All Rise

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO TAKE THE ADVICE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE WATCHED ONE OR LESS THAN 1 EPISODE? I am a white male in my 50's and I LOVE this show. I started watching just because I always love Simone Missick, but I got hooked on the whole cast. These are very diverse, complicated people. The script is both well written and well acted. Most of the characters are explored (over time) and we get to see what made them who they are. Some have very unique and funny quirks (just like real people). We watch as some explore inter-office relationships as others have outside ones. Each episode explores new cases and character story lines that leave you guessing and there are many plot twists. For those that are able to experience emotions, this will have you feeling all of them.

We watch the first two seasons and enjoyed them so we were looking forward to season three. The first couple of episodes I chalked it up to them just needing to get their sea legs back but I it seems that the issue is more fundamental than that.. There is flaw in the show that wasn't there before. The characters are so wildly over acting their parts that, in some cases, the characters are not the same. It is like the actors were told to kick it up a few notches. I'm sorry but that does not work for me. You don't have to beat me over the head.

I loved, loved, loved the first two seasons of All Rise. Sigh! I was truly disappointed when it was canceled then elated when the series was picked up by OWN. Some of the episodes are now poorly written with, relationship drama overload, unrealistic exchanges between characters, predictability, outright silliness, some straight-up stupidness, and some stories are overly dramatized (specifically episode 10). I was preoccupied in August when the season finale, episode 10, aired, and forgot about it until now, October 6th. I would have never forgotten to watch an episode during seasons one and two, which says a lot about season three. Episode 10 is so poorly written that I was talking out loud to my monitor, expressing how stupid certain scenes were, and how predictable others were. I found myself clicking the skip forward button several times to get past the foolishness. Smh! During the Summer, I could not bring myself to watch episode 8. The storyline was so silly, and not in a humorous way. Auntie O, what have you done to this once excellent series!!!

Most of the negative reviews of this series dismiss the show altogether based on a lack of realism.

The truth is that no legal drama serves as an accurate depiction of a real life courtroom. Not even Law and Order or Matlock are realistic interpretations of true court proceedings. Further, the grandiose behaviors that are consistently offered under the guise of drama would never be acceptable in real life court proceedings. Regardless, the show is entertaining.

I suspect that those who dismiss the show outright have a problem with the mostly diverse cast and the main antagonist being a woman of color. The writing and production are as good as anything else on network TV. Further, I'm noticing that any new show that addresses racial commentary or issues of bias is immediately criticized as social justice signaling or promoting liberal ideals. But, I wonder two things: what's wrong with social justice? and what's the opposite of social justice since so many are in favor of its antonym?

I loved this show when it first aired and was so pleased OWN made the wise decision to continue it. Everything about this court room drama is compelling. Great plot lines, stellar acting and timely topics of discussion. It has incredibly strong leads and is timely for the times we live!