57 reviews
I know I watched this when it was on air but somehow watching it streaming as a sort of marathon makes it more powerful. Others have commented and disagreed on the acting also speculated why the show didn't last. I wanted to add my couple of cents. Simon Baker basically does play the same role in the Mentalist, (savior) but smiles and wins more hence the show not being canceled. In the Guardian, the hero does not always win, the ending is not always happy and the characters are always flawed. This might be too much for network TV. The theme song and introduction are obnoxious when compared with cable shows such as Dexter, Oz. Lulu's character is not written with as much depth as the others so its hard to fault the acting. I think the viewer felt a bit manipulated by the drawn out back and forth with Nick. Its always hard for writers to get over the hump of what to do with all that sexual tension. Just look at what happened to House. Dabney Coleman is brilliant in his intensity. This show has many shades of gray and is very much worth watching.
- moonstruck4
- Dec 21, 2011
- Permalink
- deneenmatthews-91901
- Feb 22, 2018
- Permalink
Pittsburgh corporate lawyer Nick Fallin (Simon Baker) is arrested for drug possession. His father and boss Burton (Dabney Coleman) gets him off with 3 years probation and 1500 hours of community service working at the Children's Legal Services under Alvin Masterson (Alan Rosenberg). His cold-blooded money-centric personality clashes with the reality of his new work. Jake Straka (Raphael Sbarge), Louisa 'Lulu' Archer (Wendy Moniz-Grillo), James Mooney (Charles Malik Whitfield) are three of the other lawyers.
This is a great show. I love the lead character and Simon Baker's portrayal of the role. I like his selfishness melting away as he defends his small helpless clients. I actually dislike the change in the client pool. I'm guessing that it's a little more difficult to have too many child actors. Some of the younger performers get nominations over the years. For some of the more notable side characters, Farrah Fawcett and AJ Michalka have an interesting run. Will Ferrell gets shot in the head. Chloë Grace Moretz is even more diminutive in her first role. There are some more difficult episodes in the third and last season. They lose a lead character and the other characters all have some personal problems. I actually like the cases. It could have leaned into the legal procedural aspect. This lasted three seasons. I certainly could see more of this show. It's too bad that it got canceled.
This is a great show. I love the lead character and Simon Baker's portrayal of the role. I like his selfishness melting away as he defends his small helpless clients. I actually dislike the change in the client pool. I'm guessing that it's a little more difficult to have too many child actors. Some of the younger performers get nominations over the years. For some of the more notable side characters, Farrah Fawcett and AJ Michalka have an interesting run. Will Ferrell gets shot in the head. Chloë Grace Moretz is even more diminutive in her first role. There are some more difficult episodes in the third and last season. They lose a lead character and the other characters all have some personal problems. I actually like the cases. It could have leaned into the legal procedural aspect. This lasted three seasons. I certainly could see more of this show. It's too bad that it got canceled.
- SnoopyStyle
- Mar 1, 2021
- Permalink
"THE GUARDIAN," in my opinion, is a pure CBS classic! I haven't seen every episode, but I still enjoyed it. However, I think it was always touching when a mishap occurred. I always felt deeply moved. It's hard to say which episode was my favorite. It would probably have to be the pilot. Despite the fact that it was a short-lived series, it would have been nice if all the main characters had stayed with the show throughout its entire run. It seems that no one stays with a show throughout its entire run. Everyone always gave a good performance, the production design was spectacular, the costumes were well-designed, and the writing was always very strong. In conclusion, I hope they bring it back on the air for fans of the show to see.
- Catherine_Grace_Zeh
- Jul 19, 2006
- Permalink
This series has potential as a legal drama. The twist is that the main character has been busted for drug use and been sentenced to community service with children, making him look at things from a whole new light. The performances are good, and I like the premise. I might recommend this one if you like Simon Baker and Dabney Coleman.
I just discovered this program on Amazon Prime. Don't know how I missed the original. One of the best series I have watched in years. The conflicts, the human aspects and the characters touch us all. Great writing - well done by all!
My only complaint was the "Lulu" character. I found her to be a narcissistic, insensitive, offensive and repulsive human being. Other viewers seem to like her character, but she did irritate me.
I would highly recommend this program. Enjoy!
My only complaint was the "Lulu" character. I found her to be a narcissistic, insensitive, offensive and repulsive human being. Other viewers seem to like her character, but she did irritate me.
I would highly recommend this program. Enjoy!
