All Rise Review: Prelude to a Fish (Season 1 Episode 15)

Relationships abound on All Rise Season 1 Episode 15, “Prelude to a Fish.” Some offer sweet romance, others something much more painful.

There’s a lot of love on this Valentine’s installment of All Rise. With Lola’s husband across the country and Mark in a very new relationship, it’s not all traditional, but it’s enough to solidify ships new and old.

Fan favorite Lemily starts off with a bang of the flash mob variety. It begins wonderfully, but we know very quickly that something is off. It leads us into Emily’s most important storyline to date.  

Jessica Camacho is the MVP of this episode, which tells us a bit more about how much Emily’s been through in her marriage and the long and grueling process that followed her divorce from an abusive man.

There’s an important discussion of abuse through the cyberexploitation of Laura (also a wonderful performance.) We get no signs of Walter ever having been physical, but this is never used to play down that trauma.

Things get personal for Emily and for the audience by proxy. From her intense reaction to her friend’s news to the tension as Lola gently works to highlight her connections, we know what she must be reliving.

This culminates in a tender and heartbreaking scene where she and Laura both confront their own experiences. Laura is just at the beginning of that process and, as she tells us, Emily’s own is long ongoing. Her strength is as evident as her pain.

The scene that follows is just as important and highlights why Luke and Emily are so special. She can confess why a sweeping romantic act is painful for her when so many others, us included, adore it. He listens and accepts this immediately.

This path is far from over and there’s still so much healing to be done. I’d love to see some of that process both for Emily’s own recovery and her ability to accept her new romance for the pure and healthy thing it is.

With their romance so fresh they won’t even say they’re dating; Valentine’s Day isn’t a big deal for Mark and Amy. Being on opposite sides of a case, though, can get a little awkward.

As nervous as the prospect of this divide makes me, I’m pleasantly surprised by the results. Their case winds up resolved out of court, with Mark taking a cue from Lola and having the clients talk it out. It doesn’t go so smoothly this time, but at least he tries.

As they move into that official relationship territory at the end of the hour, these two become the second couple we’ll see meeting across the legal spectrum. I hope it’s a sign that the issue can be handled well for both sets of couples.

Sadly, we don’t get the same in-person cuteness for Lola and Robin given his new job. We still get a nice blend of love and comedy. Lola sending only last minute flowers reminds us that she’s human—and I’m sure Robin really does love them.

While I still wish we’d see much more of the one currently married couple on the show, this is already playing second fiddle to Lola being plunged into the deep end with Benner.

I don’t know what to make of this storyline. I’m willing to accept a plot twist of darker motives for Benner, much as I like the complex mentor role she fills now. But is there really a need to shake it up that way?

This may all be for naught. I have no idea if the hints we’re getting will mean anything, and the story certainly is intriguing. But if we do go down that path, I just hope there’s more there than the need for drama.

Other Notes

• Poor Freckles the fish. I’d love to see Luke and Emily co-parenting, but its just not the time or place. At least Sara is there to love him for us.
• I really like Sam, but the vibes of some of her scenes trouble me. Please let her stay a good friend and ally. We love our romances as they are, and she deserves better than to be seen as creating trouble for any of them.
• Sure, Amy and Mark declared it for themselves, but lets be real: what really makes them official is him telling Lola about it on the staircase.

 

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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