Whether the viewer enjoys the Hallmark mystery series that includes John Larroquette's McBride lawyer character depends on what is expected from such a show. If you expect a cinematic masterpiece along the lines of "And Then There Were None," you're obviously on the wrong channel. If you're a fan of the old "Murder She Wrote" series, you'll also be disappointed. However, if you just want to watch a tidy little mystery thriller with no frills but lots of personality, then you're in the right place.
John Larroquette carries the ball as a successful lawyer who's not just in the game for the money. Obviously he lives on a fairly modest income. He is prone to take cases to help out friends or to help out those who otherwise would not receive the fair trial they deserved. Thus, he's more in line with Perry Mason. He receives able support from his novice assistant Phil Newberry (Matt Lutz) and from his erstwhile girlfriend Sgt. Roberta Hansen (Marta DuBois).
The cases are usually simple but skillfully executed. In "McBride: Fallen Idol," the victim is McBride's well-respected friend. When a young biker is accused of the crime after he tries to hock a personal item that belonged to the victim, McBride is asked by the biker's sister to defend her brother. The sister happens to be one of Phil's former classmates. McBride finds himself in the dubious position of defending the suspected killer. As McBride and Phil investigate, skeletons in the closet begin to fall out until it is obvious the so-called idol is made of flesh and bone.
OK, so the story is a retread of other mysteries that have appeared on the tube. Given the McBride treatment, the script takes on a life of its own and can be entertaining if you view it with an open mind.
