This is the season of change on Franklin& Bash. In just three episodes, viewers have witnessed the exit of one star (Garcelle Beauvais), the entrance of another (Heather Locklear), a fire that demolished Franklin (Breckin Meyer) and Bash’s (Mark Paul Gooselaar) house causing them to move beach side, and the duo having a wall put up to separate their super-cool office space. The changes continue in episode 4, “Captain Johnny,” when the lawyers invoke ‘Pirate Law.’
What is ‘Pirate Law’ you may ask? In layman’s terms, it involves subpoenaing a parrot to defend a fisherman who refused to pay $25,000 after being rescued during a storm. F and B must prove that Captain Johnny really wasn’t in danger and that the rescue call was faked.
The episode opens with our favorite lawyers surfing on the beach and encountering Gino played by Eric Balfour, who has now been downgraded to minor guest star appearances. Gino tells the guys about his cousin, Johnny, who is in desperate need of legal advice. When F and B tell Rachel (Locklear) about the case, she at first is against it. Rachel also informs F and B that she is trying a case for a psychic who was wrongfully terminated from her job. F and B feel their case will build the profile of the firm more so than Rachel’s case. Rachel asserts that if her case creates a higher profile the twosome must show up for work every morning at 8 AM. Jared insists if they win, they will surf ‘til 10.
The “B Storyline” on Franklin & Bash is never very attention-grabbing. This is largely due to the fact that Damien (Reed Diamond) is the main focus. It could also be the fact Breckin Meyer and Mark-Paul Gooselaar are not on screen. Either way, it is a snooze fest. The Damien character brings nothing new or exciting to this remarkably sharp and funny show. However, tonight’s “B Storyline” was more intriguing than the main one. We can thank Locklear and Dana Davis’ portrayal of Investigator Carmen Phillips for a story that kept the viewer enthralled throughout.
Juliette Morano (Fernanda Andrade) is the psychic who was fired from her investment firm. In order to prove wrongful termination, Carmen visits the company to dig up any juicy evidence to use against Bryan Easton (Roy Abramsohn) and the rest of the firm, but not before Juliette is arrested for defending herself against Bryan in a deserted parking lot.
Now back to the “A Storyline.” Franklin and Bash must prove to the judge, played by Cheers‘ John Ratzenberger, that the rescue call was faked by Johnny’s competition, who wanted to see him go bankrupt. What F and B think is a bird chirp on the fake call was actually the secretary of the company sneezing. When Mr. Clarence Beeks (the parrot) takes the stand alongside the secretary, she begins to sneeze proving the rescue call was fake and Johnny does not need to pay the $25,000.
How did Rachel and Damien’s case fair? After putting Juliette’s clients on the stand, they were able to prove she was psychic. However, they still needed to prove that she was defending herself from an impending attack from Bryan in the empty lot. Damien calls Juliette on the stand and asks her to read Bryan’s mind. She ends up reciting a name and list of numbers that proved Bryan was stealing her clients. Stealing clients from a co-worker is illegal, hence Bryan wanting to fire Juliette. Plus, Carmen finds out that Bryan only went to Community College, something that could make him lose his job if it was let out. Juliette wins the case and gets her job back.
So, who won the bet between Rachel and F and B? It looks like the boys will be surfing til 10 AM. However, Locklear gets the win for the more stimulating storyline.
You also may be wondering what Stanton (Malcolm McDowell) and Pindar (Kumail Nanjiani) were up to. Their talents were wasted on a horrible “C Storyline” involving a stolen couch from Rob Lowe. This may have been worth adding to the show if Rob Lowe had actually shown up. Maybe sometime later in the season we will get a surprise visit from him.
Follow Us
