The plot of the Scott Prendergast-produced CBS series “So Help Me Todd” revolves around Todd, a cunning private eye with a damaged moral compass, and his mother Margaret (Marcia Gay Harden), a straight-talking attorney going through a tumultuous marriage. He is unemployed and regarded as the bad apple of the family due to his unwillingness to obey the law. He starts working alongside his mum at her company after much nagging from his mother.
But because of their divergent outlooks on life, they frequently come to a standstill. The programme combines mother-son drama and legal comedy in a way that is both compelling and endearing, with a generous helping of fun. One of the few programmes that successfully blends two genres without sacrificing either one’s calibre is this one. Below is a selection of the few other films that we believe are worth watching. The majority of these programmes, including “So Help Me Todd,” are available on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
Ally McBeal (1997-2002)
The comedy, fantasy, and drama series “Ally McBeal,” which won two Golden Globes and an Emmy Award, follows the lives of the staff of the law firm Ally works for, Cage & Fish. Additionally, it depicts the conflict between Ally and Billy Thomas, who also works at the company but is now married. The court disputes were employed as story devices by the show’s creator, David E. Kelley, to increase the drama for the characters. ‘Ally McBeal’ shares with ‘So Help Me Todd’ the unique and occasionally embarrassing comedy.
Better Call Saul (2005-2022)
Better Call Saul, a critically acclaimed ‘Breaking Bad’ spin-off created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, is one of those cleverly written shows that keeps you going back for more, making it the ideal binge. Saul Goodman, a criminal defence lawyer, is the subject of this delightfully cinematic work of art (because everything is good, man!). It shows how he changed from being a skilled con artist and lawyer to this narcissistic individual with a nasty sense of humour. Better Call Saul and “So Help Me Todd” both skim the line between right and wrong in the legal system, albeit the latter may be a few too many colours darker.
Boston Legal (2004-2008)
The popular television series “Boston Legal,” which has received 22 Emmy nominations, centres on the lives of affluent attorneys at the Crane, Pool, and Schmidt law firm. Denny Crane and Shirley Schmidt, the two principal partners, rigorously monitor their staff while accepting the most complex and unusual situations. One of their greatest, Alan Shore (James Spader), is willing to use dishonest methods to succeed, much like Todd from “So Help Me Todd.”
Bull (2016-2022)
Dr. Bull pushes through all of his cases, bringing the jury, judges, and witnesses along with him in the direction of his convictions thanks to the strength of his keen inst inct, cutting-edge evidence, and passion for psychology. The psychologist and a trial science expert can properly forecast the behaviour of the people involved in cases and organise his defence accordingly thanks to their propensity for tapping into human psychology. Todd and Bull are quite similar to one another in terms of their keen intuition and technological knowledge.
Drop Dead Diva (2009-2014)
Josh Berman is the creator of the hilarious legal-comedy series “Drop Dead Diva,” which also has elements of fantastical fiction. After her sudden demise, a young, conceited model named Deborah (Brooke D’Orsay) wakes up in the body of an intelligent, diligent, and chubby lawyer named Jane (Brooke Elliott). Without a choice, Deb continues to live as Jane and work as a lawyer at her business, handling a backlog of cases as she gets used to her new existence. In its warm emotion, humour, and ability to keep you thinking about intriguing instances, it is comparable to “So Help Me Todd.”
Shark (2006-2008)
The fantastic television series “Shark” follows the fast-paced life of Sebastian Stark (James Woods), a brilliant attorney working for the Los Angeles District Attorney in public prosecution. He has a history of successfully representing wealthy criminals, and he employs his knowledge to protect innocent people with great swagger. His relationship with his daughter Julie is also mentioned in the show, which highlights Stark’s more vulnerable side. Shark, created by Ian Biederman, is comparable to “So Help Me Todd” in that both Stark and Todd employ unusual strategies as long as they result in a victory for the right cause.
Suits (2011-2019)
The legal drama series “Suits,” created and produced by Aaron Korsh, follows the lives of corporate lawyer Harvey Spector and his associate Mike Ross, a mnemonics prodigy and law school dropout. Despite Spector being aware of his lack of a degree, he is hired by the company. The two must maintain his secrecy as Mike practises law like any other admitted attorney.
For its wit, swagger, and compelling storyline, the series has received a tonne of praise. It is comparable to “So Help Me Todd” in that the characters exhibit unquestionable intelligence when handling legal issues. Additionally, they show the developing friendship between the main characters, which is less typical than the typical couple bubble when there are two main characters.
The Recruit (2022-)
The Recruit contains Noah Centineo’s character, Owen Hendricks, a rookie lawyer at the CIA, is drawn into the dangerous world of global power politics. He is given a case in which a former CIA asset threatens to release very sensitive information unless her demands are met. And those circumstances are rarely allowed by the law.
The producers of this well-paced spy drama with satirical plot turns are Alexi Hawley and Doug Liman. It is comparable to “So Help Me Todd” in that both of the heroes bumble and awkwardly crawl through the most trying of circumstances before rising to their feet just in time for the next one.