- carol-98151
- Jun 9, 2018
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I have written here about this short-lived show in the past. Simon Baker is a perfect fit as the troubled son of a famous lawyer, played by Dabney Coleman of MARY HARTMAN fame. Because of some drug transgressions, the son, also a lawyer,must put in time at a child advocacy law firm. He also continues to work for his old man, and the two often do not see eye to eye. As time goes on in this show, things change: the father is up for a judgeship and the son starts his own law firm. Also, the son is hot for a lawyer at his father's firm, but alas, she loves another. The cases are usually intriguing, but the show is really about the father and son, and both actors pull off this thorny relationship with aplomb.There is an occasional soap opera aspect to the show, but it is kept to a minimum. Well worth watching, if a little depressing, as the son never seems to be able to stay out of trouble. It is not a lighthearted show and humor is basically nonexistent. Maybe that's why the show did not last longer than it did.
- ctomvelu-1
- May 23, 2009
- Permalink
This program captures you and represents reality. Sadly, Wendy Moniz was hard to watch and a horrible actress. No chemistry between her character, Lulu and Nick. Every episode I kept hoping she would go away!
I'm in awe that this is the same actor who plays the Mentalist which is way more happy go lucky character. But the storyline of the contrasting world the main character lives in representing rich corporate clients vs the poor who need family service lawyers is a reminder of the haves and have nots and it's bleak to see. No wonder the main character barely cracks a smile.
- deniseactress
- Mar 2, 2020
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I started watching this after I finished The Mentalist and really enjoy Simon Baker's acting. The show has very interesting and though provoking stories which hooked me from the first episode, and the only thing I don't like about the show is the horrendous theme music.
- julrich-89886
- May 14, 2020
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Not sure how we got addicted and binge watched the entire 3 years that felt like 10. I had to look up the show because everything about it screamed 1992, but then they had cell phones. Maybe it's a generational thing. Maybe Philadelphia is 10-15 years behind. I know TV is just entertainment, but it always bugs me when they stretch reality a bit too far in a show that's meant to more on the realistic side, and this show did that about every 5 minutes. I also felt the characters weren't consistent in their actions and behaviors at all.
- allenjessica
- Mar 11, 2022
- Permalink
What a great show!! Simon Baker has done an amazing job in this! I'd never get bored of watching this series! It's got everything - drama, romance, angst and much more, but the best thing about this series is the character - Nick Fallin and the superb portrayal by Simon Baker. I enjoyed watching his character grow from Season 1 - 3. Miss this series, it had a great story line. One of Simon's best performances till date :)
- courtneyjjjjjjjj
- Dec 26, 2022
- Permalink
I am left with much sadness after watching the entire series. Simon Baker has such a great smile, unfortunately I didn't get to see much of it here. Nick's casual drug use results in slow death for his high-profile law career as community service hours make it impossible to keep up. No human could keep up that pace. Although he is often called "a great lawyer" you almost never see any positive outcomes from his work at his father's firm. He is sullen, moody, non- communicative. Almost without exception his interactions are awkward. You just want to grab him and shake him up. Eventually he gets rejected by everyone. Is it his fault? In this way he is much like the rejected, abused, damaged children whom he represents in the courtroom.
Nick's interactions with women were often dreadful. I had such hopes for Lulu but she was never able to penetrate his walls. I also liked Nick's policewoman lover, but that promising storyline went nowhere. His final office dalliance did nothing but harm for all involved.
In the end, about the only positive thing about Nick was that he was sometimes able to help his young clients. Ultimately a very depressing series. Fortunately the Mentalist gave Simon's personality an opportunity to flash that smile and exhibit some warmth.
Nick's interactions with women were often dreadful. I had such hopes for Lulu but she was never able to penetrate his walls. I also liked Nick's policewoman lover, but that promising storyline went nowhere. His final office dalliance did nothing but harm for all involved.
In the end, about the only positive thing about Nick was that he was sometimes able to help his young clients. Ultimately a very depressing series. Fortunately the Mentalist gave Simon's personality an opportunity to flash that smile and exhibit some warmth.
- fixit-04669
- Oct 6, 2015
- Permalink
The pace of each episode is unusual giving lots of pregnant pauses after each clause of very well written and realistic dialogue. The characters are very flawed and real and I really enjoy the juggling of the legal aid clinic and big corperate law. They have 2 stories in one show that reflect sometimes on each other giving us more occasions to think about the world that the show is based on. The lack of phyisical contact with Nik and clients really increased the tension. You know he wants to hug those kids. Also Dabney Coleman gives a stellar performance of your chain smoking aging corperate lawyer who has many regrets in his life but also really enjoys his job. I could go on and on but Kudos to the producers of this show and keep up the good work.
