Raising the Bar

:

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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Where To Watch

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Critic Reviews

  1. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Verne Gay
    75
    Good show with fine cast, but it all still feels a little too familiar and old-fashioned.
  2. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Robert Abele
    70
    The series seems to always eschew Hollywood-style courtroom theatrics and gotcha moments for resolutions that seem truer because they involve mistakes, bad timing, compromises, dubious ethics and sweated-out smarts.
  3. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    63
    Bar is so slow to start, it might as well be in reverse. The first episode is, simply, flat-out terrible. Which is why, if you're a Bochco fan, you'd be wise to wait for the fourth episode, when Bar moves to mediocre.

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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