All Rise holds a dear place in my heart. I've cared about the cases and the relationships in the series. I was so excited to watch Mark and Amy get married on All Rise Season 3 Episode 20.

I'm unsure if OWN knew that All Rise 3B was the final season initially, but these past ten episodes have been fantastic, and this was the ideal send-off.

Before we dive into the wedding details, let's discuss the final case. As much as I adored Emily Lopez and her helping lost souls, I would have preferred focusing on Mark and Amy's wedding and dealing with the Russians.

However, Emily represented Nori Byrd, who was accused of murdering her husband with a bloody knife. She passed out drunk and had no memory of the event, and there was no body.

The circumstantial evidence was damming, though. Emily knew that, and DA Berger knew it, too.

Emily wanted to help, though, as she heard that Ms. Byrd was a battered wife. I almost thought they'd use the battered wife syndrome as a defense since it appeared she had a motive.

She found a respite in a new relationship and needed a release. Luckily, they didn't need that because Emily hit the jackpot. She and Luke make such a good team searching for info.

After learning that Archer Byrd specialized in crypto, Luke's expert found the funds and Archer in Mexico. He framed his wife for his murder, a rotten move from an abusive man. What a case to close on.

Wilson Bethel was the episode MVP, playing Mark, who was so layered and frightened about the Costa case. Even though he tried to hide it, DA Bravo suspected something was off and brought in DA Choi to manage the case.

Carrying a secret that affects your entire family only makes you snap, which is ultimately what Mark did when he learned Vic was going to testify for the prosecution. The Callen men have had a challenging relationship, but underneath, they still love each other.

It made me tear up to hear that Vic wanted to testify and go into witness protection so Mark would be proud of him for once. Vic knew he screwed up as a dad and always brought drama.

Vic: Just once I wanted to look into your eyes and see how proud you were of me. This is my shot, kid, to be that hero I always wanted to be.

_{🔗 permalink: Just once I wanted to look into your eyes and see how proud you were of me. This is my shot,…}

It was such a landmark for their relationship that Mark recognized Vic's sacrifice and called him "Dad" after all these years.

Mark: Take care of yourself, Dad.

Vic: Yeah, you too, kid.

_{🔗 permalink: Yeah, you too, kid.}

Mark and Amy have been through so much over the last few years. To relieve their relationship, you can watch All Rise online.

Ironically, Mark thought Amy would ditch him for his family issues since her mom and sister are so judgemental.

Mark: Last chance…

Amy: Last chance for what?

Mark: Last chance to run from me, from Vic and my childhood baggage.

_{🔗 permalink: Last chance to run from me, from Vic and my childhood baggage.}

Vic may have his faults, but he's always been fond of Amy, and it's because of her that he's worked so hard to reconcile with Mark.

I will miss these two so much. They've proven they can weather anything together. While I'm thrilled we witnessed their wedding, I wish we could've seen them start a family.

Let's discuss the long-awaited wedding. We've waited over two years for this wedding since Amy and Mark became engaged in All Rise Season 2 Episode 17, and we were afraid we wouldn't see it.

It was such a massive family affair, and all of their friends made it special. It truly represented that the HOJ was family. It was all the little moments from the toast before the wedding or Lola fixing Mark's tie. These friendships were so vital to me.

Amy looked absolutely stunning walking down the aisle. I don't think she's ever looked that radiant.

While I was surprised to see DA Bravo performing the ceremony, I shouldn't have been since he and Mark's relationship has evolved over the years.

The wedding was the perfect way to end the series. The custom vows showed how far Mark and Amy had come. The two of them had never looked happier.

Mark: Amy Quinn, I could not have asked for a better partner. You challenge me. You push me to be better, and you encourage me to be better. You never ever let me get away with anything. I couldn’t imagine my life without you.

Amy: Mark, you have taught me the meaning of true love – patience, forgiveness, and support.

_{🔗 permalink: Mark, you have taught me the meaning of true love – patience, forgiveness, and support.}

The series has had the HOJ celebrate so many moments together during these final ten episodes, but seeing them at the wedding was the best.

We will never forget those memories and photos in our hearts. Some of them had talented dancing moves.

I am disappointed we never heard Lola's wedding toast after she stressed about it, but her bachelor party toast in All Rise Season 3 Episode 19 was priceless.

While I love All Rise's ending, I suspect they hoped for more seasons. There were still more storyline possibilities floating around.

Luke and Emily had reunited and seemed happy, but we never got an engagement. I would have liked to see them partner up and form their own holistic law firm.

Why wasn't Lisa Benner in the series finale if she would be named the presiding judge of the HOJ? We needed to see her celebrate with Lola and Abigail.

However, most stories seemed to have closure, and I was relieved that all of our couples were happy. Maybe someday, we'll have a reunion movie. One can hope.

The post All Rise Season 3 Episode 20 Review: Sometimes Truth is Stranger Than Fiction appeared first on TV Fanatic.

At their house, Robin reassures Lola he has surveillance watching Ivan and Mr. Costa, but he needs her to be careful at work.

Emily is stressed about defending Nori Byrd, who is charged with murdering her husband. There's no body, so she's hoping Clayton Berger will offer a deal.

Thomas Choi arrives and announces he's taking over the Costa case, which worries Mark.

Nori tells Emily she had a fight with her husband, and when it became physical, she scratched him to defend herself. After that, she passed out, and when she woke up, she couldn't find him, and she doesn't remember what happened.

Emily's concerned about the amount of blood, and when she meets with Clayton, he offers to drop the charges of voluntary manslaughter in a plea. They end up going to court.

Clayton asks the officer what he saw when he arrived on the scene, and he observed Mrs. Byrd near her car, covered in blood with a knife. They investigated the rest of the house and found an extensive blood trail and several processers destroyed but no forced entry.

Lola gets frustrated and goes to check on Mark. Amy is also having a bad day and learns Andre wants to sue the firm for $100,000 for stopping the merger.

