Raising the Bar

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Season 1
  • Network: TNT
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 1, 2008
Season #: 2, 1
Metascore
48

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 23
  3. Negative: 5 out of 23
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Critic Reviews

  1. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Linda Stasi
    38
    The second episode is 30 percent better than the first. Maybe by episode six, it will actually be watchable.
  2. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    30
    These are some of the most lackluster, unimaginative trials brought to TV in years, as every defendant's guilt or innocence is written all over his or her face from the get-go.
  3. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    30
    Bochco has made the most cutting-edge drama--of 1994. These thinly drawn characters aren't compelling, and the entire production feels dated and stagey.
  5. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    30
    It's not just familiar, but lazy.
  6. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    30
    This shockingly ordinary new legal drama from Steven Bochco should seem right at home amid TNT’s ubiquitous Law & Order reruns. It feels like something you’ve seen before, maybe from way back when L&O was new.

Awards & Rankings

85
#85 Best TV Season of 2008
43
#43 Most Discussed TV Season of 2008
27
#27 Most Shared TV Season of 2008

User Reviews

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User Score
5.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 28 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 28
  3. Negative: 12 out of 28
  1. seanb
    Aug 4, 2009
    10
    One of the best shows that I have watched ever.
  2. Yaele
    Jul 30, 2009
    10
    After the first few episodes this show bloomed into one of the best drams on TV and a sobering look at the American judiciary system.
  3. MattQ.
    May 21, 2009
    0
    Where should I begin? As a former prosecutor and a current criminal defense attorney, it's ridiculous how some of these reviewers who Where should I begin? As a former prosecutor and a current criminal defense attorney, it's ridiculous how some of these reviewers who claim to be attorneys can actually say that this show depicts how the justice system really is. Most of these liberal public defenders do more harm than good for their clients. They lie in court, and engage in unethical practices in the name of defending their clients. This show is nothing more than a public defenders fantasy world, where all of their clients are innocent and wrongly accused of crimes, and everyone else is corrupt or unethical. This is like every other law show, where the criminal defense attorney sleeps with the prosecutor, and kicks her butt in court every day. First of all, the female prosecutors, who sleeps with Zack from "Save By The Bell", get her butt kicked in court by Zack. And in the rare occassion that she actually wins a case and gets a conviction, the accused is really innocent. If this case really depicted a real life view of the criminal justice system, do you actually think that the female prosecutor would still have her job? Don't waste your time with this show. I had a chance to meet the lawyer that this show is based on, and he is a huge arrogant jerk. I heard that he was a horrible atorney, so go figure.… Full Review »
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