This is a review for the twelfth episode of Season 1 of the Night Court Revival. This episode is called DA Game, a clever title that I realized some people weren't getting.
The previous episode Ready or Knot marked the first dip in quality since The Apartment. Don't get me wrong. So far, none of the episodes have been better than a standard Sitcom episode. However, the episodes were slowly but surely improving in quality from entry to entry from episode 6 to episode 10. Episode 11 ended up being the weakest episode since The Apartment but, thankfully, DA Game is a step or two above Ready or Knot.
On to the positives, this is one of the few times thus far that the cast gels well together as a unit. That being said, the two standouts here are John Laroquette and, in particular, Kapil Talwalkar as Court Clerk Neil who gives a fantastic performance.
Other positives here are the maintaining of the sets, the reliability of the good old laugh track, a fairly high laugh quotient, and some decent moments of story writing. Also, Abby's personal drama is thankfully subdued for this excursion.
The main things that don't work (and they are big ones} are more than half of the writing and the performance of guest star Kurt Fuller who doesn't lend the role the presence which it desperately needs.
A 6/10 it earns. I'm just waiting for the day this Revival produces an episode that is better than just standard. Will that day ever come?
Next time, I'll be reviewing the thirteenth episode entitled Past Apps. Stay Tuned!