Shark - a Series of Redemption

If you missed the pilot episode of Shark, directed by Spike Lee, or any of the subsequent episodes, fear not. There will be reruns in the summer, and this is a show worth watching.

James Woods plays Sebastian Stark, a rich former defense attorney turned Assistant D.A. The story opens as Stark has successfully defended a man accused of battering his wife. The wife turns up dead shortly after the not guilty verdict, murdered by her husband, Stark's client. Stark is ready to give up practicing law, but he is talked into working on the other side of criminal law by the Los Angeles mayor. His new boss is District Attorney Jessica Devlin, played by the beautiful Jeri Ryan (Star Trek Voyager, Boston Public). Jess and Stark have met many times on the battlefield, but never on the same side.

Stark is assigned to the Los Angeles District Attorney's High Profile Crime Unit, many times prosecuting well-known faces. He is joined by four ambitious young attorneys, played remarkably well by Sam Page as Casey Woodland, Sophina Brown as Raina Troy, Alexis Cruz as Martin Allende, and Sarah Carter as Madeleine Poe. Spoiler alert - one of these young lawyers doesn't make it through the season, but I won't tell you which one in case you decide to start watching.

Stark trains his team in the fine art of manipulation and bending the rules, as well as the importance of keeping the proper perspective - the job is to put away the bad guys, no matter what. Stark personifies the idea that the end justifies the means. More than once he breaks the law and/or violates his not-so-sterling ethics.

DA Devlin tries to keep Stark in line and she is very appreciative when he wins a high profile case. She gets distracted by politics, however, and despite her conviction rate, she loses the DA race at the end of the season. She is then asked by Stark to join his team. It should make for an interesting premiere next fall.

Stark's team also includes ex-cop, now special investigator, Isaac Wright, played by Henry Simmons. Wright is also not above bending the rules. He lost his job as a cop after it was discovered that he planted evidence.

We get a glimpse into Stark's private life through his daughter, Julie, played by Danielle Panabaker. Julie is every bit as smart as her dad, but not as sly, nor as apt to stay out of trouble. She has some painful growing lessons during the season, beginning with the pilot episode in which she chooses to stay in LA with her dad rather than moving to New York with her mom. She also teaches Stark the value in letting kids make mistakes and that kids sometimes just need guidance.

Though many times predictable, Shark works because it shows that the good guys don't always win. And sometimes to win, even good guys do bad things.