All Rise Review: What The Constitution Greens to Me (Season 1 Episode 12)

All Rise Season 1 Episode 12, “What The Constitution Greens to Me,” returns from hiatus with more of the complex and relevant cases that define the show.

Most courtroom dramas take place almost entirely in the courtroom. In cases like this episode, there’s room for little else in between. Many shows would call that a “filler” installment, but All Rise doesn’t do filler.

Every episode has at least one case that presents an issue that is timely, underrepresented, or both. Here, it comes through racially biased medical malpractice that costs a woman her life.  

There are enough true stories of doctors ignoring “certain types” of patients to earn widespread attention, yet the issue has gotten comparatively little coverage in the media. That’s one of the points we make.

It’s a blow when, after a grueling trial involving a grieving husband and father, the doctor Mark tries to prosecute is found not guilty. It’s also an intentional decision, highlighted by Lola’s lack of surprise at the jury’s verdict.

There are important conversations too about where race might and might not come into play. It’s certainly relevant that Lola’s mother also nearly died in a case that could have been skewed through this lens. Again, we must acknowledge that she has biases too—and so do we.

Still, it’s hard for the result of this case to feel like any form of justice. At least there’s a lovely appeal at the end for the public to consider the true implications of the facts. I feel like it’s a message going out directly to the audience.

My only issue here has little to do with the case itself, but rather with Mark’s father’s murder case getting shoved in on the sidelines. There’s a lot about the complicated nature of their relationship that’s packed into only minutes.

Though this case certainly needs to stay at the forefront, I’m hoping we pick one story at a time for Mark. When Vic’s case is the focus, it should be the only focus. Otherwise, it should just be mentioned in name as he seeks justice for others.

Meanwhile, there are buckets worth of complications in the case Lola hears as a judge. From a rebellious son attacking an oil refinery protected by his congresswoman mother to a left turn into a discussion of mental illness, it’s a bit hard to keep up.

The good news is that the case does a good job of making everyone involved sympathetic, minus the eco-terrorist blackmailer. The less good news is that switching from angle to angle makes it harder to process these emotions.

There’s a lot of potential in the eventual revelation of blackmail over a mental health condition. We should have a whole other conversation about the measures people are pushed to in a society that so condemns these things.

I do like that this is another story adding to the relationship Emily and Lola have as a lawyer and judge whose interactions often create tension. I just wish it were a little more straightforward, especially with such important factors at play.

The good news is that Emily’s out-of-court interactions feel a little more balanced than Mark’s. I love every moment with her and Luke. I know it won’t all be smooth sailing, so I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts, especially when Sara is involved.

The other point of Lola’s case is to place her in several more problematic conversations. The poor woman can’t get a break even after her own trial, especially with a congresswoman trying to intervene for her son.

Another judge is involved with this, which has its own troublesome implications, but I’m pleased with the results overall. There are some moments of fun banter between the two, and I’m happy to her make progress with her fellow judges.

More importantly, though he doesn’t totally shed his own ignorance, I love the poignant moment where he asks her if he can come to her opinion on social issues. It’s not her job to educate him, but the fact he wants to learn matters.

Finally, we throw just a bone or two to that possibility of Benner having darker motives. I’m still not sure what to make of it, and while I’m open to the possibility, I don’t want to lose their positive interactions. At least we still get plenty with Lola and Mark.

 

What did you think of this episode of All Rise? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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All Rise airs Mondays at 9/8c on CBS.

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