So Help Me Todd Season 2 Episode 3 Review: The Queen of Courts

Sandra Bernhard guest stars on So Help Me Todd Season 2 Episode 3, “The Queen of Courts.” She plays an attorney who makes even Todd look professional and diplomatic.

He’s been pulled into Belinda Tuttle’s schemes before and knows enough to try and warn his mother off. But Crest, Folding, and Wright is on the verge of collapse and Margaret needs the money. Fortunately, it turns out Belinda is innocent.

She might use shady tactics to win cases, but in this instance where a man accidentally died, someone is impersonating her. While she and Margaret desperately play for time, Todd and Lyle find the true culprit and save the day. For now.

The win will help the firm, but at this point Margaret is hiding the truth from everyone even as she denies Susan’s requests for a promotion– and even as she finally accepts the need to fire people. It’s not going to be enough.

In the romantic field, Todd meets a new girl at a café and Lyle’s fling with Alex stutters before being poised to take off anew. Then we see her shady side reemerge as she sneaks into Beverly’s office to do something as yet unknown.

We all know (or at have at least seen the commercials of) lawyers like Belinda Tuttle, and lauded guest Sandra Bernhard plays this one to a T. She’s just irritating enough to justify people’s reactions to her while remaining largely likeable, much like Todd himself.

Would Margaret take her on if the firm wasn’t desperate for funds? Probably not, but I’ll take whatever reasons we can get for her to push boundaries. The scene of the two spilling water and strings of beads to stretch their trial is hilarious.

There’s nothing funny about what her workplace faces. Having to bite the bullet and let people go is devastating for her, us, and of course the people on the other side of her desk. Worse, she seems determined to share as little of the truth as possible.

This is especially troubling when it comes to Susan, left frustrated by what appears to her as dismissal of her worth for a promotion. I can’t yet grasp why a forward and honest person like Margaret won’t just tell everyone how bad things are. It’ll have to come out eventually.

Todd and Lyle engage in a little of their usual banter while working together but are otherwise distracted. Todd meets a young woman played by Heather Morris who starts out almost too quirky, but also offers sage advice. We’ll likely see more of Judy soon.

We’re already seeing more of Lyle’s new beau Alex, and that’s very welcome…at first. What was once a trace of suspicion is now a strong likelihood that this lady is up to something nefarious. I don’t want to see his feelings or reputation get hurt in what comes next.

There are likely rough seas ahead for everyone. I’m confident the writers will be able keep balancing in humor as it plays out, but the hints of people turning on one another are more troubling. This show is best when everyone works as a team. I hope they can keep doing so.

 

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So Help Me Todd airs Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.

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