DA Choi thinks Mark is too close to this case and refuses to negotiate with Wanda Taylor. That makes Mark worried for Vic and Lola's safety. Lola refuses to pull herself off the case.

Luke learned that Archer Byrd was involved in crypto and suspects whoever killed him wanted his currency. Clayton learns Nori had a lesbian lover, which gave her more motive.

DA Choi calls a witness, and it's Mark's dad. Mark explodes, but DA Choi reasons Vic wants to do this. Robin and DA Choi try to explain that witness protection will be the only way Vic is safe.

Vic tells Mark this is the one thing he can do so his son is proud of him. Amy arrives, and the two trade stories about their awful day. She's still sure they can survive this.

Emily thinks Raya, Nori's lover, testifying hurt her case.

Vic testified that Mr. Costa told him if he didn't pay off his debt, he'd die. He saw what happened to the other victim. It's painful for Mark to hear his dad describing his beating.

Mark isn't happy his dad is going into the federal witness protection, and the two men share an emotional goodbye.

Emily hit the jackpot. The crypto expert confirmed that Archer Byrd was in Mexico along with his currency, so Judge Delgado dismissed the case.

It's finally wedding day. Amy freaks out over her sister's black dress, but her mom calms her down.

Luke and Robin toast Mark until Thomas Choi arrives to reconcile with Mark. Lola is outside working on her speech, and Robin interrupts, and they discuss how their relationship has improved.

Lola checks on Mark and straightens his tie, and they celebrate his wedding day. Amy starts down the aisle.

It's so sweet that the entire HOJ is there. DA Bravo performs the ceremony, and Mark and Amy's custom vows are so heartfelt.

At the reception, Mark gives Sara his blessing to date Gabriel. Everyone is dancing. Luke and Emily sneak away to make out, but then she gets a call that Nori went to Mexico to shoot her husband.

A court server serves Amy and Rachel with a lawsuit from Andre. We end with everyone taking bridal party photos.

The post All Rise Season 3 Episode 20 Recap: Sometimes Truth is Stranger Than Fiction appeared first on TV Fanatic.

On All Rise Season 3 Episode 19, Amy's estranged family arrived unexpectedly, overwhelming her, and the Russians threatened to wreck Mark's wedding day if he didn't cooperate.

"Come Hell or High Water" demonstrated why this couple considered their friends their family and why this wedding was important to them.

While Vic Callen grates on my nerves, I don't doubt that he loves Mark. Amy's family was a piece of work, and I understand why she kept her distance from them.

While it worked out in the end, she should have been allowed to reconcile with her family on her terms, not because Rachel unknowingly invited them to surprise her.

I'm unsure why Rachel demanded to become Amy's maid of honor, but she was way too involved, which she realized when Amy's mom and sister started World War 3 as soon as they arrived.

I felt for Amy since it seemed like her family didn't approve of any of her decisions, so it made sense why she left home. Her mom couldn't understand that she needed to become her own person.

They embarrassed her at her party, accusing her of abandoning Collier and stating she'd leave Mark, too.

That was so hurtful, considering the guilt Amy still suffers over Collier's death and how long it took her to move on.

Amy’s mom: You abandoned us!

Amy: I moved away.

Amy’s mom: You married Collier, who was the best thing to ever happen to you, and then you left him, too. Let’s see how long it takes you to run away from Mark.

_{🔗 permalink: You married Collier, who was the best thing to ever happen to you, and then you left him,…}

It was refreshing seeing Amy talk with Sherri about leaving home. Sherri often feels like she's on the outside of the group, so it's been fun to see her make more friend connections.

Both women have had their share of issues and could relate to moving on.

Sherri: You erased your accent. I changed my last name. It’s funny, and here we are facing the thing our whole lifetimes trying to run away from.

_{🔗 permalink: You erased your accent. I changed my last name. It’s funny, and here we are facing the thing…}

That encouraging talk motivated Amy to talk honestly with her mother.

Mark's dad got him into this mess with the Russians, and they weren't going away. He needed to play ball, or they'd interfere with his wedding and the people he loved most.

Mark: Throwing out that DUI was a one-time thing, and Vic’s record is clear. So unless there is something else…

Wanda Taylor: I was really hoping we could resolve this before your upcoming nuptials. See you soon, Mark.

_{🔗 permalink: I was really hoping we could resolve this before your upcoming nuptials. See you soon, Mark.}

All Mark has ever wanted was a typical family. He loves his father and wants to protect Vic, but Vic always has drama, and he doesn't wish to follow him into his marriage.

Mark understands boundaries, which was why he played the Russians' game. Keeping secrets from Lola proved difficult, though, since it made him cranky, and he's an awful liar.

I suspect Lola might be in trouble since the Russians demanded that Mark clean up Mr. Costa's case and that Lola preside over that one.

They were thorough and kidnapped Mark from his party. It was so funny seeing Mark parading around half-naked in his boxers.

We never saw that team-up coming, but we're so relieved Mark told Robin, and Robin installed a tracker in that underwear. Hopefully, with them working together, they'll find some dirt on the Russians.

The parties were the best of the episode. These friends would do anything for each other.

It was so endearing hearing more stories about Lola and Mark's time in college.

Lola: Halfway through My Best Friend’s Wedding, Mark is sobbing, and I’m talking uncontrollably. That is when I knew you were going to make a great husband to someone someday. To Mark!

_{🔗 permalink: Halfway through My Best Friend’s Wedding, Mark is sobbing, and I’m talking uncontrollably….}

While separate parties were entertaining at first, I'm relieved they combined both later. Did anyone know that Teddy was such a card shark?

With Emily left in charge at the PD, Luke tried incorporating some of her holistic law with his case. The problem was some people had been beaten by the system and didn't know how to interact with society after being released from prison.

It was hard to understand why Fred would have a gun on him only six months after being paroled. He'd been in prison for 25 years unfairly for petty theft, and even Tony Carver hated prosecuting this case again.

