S01E16: Twelve Worried Persons

[The Crazed Spruce]

Quote

When a juror dies during Susan's first big trial as lead attorney, Margaret and Todd work to exonerate Amy, a juror from the same trial suspected of the murder; Margaret's sister Patty is in town, and sparks fly between Todd and Amy.

 

[AnimeMania]

Briga Heelan as Amy, a juror and former Rose Festival Queen

Marissa Jaret Winokur as Sydney, a fellow juror obsessed with true crime.
Kathryn Greenwood as Aunt Patty

I didn't really like this episode, Todd was acting a little manic. The switched water bottles was a stretch. I wouldn't be surprised if mother and daughter didn't work together to throw the bleach. I was a little intrigued when Amy said that she couldn't order food because of a mysterious charge on her credit card, I was hoping that that was going somewhere. I like the show better when they keep it upbeat, this episode was a little dour.

[shapeshifter]

7 hours ago, AnimeMania said:

…I didn't really like this episode, Todd was acting a little manic. The switched water bottles was a stretch. I wouldn't be surprised if mother and daughter didn't work together to throw the bleach. I was a little intrigued when Amy said that she couldn't order food because of a mysterious charge on her credit card, I was hoping that that was going somewhere. I like the show better when they keep it upbeat, this episode was a little dour.

I, OTOH, was about to post what a great mystery script this was, but now I’m reminded about wondering what was up with Former Rose Festival Queen juror Amy’s hacked credit card?

• Was it just a ploy to get Todd over because they had sparked?  
   
• Were we supposed to be worried for Todd in case she really was a killer?
   
• Is this credit card drama to be continued…?
   
• Or not…? 
  (Sometimes a hacked credit card is just a hacked credit card?)
   

Edited March 31, 2023 by shapeshifter

[AncientNewbie]

Like the two above said, there were a couple holes that left me wondering if we'll be getting more of the Rose Queen storyline going forward...which seems unlikely if she's supposed to be taking off to NY for law school. Little thing I did like was her (supposed, now that you all have me second guessing everything) ability to put it into the past and, unlike cliched tv, it wasn't her whole personality years later. 

Although it was dark, I did like (for storyline purposes) Margaret talking to Allison and Todd about their father. I was a little worried at the start they were just going to make Margaret a striver who ignored her children in order to better their lives via her career, resulting in some messed up adults. Clearly she has a messed up family dynamic of her own, too. 

I'm not saying I want an implausible legal/detective show to be about generational trauma on the regular, but when we're given characters who are so squarely products of messed up dynamics and shown the family, I sort of expect plots in that area. 

[The Crazed Spruce]

I will say, this is the first episode in a while where I didn't figure out exactly who the killer was in the first fifteen minutes, so that's something, at least....

[Trey]

When Aunt Patty was going on about something, one of the things she said was that she'd be blind by next year.  No one in the family picked up on that so I don't know if Aunt Patty is just a rambler who says anything or if the family is too self involved to notice.

Also, Amy's mother passed a lie detector test that she was not involved in the bleach throwing incident so  who did throw the bleach? I am not sure Amy is as straightforward as she should be.

[AncientNewbie]

1 hour ago, The Crazed Spruce said:

I will say, this is the first episode in a while where I didn't figure out exactly who the killer was in the first fifteen minutes, so that's something, at least....

By the rules I learned on Murder, She Wrote, it should have been Marissa Jaret Winkour as the most famous guest star.  They threw me when she was gone by the half hour break. Or else I'm so out of touch with pop culture I didn't recognize the eventual culprit. 

 

41 minutes ago, Trey said:

When Aunt Patty was going on about something, one of the things she said was that she'd be blind by next year.

I caught that too. I sort of felt there was a whole extra intro with Patty we missed somehow, to give us some detail on how much of a nut she is vs. anything legit to her rambling as a reason for the visit. I'm hope the dynamic will be explored later, but the "large donor but can't remember where" points to having some money and being a bit out there, along with the blindness line. 

[Sarah 103]

5 hours ago, AncientNewbie said:

I'm not saying I want an implausible legal/detective show to be about generational trauma on the regular, but when we're given characters who are so squarely products of messed up dynamics and shown the family, I sort of expect plots in that area. 

I think you can have both. A big part of the show is the relationship between Todd, his siblings, and his mother so dramatic moments throughout the season exploring the family history/relationships/dynamics doesn't seem too out of place. They've sort of been doing it all along, dropping little bits and peices during conversations. 

[Daff]

7 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

(Sometimes a hacked credit card is just a hacked credit card?)

Just that. There had to be a reason she couldn’t order delivery for herself. Perfectly explains why she needs someone to bring food, but also keeps us guessing about her character.

 I’m surprised, because this was the first episode I really liked and didn’t have feelings of exasperation (annoying sister, notwithstanding). Todd has been manic from the start, so I can take it in doses. Lots of crazy characters in this one.

[shapeshifter]

8 minutes ago, Daff said:

this was the first episode I really liked and didn’t have feelings of exasperation (annoying sister, notwithstanding)

The annoying sister ruined it for me. I've already got one of those IRL in my phone's "Favorites" (and she would say the same about me).

[Daff]

4 hours ago, Trey said:

When Aunt Patty was going on about something, one of the things she said was that she'd be blind by next year.

After the “Bunny” event scene, it seems she’s a chronic confabulator and everyone of her family just nods and smiles, then changes the subject. 
 

