Chandler & Co.: Series 1, Episode 2 – “Wild Justice” (1994)

 

Two cases again today.  I suppose that’ll be the general format of the show – a “Dee” case and an “Elly” case, with extra room for personal issues.  It offers twice as much budding detective fun, but I hope we see them working together on cases a little more often.  In my opinion, they make a pretty watchable team.

 

We’ve branched out a bit today, in that only one of the cases involves following a client’s potentially-cheating spouse.  The other focuses on a man who may be committing fraud to stiff his ex in a divorce settlement.  Elly finds herself getting a bit too deep into a case, while Dee struggles to make her husband understand what draws her to her work. 

 

Dee’s plot is particularly interesting.  At first, she gets the argument that P.I.s don’t always stay within the realm of legality, which means she’d have to keep secrets from her attorney husband.  However, it isn’t long before she starts receiving comments about the tawdrier aspects of her job, rooting out affairs and other elicit improprieties.  He backpedals quickly enough, insisting he’d never accuse her of, he didn’t know where that came from, etc., etc., but the sentiment is still out there.  And no matter what he says, it’s clear that there’s at least a part of him that resents not having Dee reliably at home to do the cooking, ironing, and all those other little chores he’s always taken for granted will get done.  There’s a lot involved.

 

And what of Larry, you may ask?  He serves his same basic function as in episode 1, giving our heroines tips and renting them surveillance equipment.  We also get a quick view of him actually in the field, jumping back in after Dee’s botched attempt to plant a bug.  It’s fun to see the contrast between their fledging skills and Larry’s old-hat ease.  For a five-minute conversation with a man he’s never met, he adopts a different accent, changes his manner, and shows up with a credible story prepared.  There’s the master at work.

 

Larry practically has the word “jaded” scrawled disinterestedly across his forehead.  He’s quick to dismiss the idea of getting involved with his clients – that is, to care about their well-being beyond their ability to pay for his services.  And yet, Dee suspects that may not be as true as he likes to think.  One thing’s for sure:  he sure shuts down on her when she hints at his possibly-hidden compassion.  It’s a thread I look forward to following.