There was something about this guy. He learned music in prison. You wanted him to succeed.

That was why, with DA Bravo's new bail policy, Lola released him from jail, believing he wasn't a threat and giving him another chance.

That started a domino effect when Fred held up a convenience store for one dollar. That frustrated Luke since he fought for Fred to get a better life.

Luke: I’m busting my ass to get you out, and you pull off some shit like this.

Fred: Whatever. I didn’t ask you to get me released. I didn’t ask you to represent me.

Luke: The court assigned me because everyone deserves the right to counsel.

Fred: I told you. I’m a fuck-up, always have been. Just let it go, man.

_{🔗 permalink: I told you. I’m a fuck-up, always have been. Just let it go, man.}

No one truly understood the fear Fred Lawrence was facing until he returned back to Lola's courtroom. He wanted to go back to prison because he felt safe there. It was familiar.

It's similar to abuse victims. The unknown is scary, so sometimes you return to what you know. Lola realized that just before agreeing to the plea deal.

She realized that Emily's holistic and transitional programs of getting Fred integrated into society with housing, medical care, and a job was more beneficial than more jail time.

Lola: Mr. Lawrence, we will all help you to become a productive member of our community.

_{🔗 permalink: Mr. Lawrence, we will all help you to become a productive member of our community.}

Fred's case was very impactful, and I wish we could have seen more of Luke and Emily doing holistic law together.

I wonder if they'll open a firm together.

"Come Hell or High Water"  was very character-driven and ended on a slight cliffhanger.

Now that Robin and Mark told Lola and Amy what really went down, how much danger is everyone in?

TV’s Badass and Inspirational Women

Open List

We only have one episode left, All Rise's series finale. To relive Amy and Mark's relationship, watch All Rise online.

While I expect some drama with the Russians, I'd also like a decent amount of time devoted to Amy and Mark's wedding day. We've waited for this wedding since the beginning of All Rise Season 3.

Over to you, All Risers. What was your favorite part of the episode? What are your hopes for All Rise's series finale?

Comment below.

The post All Rise Season 3 Episode 19 Review: Come Hell or High Water appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Emily has been left in charge of the PD, so she assigns Luke a case. Mark calls Tony Carver to prosecute the same case — a felon who was recently paroled but caught with a gun. Tony remembers the man and feels he got a bad deal with the old three-strikes policy for petty theft.

Rachel is annoying Amy by planning everything, including what she's supposed to wear at her bachelorette party. As Amy looks longingly at the red dress, her mom and sister arrive, upset they weren't told about the wedding.

Gabriel arrives at the courthouse, stressed about the custody case. They run into Emily, who reminds Sara to tell Mark about dating a client.

Amy's sister Addison accuses her of keeping stuff from them, and Amy learns Rachel invited them. Rachel looks hurt that Amy isn't excited.

Luke's client, Fred, seems beaten by the system and doesn't think it matters why he had the gun. Lola gets suspicious of Mark's behavior when he abruptly ends a video chat with her.

Wanda Taylor, another attorney who also works for the Russians, visits Mark. They need another case eliminated, and Mark refuses.

Amy stops by the office to escape her family. She tells Ness she needs boundaries with them.

Fred's parole officer justifies why he reported the gun, but Tony doesn't think Fred is violent. Nevertheless, Tony wants Fred kept in jail at the hearing, but Lola agrees with Luke and releases him, thinking he's not a danger to society.

Mark meets with Lola and Wanda Taylor, trying to stall the murder case and get a continuance, but they are out of time.

Mark's bachelor party begins. Lola gives a touching toast about how Mark ditched a date back in college to spend Valentine's Day with her and how she knew he'd make a great husband.

Rachel realizes she screwed up when she hears Amy's mom accuse Amy of constantly abandoning people. 

Ness and Emily hide on the back patio and discuss Emily's plans for holistic law.

The bachelor party is in full swing when Luke gets a call. Mark also gets a call, and he and Robin are lured out to the patio, where Mark is held at gunpoint and kidnapped after Robin leaves.

Luke is disgusted that Fred held up a convenience store for one dollar after he's been fighting so hard for him. Neither Luke nor Tony know what to do next. Mark is brought half-naked to the Russians.

Sherri finds Amy crying outside, and they talk about running away from their families. Once they return inside, Amy and her mom have an honest talk.

Lola decides to combine the parties and is worried when she can't find Mark or Robin.  Mark is upset the Russians wrecked his party, and he's being forced to fix another case.

Thank goodness. Robin and Mark organized a sting to track the Russians. When they return to the party, Mark meets and charms his future in-laws.

When Gabriel and Sara meet with Amy and Ness, Amy pulls Sara aside and warns her to tell Mark about Gabriel.

While Tony and Luke originally had a deal for Fred, Lola changes it to enter him into the transitional program, so they'll all help reenter society this time.

Lola and Mark meet up. She's upset about everything he and Robin kept from her.

The post All Rise Season 3 Episode 19 Recap: Come Hell or High Water appeared first on TV Fanatic.

It felt like a classic episode where the lines were gray, and the trial was complicated.

Emily defended a woman charged with attacking her rapist on All Rise Season 3 Episode 18. While many victims have had similar urges to go after their attacker, is it revenge or is it justice? That's tricky, legally.

It's difficult not to empathize with Darlene. Dr. Vasquez, her boss, was acquitted of raping her, so she decided to take vengeance into her own hands.

Darlene: I needed to show him he couldn’t get away with what he did to me, no matter what the jury said. I don’t trust juries.

Emily: You’ll have to move past that.

_{🔗 permalink: You’ll have to move past that.}

I'm surprised Emily didn't use the insanity plea, especially since Darlene struggled with reality. She thought Emily would have her out of jail in time to attend a Dodgers game with her boyfriend. She didn't grasp how severe this crime was and that she was the one on trial.

The legendary Lou Diamond Phillips directed "Pretty Ugly," and he had his work cut out for him during those court scenes.

