Reasonable Doubt: Season 3 Episode 6 – Recap and Review

As the prosecution comes to a rest, with a new attorney, we’re also forced to suffer through non-Jax-related storylines, which can make you glad this didn’t come out in the ’90s, and you can fast-forward.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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Episode 6 “No Church In The Wild” Details

Episode 6 “No Church In The Wild” Storylines/ Recap

Splinters In The Family: Lewis, Eddie, Mama Lu, Jax, Terrance, Leon, Patricia, Sally, Bill, Kendra, Daniel

Lewis continues to stalk and question if something is up with Eddie. But after Eddie wins over Lewis’ parents, Patricia and Leon, he is willing to let go and accept Jax, Mama Lu, and Terrance, all like Eddie, think he has changed, and he should let it go. But then Daniel reveals something, and just as Lewis has that ammunition loaded and he is ready to confront Eddie, so comes the reveal that he is holding the secret of Mama Lu having cancer – thus derailing all he was about to go into.

But, as Eddie reveals to Jax and Lewis that Mama Lu has cancer, Sally and Bill are messing around. Now, how did that happen? Well, Bill happens to go to the same restaurant where Jax and Sally are having dinner, and with Kendra talking about a divorce lawyer and Sally handing her husband divorce papers, both are single. On top of that, Sally likes Bill, is frisky, and not above going through Jax’s phone to get Bill’s number to meet up and get her back broken in.

A Formidable Opponent: Mike, Jax, Bill, Stephen, Vince, Kristin, Daniel, Alex, Lincoln, Krystal

It seems that ass whipping in court in the last episode has led Chad to remove himself from the case and take a break to focus on his mental health. Substituting in is Mike Ortiz, and with Kristin on the stand, he shows himself not to be blindly ambitious and easy to play like Chad.

After feeling like she failed on the witness stand, Daniel goes to comfort Kristin, which Krystal saw, and later Daniel follows her to discover her talking with a journalist named Lincoln, known for his in-depth exposé-type books. Now, why was Kristin speaking with him? Hard to say, but with knowing Lincoln is seeking details, from a man, Alex returns briefly with Wendy in a video, seemingly ready to do something which might be a kink.

As that goes on, Jax finds herself not only having to worry about Mike, Kristin, and maybe even Alex still, but also Bill. With preparing for a larger firm to possibly buy them out, Vince and Stephen are hoping for more consistent updates on Jax, and Bill is more than ready to give them what they want to know, while gaslighting Jax after she picks up something is off during the check-in meetings.

Reasonable Doubt: Monica, Jax, Ozzie, Mike

While Kristin bombs on the stand, Monica is a different case. Jax wants to expose her, use her to seed doubt in the jury, and after hemming and hawing about the idea, Ozzie gives his blessing, and Monica falls for the trap. She reveals she has had an intimate relationship with Ozzie since he became her client at 13. Jax has a text message presented, which makes it seem Monica was jealous of Wendy, and Monica is pretty much eviscerated. Mike can’t even try to put a spin on this.

Naturally, when the day is over, Monica is ready to curse up a storm regarding Jax, plead with Ozzie, but Ozzie wants no parts of her and fires her. Leaving you to wonder, between her and Alex, separately or together, could they be a problem?

Review and Commentary

Highlights

The Threat Monica and Alex Present [86/100]

As shown by Ozzie’s birthday party in the episode, the boy likes to party, and as shown by past witnesses in his case, he also has a bit of a reputation. One that, between Monica and Alex, they could expose a lot and as much as Jax is pushing he is an addict, he was abused, she is still battling the court of public opinion and there is nothing the world loves more than the fall of a Hollywood star, and add in them being Black (see: Will Smith) and they will bite at that like starving piranhas.

So, with that in mind, and how Jax did both dirty, in a public forum, not only ending their careers but exposing them, you have to wonder what the retribution will be.

