rebel sarcastically admonishing his son: “I regret my compassion for my partner humans caused you suffering, ”or Grady telling Rebel that if one day he stayed home from work,“ Who would save the world? “While Rebel (like Erin Brockovich) is certainly an admirable figure, you can also see how this whole constant crusade may not add to the happier life at home (although there is a big time when Grady complains about how Rebel ‘).There is never a dinner party for her and the four female drivers shout in unison: “Make yourself dinner!?! ”)
But this is a pilot, and that’s why there are so few stars those outside the door: there is a lot to set up, while also crafting a story interesting enough to make the viewer want to come back. Cassidy has an exemplary scene in the room (much admired by his new colleague, Nashville ‘s Sam Palladio, allowed to use his native accent for once), Lana shows his courage to be Rebel’s heavenly earth (dam going down perpendicular to the boot), and Garcia is excellent as usual. But is Sagal, in short, that we will return. She apparently he was so sued by ABC (Hey, they did well with her Married … With children co-star, Modern family‘s Ed O’Neill) who chose between a script tower and who chose well. Rebel puts it in front and in the center, creating a firmly determined but compassionate and likeable character. The supporting cast and guest stars, with names like Battlestar Galactica‘s Mary McDonnell i Scandalwith Dan Bacatinsky, they also augur well for the future of the series.
Showrunner Krista Vernoff, after all, has been in the formation of Shondaland for years, mostly recentof executive production Grey’s Anatomy i Station 19. Rebel allows topically appropriate plots to take place not only in the courtroom, but also in the family hospital setting, thanks to the career of Nate (and his co-worker Abigail Spencer, who appears next week). Look for a crowdof passionate speeches, a lot of union of girls and curious explanatory lines such as: “We do what we can to tip the scales towards justice” and ““I put the CEOs of multimillion-dollar corporations on their knees, and not in an attractive way.” Yes Rebel start prioritizing showing up saying, But, It is possible that Sagal has found a new home worthy of his legendary talent.