All Rise Review: The Peril of the Plea (Season 2 Episode 5)

All Rise’s first new case with a jury back in the courtroom doesn’t need Sherri’s anxiety about safety to raise tensions. It’s a nail-biter of a case throughout with a painfully bittersweet twist of an ending.

Despite Emily’s determination for so much of All Rise Season 2 Episode 5, “The Peril of the Plea,” the main point of the story seems to be to instill doubt in both our minds and those of the characters. Each new complication makes Leon’s fate feel up in the air.

It’s what pushes Lola, against both Mark’s advice and her own heart, to urge a deal that will at least keep Emily’s client out of prison while still leaving him an admitted felon with a slew of other repercussions. Emily, too, reluctantly encourages him to accept.

It’s a painful moment for all involved, especially in light of the trust they all hold earlier that everything can turn out okay. We wonder what we would do in Leon’s shoes in light of a choice Lola accurately describes as impossible.

Later, Ness inadvertently stumbles on the jury’s decision. The reveal, only after Leon has accepted, that he would have been found innocent after all, is the kind we can see coming. That doesn’t take any of the emotional punch out of the moment.

It’s likely this plotline will continue into future episodes. If so, the news of the verdict will almost certainly become public knowledge. How everyone will respond and how Lola will reflect on her own actions is likely to bring still more emotional upheaval.

Mark’s ongoing case hits a couple dramatic points of its own while maintaining the air that we’re waiting for something “more” to happen. The biggest development here is Omar agreeing to assist Mark—only after he’s told his bosses the other man was on board.

Mark’s handling of the case is a reflection on his character, at points reckless and self-centered, but also motivated by remorse, a genuine desire to seek whatever justice is still available, and the attempt to keep only his own neck on the line as much as possible.

This episode also serves as the strongest evidence yet that Mark and Amy’s relationship can make it after all, from a slew of sweet moments between them to the first hints of some long-awaited backstory for Amy. I look forward to the time when she’s more emotionally able to talk.

Elsewhere, relationship drama abounds, a lot of it surrounding a holiday party that feels awkwardly placed. This may be intentional. Amidst some genuine moments of good spirit, there’s a lot of acting the part going on.

For the first time, things are getting uncomfortable in the Luke and Emily dynamic when they both meet with their respective dates. It may be inevitable, but it’s a dynamic of love triangles I don’t enjoy, and I hope we can move on.

More surprising is the tension between Emily and Sara, which seems to come out of nowhere, or at least much too late. If these two are going to question each other’s biases, why have they waited so long after the protests in question to do so?

There’s drama between Lola and her mother again too, but this is more satisfying, in large part because it’s great to have Roxie back on our screens for more than a single scene. She’s creating as much trouble as ever for Lola, but that’s why we love her.

We’re given a conversation between them that acknowledges not only how they push each other’s buttons, but the dynamics of needing both safety and physical connection to family during a pandemic, one of the most common struggles of these times.

I’m so looking forward to seeing how Bean will be a part of not only Lola and Robin’s lives, but also the lives of everyone around them. It may be awhile before anyone else can spend much time with or even hold him/her, but the love is there all the same.

Other Notes

• The hints at Amy’s family, intriguing as they are, also remind me that we’ve barely mentioned Vic since his departure. For that matter, when will we ever learn about Mark’s mother?
• Is it just me or was that office party photo shoot kind of…weird? It gave a lot of moments both great and awkward, but still.
• Whatever else we get to see of Lola and Roxy making progress with each other, Roxy wearing Bean’s sonogram image as a necklace is adorable.
• Even more adorable? The impromptu in-court group songs. More of these, please! It’s especially nice seeing a lighter side of Sherri.

 

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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