Bill Playing Both Sides – And Going For A Bonus Round [83/100]

I can fully imagine Bill being the type of character who gets everything he wants, and because of the path he took to get there, all the sacrifices, he ends up miserable. Between putting his marriage to the side, his kids, screwing over Jax, and then messing around with Sally? It seems he wants the burden of having it all, and I think we often see the struggle women, Jax, for example, have with trying to achieve that, and we may get a gender swap of that storyline through Bill.

Mike and The Case Being Harder Now For Jax [85/100]

Chad was just plain ole terrible, and thankfully, that seems to have been by design. So, losing him and getting Mike now makes the court case interesting. Jax needs a challenge; she damn near gets off on it, and Mike is one of her favorite rivals, and they keep each other sharp. Plus, with the prosecution resting by the end of the episode, Mike really gets a chance to go on the offense as he comes in fresh and ready to potentially take down Ozzie’s defense to make it seem like he didn’t kill Wendy.

On The Fence

Not Getting Public Perception More Of Ozzie’s Case [77/100]

One of Jax’s main things early on was the court of public opinion, but we’re not seeing the same push that Shanelle got, in terms of interviews or even Jax being front and center like Corey was. I’m not completely against this, since the show is focusing on other things which are entertaining, but I do feel that Ozzie, the character, has slowly but surely moved to the back burner.

Before, we were getting a masterful performance, one that seemed like we’d be manipulated by Ozzie’s charm and get really pushed to wonder whether or not he killed Wendy. Yet, instead, what we got is someone who seems so drained, so beaten down, and while he may have turnt up for his birthday, next thing we know, he’s back to just offsetting everything to Jax to handle. Almost as if, with the end of things with Monica and his parents as his managers, he is slowly but surely trying to give Jax the reins, and she doesn’t realize she is the captain now.

Storylines Where Jax Isn’t Front And Center [73/100]

I’d rather Lewis focus on his work drama, like the Sam storyline. The vendetta against Eddie thankfully ended, but now with whatever Daniel found, and whatever Eddie was hiding, that may lead to more altercations that, honestly, are falling flat. To me, Eddie is just a lukewarm character and feels out of place, mainly because Reasonable Doubt, as I’m starting to realize, is very topsy-turvy when it comes to how it handles its storylines.

Balance is something the show struggles to achieve. Specifically, Reasonable Doubt struggles to bring that same energy we get from Jax’s case and clients to her and the rest of the characters’ personal lives. Jax’s children? Probably the worst thing about the show. Her parents? Entertaining in bite-sized moments, but while Mama Lu is good at getting in and getting out, Eddie hasn’t found that groove yet, and with us being three seasons in, he sticks out more like a weird mole or tumor than someone who just needs to read the room and adjust.

Then, leaving Jax’s individual life and story and going into Lewis’, Sally’s, and the others? It’s like, Reasonable Doubt isn’t bloated, like The Chi, but also, unlike The Chi, it isn’t trying to be an ensemble. This is Jax’s story featuring all these other people, but the problem is, these other people lack a hook of substance. All they have really is the drama and/or being attractive, and for most, that luster has either worn off or is wearing off quickly.

Overall

Our Overall Rating [80/100]

As Jax’s professional life, and the messiness of it all, continues to be what keeps us coming back for more, we see that her life outside of work, or what can’t connect to her job, like the healing and potential triggers from protecting Ozzie from his abuser, falter. It doesn’t leave you wanting more, since clearly the ways and people they should focus on, Shanelle, Lewis’ workplace, things like that, it wants to avoid. Instead, it throws in Sally’s divorce, despite her being the least interesting of Jax’s friends. It wants to focus on Eddie and present something nefarious going on there, which pales in comparison to everything else going on.

It’s just slowly but surely reminding me of The Chi in the struggle of trying to showcase what could be genuinely talented Black folk, in storylines that get them seen, but don’t serve them in such a way to inspire you to want to check their IMDB so you can get more.

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been writing reviews since 2010, with a focus on dramas and comedies.