- leseferguson
- Aug 19, 2002
- Permalink
Have only just come across this marvellous series on 7Plus in Australia. Apart from the perfect eye candy on both Simon Baker and Dabney Coleman, the storylines are great, the acting seriously good. Made in 2001 -2004 it's limited with todays technology like computers and iPhones, they play a part but it is minimal, not sure where I was going with that one, but overall it is really great, no F words but loads of sincere, emotion acting. Never saw the Mentalist with Simon but wow, I am certainly a new fan of this young actor (now 51 apparently ! ) written feb 2021 Aust.
- vickiswanson
- Feb 7, 2021
- Permalink
One of the best TV series I have ever seen. Best watched in binge mode for full appreciation of the subtle progression and change of the characters. Beautifully acted and written - like a fantastic novel you cannot put down. Really compelling because of the hugely varied types of people and characters that appear. For every beauty there is a leather-faced craggy guy, for every slick lawyer, there is a schlubby counterpart - the endless variety in the casting was fascinating, and they all threw each other into relief in such a cool way. Glad that in spite of being cancelled, it was beautifully wrapped up. Thanks, Mr. Hollander, for this great series.
I by no means am TV/Movie critic.
I am retired educator/coach of over 37 years in a school district that had the highest amount of low income/minority students in the county, I found this show more than powerful as one reviewer stated . I was emotionally drawn in to every episode due to the drama at their legal defense office. I thought the acting by some of the regulars was sometimes lacking but the characters of Nick, Lulu, and Burton (Simon Baker, Wendy Moniz, Dabney Coleman) were outstanding. Being retired my wife and I watch a lot of TV and this series on Hulu was one of our most satisfying watches so far. We kept asking ourselves how we missed it when it aired in 2001? There haven't' been too many shows over the years that I became so evolved with the characters as The Guardian. The writing/creation by David Hollander is top notch in highlighting family/social problems of our society and the lack of equitable legal help for the poor and indigent. Comments on IMBD say that Hollander's brother - A social worker was his inspiration for his creation.
All I can say is CBS's current programing lineup can't come close to The Guardian.
You won't be disappointed and you will be sorry when it ends.
I am retired educator/coach of over 37 years in a school district that had the highest amount of low income/minority students in the county, I found this show more than powerful as one reviewer stated . I was emotionally drawn in to every episode due to the drama at their legal defense office. I thought the acting by some of the regulars was sometimes lacking but the characters of Nick, Lulu, and Burton (Simon Baker, Wendy Moniz, Dabney Coleman) were outstanding. Being retired my wife and I watch a lot of TV and this series on Hulu was one of our most satisfying watches so far. We kept asking ourselves how we missed it when it aired in 2001? There haven't' been too many shows over the years that I became so evolved with the characters as The Guardian. The writing/creation by David Hollander is top notch in highlighting family/social problems of our society and the lack of equitable legal help for the poor and indigent. Comments on IMBD say that Hollander's brother - A social worker was his inspiration for his creation.
All I can say is CBS's current programing lineup can't come close to The Guardian.
You won't be disappointed and you will be sorry when it ends.
- ohwell-24422
- Mar 26, 2021
- Permalink
I hated Lulu. I feel she should have suffered more consequences than she did. She got off too easy for the way she treated Nick,. Don't care for the story line on Jake or Shannon definitely could have been handled better.
I just wonder how it is not that popular! The only complain I have is with Lulu.
She is a narcist, only thinking of herself. I hated her from the first. There was absolutely no mercy in her. She couldn't forgive, neither Brian or Nick or her parents for that matter. I just hated her charachter. I believe Nich deserved a lot better.
She is a narcist, only thinking of herself. I hated her from the first. There was absolutely no mercy in her. She couldn't forgive, neither Brian or Nick or her parents for that matter. I just hated her charachter. I believe Nich deserved a lot better.
- mahgamelmi
- Jun 8, 2021
- Permalink
- kgirl-83327
- Sep 15, 2018
- Permalink
The Guardian is hands down the best drama currently on television. It's amazing to me how Simon Baker has never won an Emmy for his portrayal of Nick Fallin - the ex cocaine addict who's forced to put in 1600 hours of community service as a child advocate for the legal aid services center in Pittsburgh. This is in addition to being a principal partner in his father's corporate law firm. Watching Nick run from the courtroom to the board room (and occasionally the bedroom) and back again with nary a moment to gather his thoughts can leave the viewer exhausted by the end of the show but this is also part of its appeal. We can feel Nick's stress and associate it with our own harried lives.
