All Rise Review: Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (Season 3 Episode 1)
It took more than a year, the dedication of countless fans, and the influence of a little someone named Oprah. All Rise Season 3 Episode 1, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin,” is worth both the time and the effort.
At least based off this season premiere, the creators, writers, and stars of the series made sure to pack up everything that made it an important, relevant, and relatable drama, and to take it all with them for the move to its new home on OWN.
At the same time, there’s a lot that’s about to look different, at least in terms of the characters’ careers. It’s a bit like playing musical chairs with job titles—almost nobody comes back exactly the same after a six-month time jump.
A very quick recap: Lola keeps her judgeship a day after her election seems lost, and when she heads back to 802 as hubby Robin (played by a new actor) becomes a stay-at home dad, only Sherri is still there in her old office.
Sara has left to work with Mark in the DA’s office while Ness is now at Amy and Rachel’s firm. Mark is tasked with filling the head deputy DA role left behind by a departed Choi, and Rachel is on leave, with Amy acting as the firm’s only present attorney.
Luke has left the DA’s office to work as a public defender, but not with Emily, who returns partway through the episode to announce she’ll be working in holistic law. And Benner will be moving out of the HOJ, though only across the street and to the Court of Appeals.
Phew. It’s a lot to keep track of, especially for any fans who might just be catching up with the plot to date. With so many people finding themselves in new places, there’s the potential for lots of intriguing dynamics to be added to the relationships with already love.
As for those relationships? There’s a lot going on there, too, from the fact Amy is still working on a divorce from an ex on her insurance to Ness pressing Amy and Rachel for overtime pay she sure seems to deserve, even if she’s not working there as a lawyer yet.
It’s a bit difficult to give all these elements the time they deserve, if only because there are so many of them. Hopefully, we’ll be able spend a little more time with both the fun and trouble on the horizon as everyone settles into their new positions.
Friendships and romances alike are still the bread and butter of All Rise, whether they’re giving us adorable moments or veering into conflict. It’s important and more realistic to balance what we love with the parts that can feel uncomfortable.
At points, it feels like we’ll spending the entire hour just playing catchup, and while that probably could fill a full 60 minutes on its own, the episode also fits in a case that pits Luke against his former DA colleague Maggie Palmer.
The first two seasons rarely offered a trial that didn’t put us through the emotional wringer, and this is no exception: a panicked 17-year-old shoves a man during a robbery, his crime turning to manslaughter after the man dies.
Add in the presence of the victim’s child and the fact that the crime occurs on the suspect’s 18th birthday, meaning he’s a legal adult before it’s over, and it’s a whole minefield that highlights the arbitrary and flawed nature of our justice system.
Lola moves the hearing to a juvenile court in a bittersweet move that weighs a young man who provides for his family and certainly never meant to kill against a family who now feels their loved one’s death won’t get the justice it deserves.
As much as we root for Luke and sympathize with his client, the whole notion that a mere matter of timing can shape the nature of accountability is a difficult one to sit with. As ever, the show pulls no punches in addressing these issues.
We can’t close out the return without a sweet scene between Emily and Luke, but it’s one that still leaves them as friends, not lovers. Does the future hold a rekindling for them? I hope so, but can’t really say. Their romance is one just many threads left in the air for now.
What did you think of this episode of All Rise? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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All Rise airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on OWN.
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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.