Dr. Vasquez (played by Victor Webster) appeared charming, and anyone would believe him, which hurt Darlene's case as he showed the court that his hand trembled so severely from the brain damage that he couldn't practice medicine anymore.

Combining his charm and Maggie's unique techniques worked toward the prosecution's side. We've never seen a live demonstration of an attack in court before with a melon.

When Maggie gets these ideas, I wish DA Bravo would have appointed her the Head District DA. She's creative and dedicated to her job.

Emily Lopez always fought for her clients, so it should come as no surprise that she toed the line, insinuating that Dr. Vasquez took advantage of Darlene while she worked there.

Dr. Vasquez maintained that he kept it professional but that Darlene was so easy to confide in. He also played right into her hand when he insisted nothing ever happened, allowing her to clarify if that included anything intimate.

Well played, Emily. She may have overstepped, as the doctor then made Darlene sound crazy.

Emily: Dr. Vasquez, I’m having a hard time understanding why Ms. Schmidt, who you just said was so easy to talk to, suddenly smashed your head with a tire iron!

Dr. Vasquez: You’d have to ask her.

Emily: I didn’t have to. She told hospital staff that you violated her.

Maggie: 402! 402!

Emily: Violate could mean many things.

_{🔗 permalink: Violate could mean many things.}

In all honesty, as things got heated, the person I felt the most sympathy for was Dr. Vasquez's wife. All these ugly truths were coming out that no one could protect her from anymore.

In many ways, it seemed like this case pitted Maggie against Emily, but it was more than that. It questioned whether the jury, knowing why Darlene attacked Dr. Vasquez, would soften them.

Judge Delgado: The jury already heard it. You can’t unring that bell.

Judge Benner: But you can stop pulling on the rope. It already looks like the prosecution is hiding something.

_{🔗 permalink: But you can stop pulling on the rope. It already looks like the prosecution is hiding…}

It also made Lola question if attractive people have an unfair advantage and unattractive people must work harder to be accepted.

That's what happened to Darlene. She was constantly teased for never having a prom date or told that she should join the convent. So, when Dr. Vasquez paid attention to her and kissed her, at first, she welcomed the attention.

Then she feared he was using her, so she pushed him away, but he raped her. When no one believed her, she lost faith in the system.

It almost seemed like Emily changed her mind and went for an insanity plea because Darlene almost hung herself on the stand when she broke down, insisting that she and Dr. Vasquez had a special relationship, making it sound more like a crime of passion.

There was a crime, but it wasn't passionate. When Dr. Vasquez confronted Darlene about his car, he taunted her that no one would ever believe her about the rape because she was so ugly, not knowing there was a witness.

That statement haunts women and victims everywhere. It should not matter who you are.

It just seems wrong that the courts can't retry him, and Darlene has to go to prison for voluntary manslaughter.

The more entrenched Mark gets with the Russian mob, the more I think DA Bravo made the wrong decision. Mark Callan is one of my favorite characters, and in better circumstances, he'd make a terrific Head Deputy Attorney.

However, it was apparent early on that the Russians ordered him to throw that DUI that Teddy was working on. Mark grew even more anxious when he learned that Luke was defending Anna, the driver.

That's when all his friends grew suspicious since he pulled Teddy off the case and barged into court — a move he recently lectured DA Bravo about.

If that wasn't bad enough, he announced the prosecution didn't have evidence to move forward, forcing the court to dismiss the case. This made his two closest friends, Luke and Lola, very suspicious. It's only a matter of time before they demand answers.

While I loved that Mark would do anything to protect his father, I still wish that Vic and Mark were bonding over something as mundane as the wedding.

Vic: I can take care of myself. I always do.

Mark: But you’re here now with us. So, why don’t you come inside and help me and Amy make dinner?

_{🔗 permalink: But you’re here now with us. So, why don’t you come inside and help me and Amy make dinner?}

After all the years they were estranged, it would have been nice actually to see a family dinner where they discussed the wedding plans. To relive the Callan men's estrangement, watch All Rise online.

I'm afraid Mark is in over his head, and he hasn't told anyone the truth. Keeping secrets from Amy has never worked previously.

Amy or Lola could help him before anyone gets in any real danger.

Sherri also experienced some family drama, but hers added some comic relief.

After living apart from her family for so long, she didn't need to see her dad sunbathing practically naked in her backyard or dying his hair, trying to court back her mother.

The only good thing about her dad was he actually liked living with her and had come to appreciate her, which he mentioned to Sherri's mom.

Sherri's next big problem — getting her parents into a guest house nearby but out of her space.

"Pretty Ugly" really affected me because it made me think about what Lola referenced.

Do attractive women have an easier time, and men think they can take advantage of unattractive ones, believing that no one will believe them?

That's a horrifying thought, and it's even more alarming that Darlene paid for her crime.

Dr. Vasquez is still walking around scott-free. The only justice was his wife heard what a scumbag he was.

TV’s Badass and Inspirational Women

Open List

Over to you, All Risers. What were your thoughts about this episode? What would you like to see in All Rise's final episodes?

Did Emily cross a line during the trial? Is Mark in over his head dealing with the Russian mob?

We'd love to hear your opinion, so let us know in the comments.

The post All Rise Season 3 Episode 18 Review: Pretty Ugly appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Emily brings her client, Darlene, a suit for trial. The poor woman looks drained and frustrated. She hit Dr. Vasquez's car with a tire iron, and when he confronted her, she swung at him. She can't forget that he never paid for raping her.

She's convinced she's getting out soon, but Emily needs her help so they can reduce the charges from premeditated attempted murder to manslaughter. It'll be complicated since Lola made a 402 ruling, and they can't mention the rape trial.

Maggie is representing the plastic surgeon, who asks if he should tell her what to improve as Sara tries not to laugh.

Mark gets more demands from the mob and gets nervous as Teddy tells him about a DUI they're handling.

Maggie questions Dr. Vasquez on the stand and learns he can't practice anymore because his hand still shakes from how hard Darlene struck his head. She demonstrates with a melon.