None of the central characters on this show are without their flaws - Nick is often aloof and emotionless - caring more about corporate mergers than whether or not he is best serving the interests of those he defends during his community service. He rarely gives his downtrodden, legal aid clients a second thought once he has finished representing them. His father, brilliantly played by the veteran character actor Dabney Coleman can also be abrasive, manipulative, callous and, as the second season finale graphically showed also violent and dangerously obsessed with a twelve year old girl he took in as a foster child. The interaction (or lack thereof) between the two, neither whom is able to really show their true feelings towards one another is often painful to watch.
The rest of the cast with the exception of Wendy Muniz are all expertly cast. Charles Malik Whitfield as James Mooney, the ex gang member who has escaped the ghetto to become a lawyer for the legal aid group is both menacing and heroic at the same time. One powerfull episode has him almost beating to death a young black man who he has been told caused the death of his troubled nephew. He later discovers that this person was innocent and must deal with how to come to terms with almost killing and disfiguring an innocent man. Raphael Sbarge as Jake Straka, another success driven lawyer at Nick's firm, makes us think of all the lawyers we have known who can barely give us the time of day unless the reward is large enough. Alan Rosenberg who plays Alvin Masterson, the director of the clinic, tries to keep the chaos controllable even while fighting his own demons which include an unhealthy weakness for some of his former female clients. Only Wendy Muniz fails to convince in her role as Lulu Archer, another one of the legal aid lawyers. The series' writers seem unable to decide whether she should be a foil to Nick or just another lovesick conquest. Their romantic scenes together lack passion or chemistry and often seem contrived.
All in all though this is a thoughtful, powerful, and at times, emotionally brutal show. Enjoy it while you can - it's sure to be short lived.
None of the central characters on this show are without their flaws - Nick is often aloof and emotionless - caring more about corporate mergers than whether or not he is best serving the interests of those he defends during his community service. He rarely gives his downtrodden, legal aid clients a second thought once he has finished representing them. His father, brilliantly played by the veteran character actor Dabney Coleman can also be abrasive, manipulative, callous and, as the second season finale graphically showed also violent and dangerously obsessed with a twelve year old girl he took in as a foster child. The interaction (or lack thereof) between the two, neither whom is able to really show their true feelings towards one another is often painful to watch.
The rest of the cast with the exception of Wendy Muniz are all expertly cast. Charles Malik Whitfield as James Mooney, the ex gang member who has escaped the ghetto to become a lawyer for the legal aid group is both menacing and heroic at the same time. One powerfull episode has him almost beating to death a young black man who he has been told caused the death of his troubled nephew. He later discovers that this person was innocent and must deal with how to come to terms with almost killing and disfiguring an innocent man. Raphael Sbarge as Jake Straka, another success driven lawyer at Nick's firm, makes us think of all the lawyers we have known who can barely give us the time of day unless the reward is large enough. Alan Rosenberg who plays Alvin Masterson, the director of the clinic, tries to keep the chaos controllable even while fighting his own demons which include an unhealthy weakness for some of his former female clients. Only Wendy Muniz fails to convince in her role as Lulu Archer, another one of the legal aid lawyers. The series' writers seem unable to decide whether she should be a foil to Nick or just another lovesick conquest. Their romantic scenes together lack passion or chemistry and often seem contrived.
All in all though this is a thoughtful, powerful, and at times, emotionally brutal show. Enjoy it while you can - it's sure to be short lived.
- yellowstone
- May 30, 2003
- Permalink
I have never wanted to watch more than a few episodes of anything on TV-- The Guardian is my one exception...I watched all three seasons of The Guardian this summer (on Netflix). The Guardian is simply a superb show on many levels. The writing is forceful, believable, and basically brilliant. Kudos to the writers for excellent dialog and story lines! The casting and acting too was excellent...I loved each and every character. They are interesting, complex, sometimes confused, but always believable. My highest praise for the actors! I will miss them and the characters they portrayed with great skill and consistency. All the rest was great as well--including the sets, the music (perfect!)the editing, and the ending. Bravo for a fantastic show to all who were involved--I truly can't imagine a better show than The Guardian. I miss it already!
- taratree123
- Sep 12, 2012
- Permalink
I had somehow never heard of this show. Discovered it on a free month 'subscription' to a streaming service and it was the first thing that caught our eye to watch. (GF never heard of it either, and we're both HUGE fans of The Mentalist). Although I was not sold on the story, I assumed if Simon was in it, it couldn't be bad, and sure enough, it is great. We've watched maybe 6-7 episodes and the writing, directing, acting is perfect without either of us saying something to the effect of, 'that character is really off.' Also good to see ol' Mr. Coleman again.
I have started watching this for the first time on the Heroes channel and it is really good. Pretty serious and dark but each episode engaging from start to finish.
- Wiedinger-283-953843
- Dec 22, 2018
- Permalink