All Rise Review: Dancing at Los Angeles (Season 1 Episode 21)

With the courts of LA shut down, our characters enter a new and relevant landscape for a season finale on All Rise Season 1 Episode 21, “Dancing at Los Angeles.”

From its first episode, All Rise has made a name being timely and real. Both widely-discussed current issues and those that have gone under the radar too long have been unflinchingly portrayed.

A global pandemic may well present one of the most important opportunities for relevant stories ever. Yet a global pandemic also means that the entertainment industry, like so many others, has been shuttered the name of public safety.

These are sad, scary, frustrating, overwhelming times for everyone. For a while now, people have speculated that fictional characters are no exception (at least those residing on present-day Earth,) wondering how they might handle all this.

Because making television the traditional way is off the table for some time, it’s hard to fathom how it can be made at all. Yet creators are slowly coming to the plate in opportunities like this. Now we have something truly special.

I’ll miss a traditional season finale no matter what. The kinds of dramatic events such episodes typically contain placed on the shoulders of characters we’ve come to love is something many wait months for. With the timing of the pandemic, countless fans share this pain.

Yet with enormous questions marks over how a social distancing episode could possibly work hanging overhead, All Rise has met and exceeded whatever expectations I’ve held. It’s certainly different, but everything we love is there.

The foundations of the case of the week aren’t that different from others we’ve seen all season: a sympathetic defendant and issues rooted as much in family dynamics as current conflict. It’s as powerful as any case because all these stories have such impact.

In execution, of course, this case is unlike any other, and the result is a kind of chaos known well to anyone trying to organize a cohesive system of communication these past few weeks. Nobody really knows what they’re doing, and that’s all too real.

When frustrations boil over in this virtual setting, it’s about hurt and anger, but its also about what such a hearing means for basic rights. The right to a trial means other rights long taken for granted must be set aside, speaking to the level of sacrifice so many have been making.

The motivation for what rights take precedence over others comes from the brutal reality of our current prison system and how its dynamics can drive up disease spread, leading to record cases and deaths for those trapped within.

This is what drives Emily’s familiar passion and why we root for her to win as much as ever: for her dedication, her client, and the effort to help flawed but good people overcome unreasonable burdens and bias.

Mark is on the other side of the aisle, representing the client’s aggrieved brother and sitting in Lola’s court (sort of) for the first time. This aspect in particular goes exactly how you’d expect, with humorous and awkward results.

As much fun as it is to watch this, I think it’s important to remember the precedence that’s prevented it so far, even if just for the idea of bias. Sure, Lola wouldn’t favor Mark, but it’s enough that others might think she could.

There are understandable exceptions in this case where so much doesn’t follow protocol, but overall I both enjoy this experience and the fact that Lola disavows it ever happening again—because she needs Mark as her friend.

On that note, not even social distancing in separate homes can keep our favorite friendship away from a beloved stairwell chat. It’s a comfort in a stressful episode; and as welcome as when LoMark are much less than six feet apart.

Much as we see our everyday lives in the drama that unfolds for everyone, we see our deeper emotions and struggles as we watch how the characters cope with profound change.

There’s Lola reaching out to her mother, both of them as vulnerable as we’ve ever seen and speaking to the presence of love even when physical contact is impossible. There’s still a lot more to explore for these two, but it’s a sweet note to leave on.

There’s Sara’s fear as she steps into the role of an essential worker delivering food, a fear we see reflected in Emily and others when Luke seems ready to take his own tension to help in person at a prison system.

There’s plenty of silly banter and serious conversation too. There are Zoom workouts, Zoom dates, and Zoom meetings of every shape and size with plenty of technological glitches (and sometimes intentional “glitches” via Sherri) to boot.  

While it’s hard not to see Lemily together in person, their video chats show they are as strong as ever, attentive and aware of each other’s needs, and each as concerned for the other’s safety as their own.

Meanwhile, Mark and Amy end the episode set to begin isolating together. In non-pandemic terms, they’re moving in together. It’s the kind of decision that promises to shape the future of their relationship one way or another, and I sure hope we get to see the results.

Though it all, a DJ played by Simone Missick’s husband Dorian offers music and words to soothe a fictional depiction of Los Angles, and in doing so remind us all just how much we really are all in this together.

TV episodes of this type are never going to be what people opt for when they have the choice, save for an occasional experimental installment. It’s a lot to follow visually and even at its best, its not the same as seeing characters in person where they can physically interact.

What this is is a testament to a show willing to step up, not only to do something new themselves, but hopefully to inspire others to follow as well. It’s a dose of empathy we all need, and it’s one that’s extremely well done.

Sadly, ratings alone may not ensure a second season for the show. But this episode should speak to CBS about why we need All Rise on our screens, now and whenever the lives we know can resume. If CBS doesn’t renew it, I sure hope somebody else steps in.

There are plenty of stories left to tell. We want to see what will come of every friendship, romance, and drama these people experience, whether at work or at home. We want to see what other relevant stories there are to tell, and this episode shows us exactly why.

 

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

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

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All Rise to Air a Virtually Shot Social Distancing Episode