Amy tries to talk to Mark, but he's distracted and becomes more so when he realizes Luke is defending Anna, the woman with the DUI.

Emily questions Dr. Vasquez about what kind of relationship he had with Darlene. When he maintains it was professional, but she was easy to confide in, she wonders why Darlene bashed his head in.

Emily very carefully brought up that Darlene told the hospital that she was violated, and he maintained his innocence.

Horrified, Lola calls both lawyers to her chambers. Maggie is angry Emily got away with that,  but Lola reminds her she had some leeway, too, with attacking the melon. Emily thinks the court needs to hear more about her client's mindset.

Judge Benner and Judge Delgado arrive at the HOJ, and Lola asks for their opinion. Neither is very helpful since Judge Delgado agrees with Emily, and Judge Benner sides with Maggie.

Sherri gets a phone call from a neighbor and has to rush to check on her dad, who's sunbathing naked in the yard. He's focused on looking younger, hoping it'll impress her mom into returning.

Luke wants to take Emily out for a romantic dinner, but she's exhausted and would prefer take-out at home.

Mark stops Teddy from taking the DUI case and does it himself. He surprises everyone when he says they don't have enough to proceed, and Judge Delgado is forced to dismiss the case.

While not happy, Lola has decided the rape may stay in, but they're focused more on Darlene's state of mind. Emily focuses on Darlene and Dr. Vasquez's relationship and how Darlene felt used because he needed her, but he insulted her, too.

He made her feel pathetic, which was why she vandalized his car. The more she talks, the more it hurts her case, making it sound like a crime of passion, and Lola calls for a recess.

Sherri's mom arrives and realizes Sherri lied and her dad is still taking his meds. Sherri just needed her parents to talk, but they were stressing her out.

Maggie questioned Darlene about how closely she worked with Dr. Vaquez. She wonders if Darlene wanted him to witness her vandalizing his car. When she replayed the video, it appeared that Darlene looked at someone before attacking the doctor.

That video haunts Emily, and Luke helps her find clues in it on their date. They realize it's Darlene's boyfriend, Larry.

Mark and Amy return home to find Vic waiting for them. Once they're alone, Vic warns Mark he's in deep with the Russians, but Mark is glad that Vic is safe.

At court the next day, Darlene is worried when she sees Larry, who tells them it was his idea to vandalize Dr. Vaquez's car, but he chickened out. While watching him confront Darlene, he emotionally admits he heard Dr. Vasquez say that Darlene was too ugly for anyone to believe he raped her.

Larry was horrified, but he still had to admit Darlene wasn't in immediate danger. The jury found Darlene guilty of voluntary manslaughter, and Lola was traumatized by possibly sending a victim to jail.

Lisa understood, but she missed the chaos of trials. Mark returned home to find another message from the Russian mob.

The post All Rise Season 3 Episode 18 Recap: Pretty Ugly appeared first on TV Fanatic.

While parts of "I Will Not Go Quietly" seemed political, other parts touched my heart.

It was challenging to watch Mia's choices be prosecuted on All Rise Season 3 Episode 17 just because she made the right choice, and Amy and Ness were ideal attorneys for her.

I want to think that the United States has evolved by the 21st century, so we're not chasing young women out of clinics for getting an abortion.

Ness: Aiding and abetting. Abortion is a felony. What a world in the 21st century.

_{🔗 permalink: Aiding and abetting. Abortion is a felony. What a world in the 21st century.}

I'm still unsure why Mia was being held in a California jail since the abortion occurred in Texas, but luck may have been on her side when she met Amy, Ness, and Lola.

Mia shouldn't have used a fake ID, but she was terrified. She was just getting started in her life, and it was the only way to obtain an abortion.

It's difficult not to feel some empathy for her since she felt like her fundamental rights and her voice were taken away.

Amy: We get it. Losing these basic rights is destroying women all over our country.

_{🔗 permalink: We get it. Losing these basic rights is destroying women all over our country.}

It would have been too easy for DA Bravo's new policy to allow Lola to let Mia go and squash the warrant. While I wanted that to happen, I expected a Texas DA to show up.

I didn't expect her to throw the book at Mia or throw insults at Lola, Ness, and Amy. DA Karen Conway Ketchum was so sure of herself that it hurt her case.

The more DA Ketchum insulted Lola's authority, the more inclined Lola seemed to want to help Amy and Ness delay this case and keep Mia in California.

I've never seen Lola show overt favoritism before, but it bothered her that someday her daughter could be in that predicament, and she wanted to prevent that.

It didn't seem fair that Mia be punished for going to a licensed doctor for abortion versus the women who cross the border to find abortion drugs. But that didn't phase DA Ketchum.

Ness and Amy could only delay things by asking for a 12-75 and asking that Texas provide Mia's authentic birth certificate to prove her citizenship.

Abortion is such a tricky topic to discuss. I've leaned more pro-life because my birth mother chose to give me up for adoption versus abort me,

However, I have empathy for women who get pregnant unexpectedly, especially if they were victims of rape, and I think they should be given a choice.

That's what Mia's case was about allowing her that freedom of choice.

Amy and Ness had hoped to reach DA Ketchum that way when she confided she had been pregnant as a teen, but she refused to back down since her son was her pride and joy.

Amy: You must be so proud, and you’re obviously a strong woman. But you had a choice under your law. Mia doesn’t.

Ness: And you weren’t facing prison for your choice.

_{🔗 permalink: And you weren’t facing prison for your choice.}

DA Ketchum was so sure in her beliefs that she never took the time to research the California laws or DA Bravo's new policies on bail.

In her eyes, letting Mia free was a crime, not a victory.

It was an empty victory for Mia, too, since she still couldn't return home to Texas with an outstanding warrant and their abortion laws there.

Things are bound to get worse before they get better now that DA Ketchum announced her candidacy for Congress.

