All Rise Review: Bounceback (Season 2 Episode 6)
Welcome to 2021, everybody! Will it actually be better than 2020? If we’re going by the five minutes or so of All Rise Season 2 Episode 6, “Bounceback,” that it takes for Lola to be facing legal disaster and Mark to get stabbed(!), the level of drama, at least, isn’t going anywhere.
For much of the episode, the consequences of Lola urging Leon to take a deal when he’s ultimately found not guilty are even more unpleasant than I might have expected. Leon and others instinctively blame Judge Carmichael. Even the jury foreman takes a bite out of her.
The situation is pushed more to the edge when Emily, at Leon’s instance, fervently goes after Lola in the fallout. Sherri snaps at Emily in turn, showing how much the emotional toll of this case is wearing on everyone.
Considering both her earlier argument with Sara and a mildly heated disagreement with Luke, the whole situation speaks as much to Emily’s state of mind as it does to Lola’s. Her dedication to Leon is as in character as ever, but there’s a lot of stress there, too.
Still, Lola takes most of the weight of this case on her own shoulders. She’s her own biggest critic when her well-intentioned decisions turn out to be flawed ones. It’s a sign both of her honor and of the fact that, even now, she struggles with elements of being a judge.
With all the buildup, the resolution feels a bit quick and tidy. Leon is cleared completely. Lola apologizes to him and he seems to forgive her. Emily apologizes to both Lola and Sara. Nice as it is to see all being right with (this part of) the world, I think the plot could have been extended.
Roxy appears again to throw in her own two cents. The scenes are lovely, though they do feel like they’re rehashing those of the previous episode. The ultimate reward is Roxy saying she’s proud of her daughter, which is what Lola has really needed to hear for some time.
What Lola needs most is a break. For better or worse, she’s about to get one in the form of maternity leave. Baby Bean is on the way! Sherri and Ness are both adorably excited, even as they quickly shepherd Lola off.
Elsewhere, Mark won’t be taking any time off for something as trivial as getting stabbed “a little”—his words. The people who target him do seem far too unprofessional to be connected to a police hit job, but does anyone really think this could be random?
He does his best to downplay his attack, but I think it’ll come back to haunt him, at least in some form. For now, he presses on relentlessly with his case. Again, we see both his ultimate pursuit of justice and drive to find a way to absolve his own role in the first trial.
Between the two, he’s determined to plow past those like Bravo and Choi who want him to handle things tactfully and the representation being brought to Deputy Rashel’s defense. The lawyers here will likely be grating on him and us for at least a couple more episodes.
The dynamics at play during this storyline, both in the delicate political nature and the painful reality of how easily police brutality is swept under the rug, come to a head here. Ultimately and finally, they see the deputy arrested.
We’ll have to wait to see this trial reach its boiling point (and, sadly, to see Baby Bean) For now, Mark’s enemies are happy bringing his dad back into the picture. Which bears the question—what if the attack was somehow connected to Vic, and not to all this?
Other Notes
- We avoided it for five episodes, but it’s not surprising the show reminds us of awful terms like “China Virus”. Having them used against Sherri is devastating.
- I wish we’d gotten more than a brief introduction to Rick Fox, but this was a busy episode. I’m so looking forward to what Luke and he do from here.
- We’re seeing more of the judges acting as a unit, both with their fun initial entrance and decidedly more awkward talks later on. There’s a lot of potential in this dynamic.
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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Caitlin Wyneken
Caitlin is an elder millennial with an only slightly unhealthy dedication to a random selection of TV shows, from PBS Masterpiece dramas to some of the less popular series on popular networks. Outside of screen time, she's dedicated to the public sector and worthy nonprofits, working to make a difference in the world outside of media.