3 hours ago, AncientNewbie said:

I sort of felt there was a whole extra intro with Patty we missed somehow,

So did I, and even checked to see if I missed an episode. But no, we were subjected to annoying character drop, near end of season.

3 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

The annoying sister ruined it for me. I've already got one of those IRL in my phone's "Favorites" (and she would say the same about me).

I’m right there, with ya! (the younger shudders)

[iMonrey]

On 3/31/2023 at 5:13 AM, shapeshifter said:

Is this credit card drama to be continued…?

I think there will be more to Amy's story. I feel like the show wants Todd and Susan to be endgame (unfortunately) because of the way Susan caught Todd and Amy kissing in the conference room, so it will probably turn out there's something sketchy about Amy after all which will cause Todd to break up with her.

[jabRI]

I don't get Todd and Susan, from the episode where we met her fiancee, it sounded like they only went on a few dates?  Is this really 'the one that got away' scenario, or maybe I misunderstood the timeline.  Would not be the first time that happened to me on this show.

[AnimeMania]

3 hours ago, jabRI said:

I don't get Todd and Susan, from the episode where we met her fiancee, it sounded like they only went on a few dates?  Is this really 'the one that got away' scenario, or maybe I misunderstood the timeline.  Would not be the first time that happened to me on this show.

I think they were going out in high school and drifted apart when she went to college.

[LennieBriscoe]

Patty has got to go. Permanently. Not only is the character maddening, but the actress's voice annoys me! The ensemble needs her like the proverbial 🤯. 

Marissa's character is teetering on that same edge for me, but her heart's in the right place. Can she become an intern, maybe Todd's Go-fer, if she tones it down a bit?

Edited April 3, 2023 by LennieBriscoe

[AnimeMania]

18 hours ago, LennieBriscoe said:

Marissa's character is teetering on that same edge for me, but her heart's in the right place. Can she become an intern, maybe Todd's Go-fer, if she tones it down a bit?

You do know that that character died in the episode?

[Brian Cronin]

Whichever writer came up with Aunt Patty should get no cake the next time someone brings cake to the writer's room (unless it is their birthday, of course. I'm not cruel). 

[twoods]

Bummer that Marissa’s character was killed off because she would have been a great addition to the show. Since I recognized her, I expected her to be the murderer. 
Allison is just irritating at this point. Sad faces and moping all around, and I like her husband Chuck. He seems like a saint to deal with her nutty family and always patient with her- I get she’s unhappy but I don’t want him to be crapped on.

I like Todd’s new love interest, so of course she’s going to be shady eventually to push him towards Susan. 

[Simba122504]

On 4/2/2023 at 2:59 PM, jabRI said:

I don't get Todd and Susan, from the episode where we met her fiancee, it sounded like they only went on a few dates?  Is this really 'the one that got away' scenario, or maybe I misunderstood the timeline.  Would not be the first time that happened to me on this show.

I ship them, but there needs to be more backstory on that. The timeline is confusing. Susan is not that far removed from law school. What year did Todd meet Veronica? He wasn't dating Susan then, so has to be a high school sweethearts situation because they know the same people. 

Edited April 7, 2023 by Simba122504

[HawaiiTVGuy]

I might be late to the party since the next episode aired but Amy is suspicious.  I don't know if she is acting on Veronica's behest (purposely trying to get on Samantha's jury to have an in with Todd) or if she is just manipulating Todd because that is how she is.  The way she talked about not having a credit card when she knew Todd had the hots for her, the way she randomly says that she thinks her mom is a bad person to be even more sympathetic, and how she totally threw her mom as a possible suspect in the bleach attack.

IIRC, the bleach attack was done by a man right?  I can totally see Amy manipulating some guy to do it for her, even back in High School.

[Fiftyninth]

I figured out surprisingly early who the killer was because the suspect board had the transcript saying he worked or volunteered in a rose garden. That was a red flag for me, given the whole “gardener access to poison” premise. But I also thought I recognized the actor at first, and I was very wrong about that. 

[South]

On 3/31/2023 at 10:00 AM, Trey said:

When Aunt Patty was going on about something, one of the things she said was that she'd be blind by next year.  No one in the family picked up on that so I don't know if Aunt Patty is just a rambler who says anything or if the family is too self involved to notice.

Also, Amy's mother passed a lie detector test that she was not involved in the bleach throwing incident so  who did throw the bleach? I am not sure Amy is as straightforward as she should be.

When Aunt Patty made her comment about blindness, Allison and Todd exchanged “wtf looks”.  Before they could pipe up, Margaret walked over with some urgent info.  But yeah, they never got back to it.  After the realization that they were at the wrong awards “banquet”, I just figured that Patty is a loon.

[snarktini]

On 6/27/2023 at 9:10 PM, South said:

When Aunt Patty made her comment about blindness, Allison and Todd exchanged “wtf looks”.  Before they could pipe up, Margaret walked over with some urgent info.  But yeah, they never got back to it.  After the realization that they were at the wrong awards “banquet”, I just figured that Patty is a loon.

Strong evidence toward "loon":
There's a blink-and-you-miss-it scene where Patty and Francey walk in front of Margaret's office, and Patty explains to Francey "This is Margaret Wright's office."  (Cue Francey raising eyebrows at being told where her own boss's office is.) Patty continues: "The glass was my idea. She wanted brick. There's asbestos in them."

There's also a moment where Margaret asks Todd if he remembers when Aunt Patty suggested that the best way to get rid of their Christmas tree was to eat it.

Loon city.