While DA Bravo's new policies helped Mia, they destroyed his career because a robber got back out on the streets and murdered a  philanthropist. To review his new policies, watch All Rise online.

With his back against the wall, he decided to try the case himself, upsetting everyone involved.

Emily: Your Honor, given that district attorney Bravo is a well-known public figure, the defense objects to his presence in court as it may greatly influence the jury.

Mark: Sir, I’ve got this.

Judge Marshall: Mr. Bravo, while I’m deciding whether to kick you out of my courtroom, what do we owe the pleasure?

DA Bravo: Your Honor, I’m here to try this defendant for the murder of Reba McCallister.

Judge Marshall: Who says Mondays are boring? Let’s bring in the jury.

_{🔗 permalink: Who says Mondays are boring? Let’s bring in the jury.}

DA Bravo may have overreached by combining a burglary and a murder charge.

He was so convinced that he could prove that Dante planned to commit robbery and shot Reba McCallister in the chest when she surprised him that DA overlooked vital evidence.

DA Bravo: Boy, did it feel good to be back in the courtroom. I think I have that jury, Callan.

Mark: I’m sure glad you’re enjoying my job, Sir. But if you made me Head Deputy DA so you can pull me out of a courtroom and put me behind a desk, I will resign right now.

_{🔗 permalink: I’m sure glad you’re enjoying my job, Sir. But if you made me Head Deputy DA so you can pull…}

Emily found a technicality since there were no permits to convert the garage into a guest house, and no one lived there; it wasn't a residential burglary.

Emily: What is ridiculous is could have only tried my client with felony murder, but you didn’t. You wanted to put him away for life to save your job, so you went for a special circumstance only you screwed up, only you screwed up with the underlying felony.

_{🔗 permalink: What is ridiculous is could have only tried my client with felony murder, but you didn’t. You…}

DA Bravo learned some important lessons during this trial, like he had to depend on his prosecutors and appreciate them. While Mark was being pushed aside, he came through with the evidence they needed to win the case.

While this was a serious murder case, it was apparent that Ian Anthony Dale and Wilson Bethel had so much fun with the scenes of their characters opening up about their lives.

It was inspiring to learn why DA Bravo became a prosecutor, and it was amusing seeing what Mark went through now that Amy wants to start a family. It cemented an even stronger friendship.

Speaking of friendship, Rachel returned and was hurt when she learned that Lola and Andre had kissed.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I was impressed by how mature she handled the news. Usually, Rachel and Lola's friendship grates on my nerves since they seem so juvenile, competing over a man. It reminded me of high school.

But Rachel had chosen not to see Andre because she valued Lola's friendship more. No wonder she felt betrayed.

Rachel: I was developing feelings for Dre.

Lola: I know.

Rachel: It’s why I was distant on your birthday. It’s why I stayed away after you asked me to step back because I’m loyal to you and not some man.

_{🔗 permalink: It’s why I was distant on your birthday. It’s why I stayed away after you asked me to step…}

The girl code was so messy here. Initially, part of me thought Rachel should have left Andre alone, but he was a college boyfriend, and Lola should have been over him.

Simone Missick has killed these emotional scenes dealing with the fallout of her kiss with Andre, but I hope we're done with it. She's taken responsibility for it.

Rachel: Dre doesn’t owe me anything, but you are my best friend. We’re family. Next time, Lo, call me first.

Lola: Girl, there is not going to be a next time.

_{🔗 permalink: Girl, there is not going to be a next time.}

I'm also relieved that Rachel decided not to merge Audubon, Quinn, and Associates with Andre's firm.

I prefer their smaller firm, and maybe we can eliminate him.

Girl power rocks, and how much fun was it seeing them ending the day just celebrating life?

That cliffhanger was surprising. With DA Ketchum running for Congress, does that mean we haven't heard the last of her and her pro-life stance?

Abortion is probably the most controversial platform to run on. I'm unsure if All Rise needed another political storyline in its final episodes.

Over to you, All Risers. What was your take on this episode?

TV’s Badass and Inspirational Women

Open List

Are you enjoying that the series has covered so many topical issues, or has it been too much?

Did you enjoy seeing DA Bravo and Mark in action together? Were you happy to see Rachel again?

We love to hear feedback, so let us know in the comments below.

The post All Rise Season 3 Episode 17 Review: I Will Not Go Quietly appeared first on TV Fanatic.

These cases have touched our hearts and encouraged discussions among friends since most topics have been topical and relatable.

Spoilers for All Rise Season 3 Episode 17 tease an emotional and controversial episode with two surprising cases. Amy and Ness defend a woman's fundamental rights in one, and DA Bravo is back in the courtroom to prosecute a murderer.

Women's Rights at Risk

Abortion has been controversial for years and is still a political issue in the 21st century.

No matter how you feel, this episode will touch you since it was hard to watch a young woman being forced to leave a clinic before she was healed because someone reported her.

Even though the young woman, Mia, had an abortion in Texas, she sought refuge in California. However, she was still arrested for using a fake ID since abortions were illegal in Texas.

Amy and Ness assumed they could use DA Bravo's new policy and get their client released quickly since it didn't happen in their jurisdiction and violated her rights. Still, the Texas DA was out for blood since she believed abortion was a felony.

This case will touch you as Ness and Amy fight for Mia and all women who actually go to a clinic versus trying to do an unsafe abortion themselves. Why are they still punished when trying to make a safe and responsible choice?

This case is about making the right choice, and it gets ugly at times, with the Texas DA and Ness throwing insults at each other.

The Texas DA was so sure of herself and her pro-life values that she didn't check the California laws, so it's amusing to watch her battle with Ness, Amy, and Lola, even though it's a serious topic.

Bravo's Last Chance

While DA Bravo's new protocols that he set on All Rise Season 3 Episode 16 might help Mia, they are hurting him. The no-cash bail policy for less severe crimes let a robber out of jail, and he murdered a local philanthropist.

