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'Bluff City Law' Episode 2 Review: A common passion for law saves Elijah and Sidney's relationship once again

Our leading duo understands that to actually build something healthy following their long-strained relationship, they will have to be more accepting of each other's differences.

While the premiere episode of NBC's latest legal drama 'Bluff City Law' ended on a teasing cliffhanger, the second episode was much more considerate. Not only did it end on a more conclusive and definitive note, it also showed Elijah (Jimmy Smits) and Sidney Strait (Caitlin McGee) - the dynamic father-daughter lawyer duo - coming to terms with the fact that not only are they going to be vastly alike in their approach to life but also - to actually build something healthy following their long-strained relationship - will have to be more accepting of each other's differences.

On the legal front are two new cases, both with their own sentimental values. One is a new case of company fraud once again, where a farm-company that deals with seeds and the likes, is suing owners of its neighboring lands for "stealing from them." Confusing as it might sound, Sidney explains the entire scenario stating that when the wind carries pollen and seeds from the company's farmlands to neighboring farms, unbeknownst to the owner of those farms, these seeds germinate. And this is a crafty ploy to earn some fast cash because the big farm company can sue the other farms of stealing the seeds which the big company apparently "rightfully owns" if they refuse to pay up a commission. 

The other case is a family business feud between two brothers who went their separate ways after opening a barbeque joint together. But even though the lawyers at Elijah's firm win the case for the brother they are representing, it turns out that Anthony Little (Michael Luwoye) has more than just his tastebuds involved with the restaurant's barbeque sauce recipe. Despite winning the case, he fights a final battle to reconcile the two brothers and the following suit if the show's good-triumphs-evil aura is able to make the brothers see the light. 

Sadly for Elijah and Sidney, the rewards don't come that easily. Despite compelling arguments and rational rebuttals, the judge isn't quite convinced about siding with the farmers, and for that, we have Elijah and Sidney's ongoing cold war to blame. Having learnt right after returning to work for your estranged dad's firm that you have a half brother can be difficult; especially when your entire world is crashing down in the wake of your mother's death. The only thing worse than that could be imagining your now-dead mother not knowing about her husband's child out of wedlock. And all these emotions take a human form in Sidney this week.

The reason behind Sidney and Elijah's relationship going sour was his extramarital affair, and for Sidney to be able to even face that affair's consequences after she chose to cut ties from her father just for indulging in it is a brave feat to accomplish. And our prodigal daughter succeeds like the overachiever she is. Even the said half brother, Emerson (Stony Blyden), speaks a little more than two sentences this time and is somehow able to convince Sidney that he isn't the satan reincarnate she is probably imagining him to be. But that is the fun thing about Sidney Strait - in the light of her father and the resentment she has harbored for him all these years, she could never see anybody in a light murkier than him. 

Luckily, Elijah is able to change that with touching words unlike any Jimmy Smits TV lawyer we have seen before. The only time we are reminded of Smits' signature touch in the genre is when a mysterious person follows Sidney and implicates a threat against her the way the farm organization threatened its farmers to withdraw their lawsuits, Elijah doesn't waste a second in second thoughts.

Punch after punch follows on the poor guy who was acting all tough, while Elijah emerges victorious having successfully fended a man off his daughter, as well as busting the entire facade of the organization that it was trying to portray. And of course, Smits reminds us once again why nobody could take his place in our hearts.

'Bluff City Law' airs on Mondays at 9 pm only on NBC.