Episode Report Card Kim: C+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Pilot
By Kim | Season 1 | Episode 1 | Aired on 09.27.2003
Grant eats at his desk and asks Ariel what she's got. She says she's got nothing, since she's only been there for a day. Grant wants results, and soon. Ariel doesn't know if she can do this. Grant says that she can, because she doesn't want to be "the oldest living associate in the world." He asks who writes her review, and she says that he does. Grant says that he is her ticket to a partnership, and that she shouldn't forget that. He adds that nobody is as clean as Jack Turner appears to be, and then says that he'll see her later at her place. Ariel walks out, beaten, and cries out in the hallway. Yeah, sleeping with Grant is such a tragedy. Also, just quit your job already. She's single and presumably has a law degree. I'm sure she could find something somewhere else to pay the bills.
It's raining. That means there must be a funeral somewhere! And in fact, Jack is giving Barrington's eulogy. Jack talks about how Barrington would always choose one student who was "on his way to a flameout" as a pet project, and how, one semester, he chose Jack. Grant glares from the crowd. Jack says that Barrington taught him to love the law and justice and all that jazz. The music swells majestically as Jack says, "Dan Barrington changed my life. But more importantly, he taught me to try to use mine to change others."
Outside the church, Ariel waits for Jack. She offers her condolences and then starts to tell him something else, but Christianson interrupts them. Ariel leaves. Christianson compliments Jack's speech and says that Barrington will be deeply missed. Jack says that Barrington would have wanted the clinic to stay open. Christianson says they both know how Jack can make that happen. The two men step aside, out of the rain. Rob Lowe has one piece of hair sticking out in the back, and it's really bugging me. Christianson asks Jack what he's afraid of. Jack looks surprised and says, "Nothing?" Christianson says "Absolute power corrupts absolutely," but he says it in Latin, like seriously, what is with all of the Latin in this show? We get it. They're lawyers. I know lawyers, and none of them go around spouting off Latin all of the time. I mean, I design websites, but I don't go around yelling in HTML. It's annoying. Christianson says that "the strongest learn how to control, even wield power for the common good." Christianson excuses himself to speak to Barrington's wife. Riley rolls up and asks Jack if he's okay. Did these two make up and I just missed it? Jack and Riley both watch as Mrs. Barrington walks to her car. Jack says that the Barringtons were supposed to go on a cruise next month. Riley thinks it's sad. Jack asks whether booking a cruise seems like the action of a guy about to kill himself. Riley doesn't know why anyone would do that anyway, and leaves. ["Which can't he understand -- killing yourself, or taking a cruise? Because I'm with him either way." -- Wing Chun] Christianson tries to talk to Mrs. Barrington, but she totally disses him. Jack sees the whole thing.