With DA Bravo's career on the line, he tries the case himself, which upsets Mark and Emily. Since Mark had just been promoted to Head Deputy DA, he looked forward to prosecuting this murder trial and felt DA Bravo had taken it away.

Despite the tension between their characters, Wilson Bethel spoke about this case in his last interview with TV Fanatic.

"We just finished shooting an episode where Mark teams up with DA Bravo to prosecute a case, so that's exciting getting again to work in different capacities with some of our great guests in that case with Ian Anthony Dale."

Initially, DA Bravo alienates everyone, but when his back is against the wall, and Emily finds a key point of evidence that could help the defense, he learns the importance of teamwork.

Throughout the seriousness of the case, he opens up about his past history. This is a massive case for him and Mark, both professionally and personally.

Making a Baby

Amidst their work stress, Amy decides she's ready to start a family with Mark.

If you thought that meant lots more sexy time, you're only half right.

She wants them both to get a full workup, which proves complicated and hilarious, with Mark being so busy with the murder trial.

Amy was so against having a family in All Rise Season 3 Episode 2, but she's been dropping more hints lately. Will she be pregnant by the wedding and the series finale?

Rachel's Back

Rachel returns for the first time since All Rise Season 3 Episode 8. I'm probably in the minority, but I didn't miss her that much.

The way she and Lola battled over Andre felt juvenile to me. However, Rachel had genuine feelings for him, so will her friendship with Lola survive once she learns Lola and Andre kissed that night in the HOJ?

It's hard to come back from, not so much from Andre, but from Lola, whom she trusted as a sister.

Maybe this will be the thing that breaks the camel's back, and we won't have to see Andre anymore. Rachel initially came into town to merge Audubon and Quinn with Andre's law firm. Hopefully, she'll decide it's too awkward.

"I Will Not Go Quietly" airs on Saturday, October 28, on OWN at 9/8c. Check back here after the episode airs to read our review.

In the meantime, let us know in the comments what you're looking forward to seeing in this episode.

The post All Rise Season 3 Episode 17 Spoilers: Women’s Rights at Risk appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Then it flashes back to three months ago when a young woman, Mia, is being told to leave a clinic in Texas because someone reported her getting an abortion, and the doctor was arrested. The nurse is kind but hands her clothes and medicine and rushes her out.

In the present day, Mark is stressed because DA Bravo keeps second-guessing everything. Amy suggests sexy time and that they make a baby. She meant they get checked out to ensure everything is in working order.

The city blames DA Bravo for Reba McCallister's murder since his new policy let her attacker out of jail for robbery. Her husband, George, is having a rough time, and Sara tries to keep the press away.

Emily is defending Dante, who is convinced everyone already thinks he's guilty. No one looks thrilled when DA Bravo walks into the courtroom, but after he pleads his case, Judge Marshall agrees to let him prosecute the case.

Rachel is coming into town to merge Audubon and Quinn with Andre's firm. She agrees to meet Lola for dinner.

Amy and Ness meet with Mia, who says she hasn't done anything wrong. She needed an abortion because she just started nursing school, and she used a fake ID because she was scared.

Amy and Ness feel for her, and they feel confident that they could get her released with DA Bravo's new policy. Lola also had compassion for Mia, and she was ready to release her when the Texas DA, Karen Conway Ketchum, arrived to bring Mia home.

DA Bravo tells the court how Dante entered the McCallisters intending the rob them. He only encountered Reba, so he shot her three times with a 9mm.

In the abortion case, Ness testified that Mia went to the clinic instead of buying drugs and trying to do an abortion herself, and she's still being punished. The Texas DA isn't phased and only cares if it's the right person.

In order to delay things, Amy and Ness ask for Mia's original birth certificate to prove identification, and Lola agrees before adjourning court.

Dante is frustrated, and so is Emily when Luke walks by. They take a break, and Emily thinks DA Bravo wants the attention. She's annoyed he wouldn't consider the plea offer.

Amy and Ness are discussing the case when Rachel arrives. Neither seems thrilled about the upcoming merger.

DA Bravo seems happy with the progress in court, but Mark is upset about being sidelined, which he details to Lola. She's just as upset to be still fighting for women's rights. She's also nervous about seeing Rachel.

Rachel is hurt that Lola kissed Andre, especially since she's kept her distance from him since their friendship was more important.

Amy and Ness meet with DA Ketchum, who won't budge, even though she admits she was also pregnant in high school. She values life too much, even though Ness tries to get her to see it's about choice.

Dante wonders why DA Bravo has it out for him and begs Emily not to have him spend the rest of his life behind bars. She tries to approach a plea. Mark listens, but DA Bravo isn't interested.

When George testifies, Emily realizes something is off and asks for a recess. Originally, she thinks it's her fault, but then sees DA Bravo made an error.

Emily points out in court that robberies can't take place in converted garages. Someone needs to reside there, and Bravo tacked on a residential burglary to the murder charge. She almost has him, but Mark has crime scene photos showing how they attached the guest house to the main one with a covered path.

DA Bravo realizes he needs Mark. He also finds Mark's sperm in a bag, and the two men have a good laugh as they share some personal stories.

DA Ketchum realizes she doesn't know California law when Amy and Ness call a 12-75 hearing, and then Lola releases Mia. Mia still can't return to Texas, though.

Amy, Lola, Rachel, Ness, and Sherri get drinks. Rachel decided not to merge the firms.

DA Ketchum decided to use her platform and run for Congress. Judge Marshall thanked Lola for what she did. He has two daughters.

The post All Rise Season 3 Episode 17 Recap: I Will Not Go Quietly appeared first on TV Fanatic.

During All Rise Season 3 Episode 16, Ness tried her first big case, and DA Bravo announced the next Head Deputy DA.

Ness passed the bar exam ages ago, so seeing her go head-to-head against the district attorneys would have been entertaining to see earlier in the season, too. Let's discuss how she managed her first big case.

Social media influencers make challenging clients. Mark and Sara learned that in All Rise Season 3 Episode 2, and it took many arguments to teach Gigi to become authentic and not care about upsetting her fans.

