Review: Drop Dead Diva – Do Over

Traveling in the Land of Oz

Following the theme of “The Wizard of Oz,” last week’s episode felt like Deb was Dorothy appearing before the Wizard and pulling back the curtain to find it was all a sham. For Deb had just found that she had to re-try a case that Jane had previously tried and won, and it was proving to be a bit trickier than Deb anticipated — particularly when one of the star witnesses suddenly recounted his earlier testimony. It was only through employing a bit of wizardry herself that she was able to save the day. Fortunately, her dream/nightmare had shown her that she needed to rely on her own strengths as Deb in order to truly be the advocate that her (Jane’s) client needed. The game show theme was to remind her that a bit of showmanship can be useful in persuading a jury (and a lying witness) that justice will come through in the end.

The cold legal theory that the old-Jane had posited to the judge (fabulously played by Rosie O’Donnell) was that the “system is about due process, if you want fair, you should go to a fairground.” Yet that cynical viewpoint was shown only to be true if you were not willing to do whatever it took to win your case. Deb’s indignation over the injustice of a perjuring witness in the face of a family about to be kicked-out of their home, was just the motivator she needed to push her into doing everything she could to ensure she won her case. Even if it meant getting her best friend to pose as a potential customer to get him to agree to break the law to meet her demands and thereby putting the noose around his own neck.

In a parallel case, it was actually cool to see Kim and Grayson take on a therapist who was hired to eradicate a second personality out of woman’s husband, but who extinguished the wrong one. The alternate theories of malpractice turned wrongful death was inventive and funny to watch.

It also gently hinted at the possibility of Grayson one day realizing that Jane is exhibiting signs of Deb’s personality. It is rather cool to see all of Deb’s personality traits slowly tickling at his brain as if to nudge him in the right direction. Perhaps we do really fall in love with another person’s soul.

WHAT WORKED:

In a funny bit of physical comedy, it was adorable watching Fred first catching sight of Stacy and falling in love at first sight; and we were just a bit crushed watching him struggle to understand why she would not be in his league. It further tugged at the heart-strings to watch Jane try to explain to him that he was “in a league of his own” and Fred forlornly responding, “I’m new here. You’ll have to be my guardian angel too.”

On another note, it was cheer-worthy to watch Stacy overcome her audition fears and embrace the challenge of playing a role to help Deb win her case. Stacy may be a bit shallow, but she does seem willing to help out a friend in a pinch.

It was also comical watching Deb realize that Stacy could be seen at any moment by Grayson at her office, when she exclaimed, “Grayson didn’t see you, did he?!” Just the thought of explaining how “Jane” knows Stacy is hard to envision, but I am sure it will be priceless when it happens.

Then the final “aaah” factor was at the end of the episode and seeing that Grayson had found Deb’s obituary notice without her photo and had submitted the photo that Deb had liked from his office for the re-print. That was particularly touching.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK:

I still find it calloused and annoying that Kim is so openly pursuing Grayson. For even Grayson called her on it by saying, “I lost Deb less than a month ago. I don’t want to be manipulated right now.” It feels too soon and rather appalling that she would blatantly hit on a man still grieving for his lost love.

GIVING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE:

“Drop Dead Diva: Do Over” was written by Alex Taub and directed by Michael Lange. “Drop Dead Diva” stars Brooke Elliott, Brooke D’Orsey, Apil Bowlby, Ben Feldman, Margaret Cho, Jackson Hurst, Josh Stamberg, and Kate Levering. “Drop Dead Diva” airs Sundays on Lifetime Television.