Bull Review: Gag Order (Season 2 Episode 17)

The team tackles their latest case, repairing multiple relationships in the process, on Bull Season 2 Episode 17, “Gag Order”

This episode features another strong client, and one who stands for her morals at great potential cost when even Bull has doubts. While it feels a little strange to have the generally overconfident trial scientist consider deals twice in a row, it’s a chance for him to learn about trust—and humility.

In the courtroom, we can draw clear lines between good people and bad ones. That’s not nearly so clear for everything else tied to the case that the team deals with.

The first impact is seen right away. Chunk is struggling to bond with the girl who has only just learned that her honorary “uncle” is actually her biological father. That he may be able to help the professor who helped her offers hope that they may really bond.

That said, I do like that the team’s success on Chloe’s behalf doesn’t automatically make everything okay for Anna. She’s right—however much reason and respect Chunk and her mother put into the decision to keep her in the dark, it’s still a heck of a thing to find out. I’m glad that gets respected.

In the end, father and daughter find a point of relative peace. Assuming Anna does head to one of the New York City universities she’s been accepted at, I look forward to seeing more of her. Maybe she could be an intern?

On an inter-team level, the more important impact of the case comes through seeing Cable again and, of course, getting her her job back. It’s about time. It’s also not nearly enough for my taste.

Most of Cable’s presence in this episode comes in random pieces, helping the guy who supposedly has her job now. What’s going to happen to him, by the way? Perhaps he was never actually offered the position?

I can understand her justification for not wanting Bull to know about the help she offers, but I don’t think there’s enough to back it up. Would he ever believably be so offended as to throw justice to the wind?

Again, this is tied to awkward and distant handling of the whole situation. The only evidence we’ve seen on screen to make her think Bull is angry enough to disregard evidence just because she found it is that one scene of their last talk in a taxi.

By itself, this could simply be Cable exaggerating her boss’s feeling in her mind. But if so, we should have gotten more time to see the emotional side of them repairing things. The instant job offer was a great scene, but there’s still so much more there that needs to be said.

We may or may not see this talked about more in future cases. It’s very likely the team will continue on from here as though nothing ever happened. That is unfortunate, because when the issues between members are actually addressed, it’s generally well done.

All that aside, I am more than happy to take on all the good feelings we get from this episode. Chloe gets justice on the corporate scum and their immoral scenes, and our little family is back to a place where they can move forward, as are Chunk and Anna.

What did you think of this episode of Bull? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

Bull airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on CBS.

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!