Now, it was Ness's turn to defend a social media influencer, and she was not happy since her client had been accused of second-degree murder and poisoning customers. 

Ness: I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, but now that it’s here, it feels slightly off.

Luke: I get it. I had a hard time reconciling and defending people who had done bad things. But somewhere along the way, I realized everyone has good in them. Sometimes, you have to search harder to find it.

Ness: Look at you, sounding like Oprah.

_{🔗 permalink: Look at you, sounding like Oprah.}

Camilla Kahlo had everyone fooled for a while. She seemed like a bubbly yoga instructor who cared about her clients, but the truth came out.

Her products were contaminated, and she never stopped selling them, even after she received a court order.

In addition, Cailla's boyfriend followed her everywhere with his video camera and the trial was televised, making Ness even more nervous about succeeding at her first trial.

Ness: I’m a decent poker player.

Sherri: You’re going to be an even better lawyer. You got this.

_{🔗 permalink: You’re going to be an even better lawyer. You got this.}

Ness tried to remain confident, but she had a client who didn't care about the consequences and witnesses who backed that up. It was a losing battle versus the dream team of Maggie Palmer and Teddy.

Since Camilla used to be an actress, she thought she could rectify all the ugly things the witness said about her.

Camila: I’m paying you $500 an hour. This isn’t a request.

Amy: You’re paying us a lot of money because we know what we’re doing.

Camilla: Like I said, I’m not asking.

_{🔗 permalink: Like I said, I’m not asking.}

Camilla thought she could spin a tale where she doesn't deal with the products herself. She kept saying she no longer lived for success but to help others. Little did she know that Teddy was researching her past roles.

Teddy Biswas was so creative in court because he threw back every quote she said from her past movies and proved what a fake Camilla was. Teddy has proved his worth as a second chair, and hopefully, we'll see him in court again shortly.

This trial was just another acting role to her, and even the jury recognized that.

While I would have loved to see Ness win her first case, this wasn't the case.

Maggie and Teddy had too much evidence stacked against Camilla, and allowing every meeting to be recorded worked against Camilla, making her sound like a fraud.

Ness was kinder than I would have been when her client fell apart, only encouraging her client to be more authentic.

The ruling seemed fair. Camilla didn't commit murder, but the poisoning charge should stick.

Andre appears as a stalker. He constantly texted her and showed up at her chambers during an interview.

Sherri: Do you want to let him down easy?

Lola: It doesn’t need to be easy. I just need him out of my life.

Sherri: Brutal. I like it.

_{🔗 permalink: Brutal. I like it.}

I'm still suspicious that he leaked those fake photos in All Rise Season 3 Episode 15 to cause more problems for her and Robin.

It sounds like something he'd do since Andre didn't accept that Lola wanted closure by meeting in person and instead thought she was flirting with him.

Lola insisted she was happily married and in love with Robin, but will Andre finally get the message? He's still involved at Audubon, Quinn, and Associates, and now he recruited Luke to join them. He'd still see her if he was involved with Lola's friends.

It made no sense that Andre recruited Luke. Like Emily, Luke has always been happier embracing restorative justice and giving others a chance, making him the ideal candidate for the PD.

Additionally, Mark didn't trust Andre, partly because of his indiscretion with Lola. Unfortunately, Mark opened his big mouth and mentioned Andre's offer to Emily, who had no idea the two men talked, and it only made her feel more insecure.

Emily felt the awkwardness in her and Luke's relationship since she announced she didn't want kids. She let her anxiety get the better of her, feared the relationship was over, and stormed in to confront an unsuspecting Luke.

Luke: Having kids does matter to me, but you matter to me more.

Emily: Really?

Luke: Yes. The thing that matters to me the most is that we’re together.

_{🔗 permalink: Yes. The thing that matters to me the most is that we’re together.}

While I'm thrilled they reconciled so quickly, they need to communicate better. They're such a fun couple and deserve their happy ending, too.

It's lovely to see DA Bravo around more in the second half of All Rise Season 3. I had missed Ian Anthony Dale on television since The Resident ended.

I always wondered when DA Bravo put Mark in charge of naming DA Choi's replacement if he wanted Mark as the next Head Deputy DA. It's a shame that he, Mark, and Maggie didn't talk honestly about it beforehand.

Mark: Where is this decision coming from:

DA Bravo: I gave you the opportunity to fill this role or find a qualified candidate who could. You didn’t, so I chose for you.

_{🔗 permalink: I gave you the opportunity to fill this role or find a qualified candidate who could. You…}

The decision hurt Maggie; she was sure she would be next in line. She's a fierce attorney and deserved her chance, though I'm unsure if DA Bravo selected Mark because of gender bias.

Mark will be a wonderful DDA. Unfortunately, he's not more excited, and his dad's visit came at such a terrible time.

Vic's been sending Mark urgent texts since All Rise Season 3 Episode 14, so Mark and Amy were suspicious when he unexpectedly showed up on their doorstep.

Amy has tried to broker peace between the Callan men since All Rise Season 1, and she met with Vic privately, offering to help, but begged him not to mess up Mark's new promotion.

Most importantly, she cared about Mark's peace of mind but also wanted to forge family relations with her future father-in-law.

To relive all the Callan family drama, you can watch All Rise online.

What a cliffhanger. That was exactly what Amy didn't want — Vic messing up Mark's promotion.

What will Mark do? Despite their estrangement, he cares for his father and doesn't want him harmed.

However, involving the Russian mob could hinder his new job and other loved ones.

This is a new dramatic factor for All Rise, and I'm excited to see where it goes.

TV’s Badass and Inspirational Women

Open List

Over to you, All Risers. What were your favorite parts of "Passionfruit"?

Were you surprised that Mark is the new Head Deputy DA? How do you think Ness did with her first case?

Comment below.

The post All Rise Season 3 Episode 16 Review: Passionfruit appeared first on TV Fanatic.