'Bull' Season 4 Episode 5 review: 'Billboard Justice' sees 'old and afraid' Bull get a morality check as the girls stick together
This review contains spoilers for 'Bull' Season 4 Episode 5: 'Billboard Justice'
Perhaps the best episode of all, 'Billboard Justice' is all about having a moral compass and this episode throws up a star in the form of Mackenzie Meehan's Taylor Rentzel. Previously, in an interview with MEA WorldWide (MEAWW), the actress explained that the character would be looking at deepening her relationships with the team. "Since Taylor has proved herself to be a valuable asset to the TAC team, it seems she's getting more comfortable speaking her mind on the cases they take on," she said. "I've also noticed her relationships with the other TAC team are deepening and she is forming true friendships with them".
In this episode, we see her voicing her support for a rape victim. 'Billboard Justice' sees Bull (Jason Weatherly) and his TAC team taking on a real estate mogul who assaults a bar dancer. Taylor spells out the need to support the woman.
Recap
When Taylor stumbles across Jessica Lee (Angelic Zambrana) who puts up posters across the city claiming that real estate giant Nathan Alexander (Cillian O’Sullivan) raped her. Taylor decides to investigate and realizes that when Jessica went to the authorities, she was rebuffed.
Taylor approaches Benny Colon (Freddy Rodriquez) and asks him to help out except he disagrees as the meeting just cost Bull and Co. a valuable client in Alexander. However, despite ticking off Bull and Benny, she stands her ground and the team agrees to take on Alexander. Problems pop up by the dozen when they figure out the members of the jury were asked if some of them were victims of sexual assault, resulting in them being struck off the case. In addition, Alexander's attorney produces evidence that he and Jessica were seen sharing a drink minutes after she claimed to have been raped.
Benny and Co. bring in an expert onto the stand who opines that victims often enter a state of fugue where the brain focusses on survival and this was the same scenario Jessica was in. However, the expert is unable to testify what exactly would have happened as he wasn't present at the time of the incident. Rescue comes in the form of Danny (Jamie Lee Kirchner) when she figures out that there were other victims abused and had all signed an NDA to keep quiet for two million dollars. They were also threatened to be sued double the money should word get out. This ended up with most of them keeping quiet until Alexander’s ex-wife agreed to pay their lawyers if they were ever sued by Alexander.
With her backing, the women were freed and agree to testify for Jessica. This gave the jury ample evidence to find Alexander liable and offers Jessica a hefty sum of money as compensation. Meanwhile, Chunk tried to reach out to his pregnant daughter, but she blocked him as he is not supportive of her decision of abortion.
Review
Weatherly's Bull is getting old and cynical, and he puts it aptly while reasoning with Benny. They realize that they need to take this case by looking at a 'What If' situation. What if it was Bull's daughter who is in Jessica's position? A still reluctant Benny sees where Bull is coming from and agrees. The focus of this season is Bull becoming a dad and in some way each case is influenced by this reason and the fact that he is a family man. Season 4 has essentially seen Bull realize the value of relationships.
'Billboard Justice' is a strong episode that also comes in support of the sexually assaulted and sheds light on the trauma they experience. Not often is justice wholly and truly served. This episode may just serve as food for thought.