The Premise: Legal Drama Meets Family Dysfunction
So Help Me Todd tries to be a quirky mix of legal drama and family comedy. Starring Marcia Gay Harden as a sharp, no-nonsense attorney and Skylar Astin as her well-meaning, chaotic son, the show builds itself around an unusual mother-son team navigating bizarre cases while juggling personal tension.
Sounds promising, right? On paper, absolutely. But in execution? Well, let’s just say it struggles to find its footing.
The Plot: A Case of Too Much, Too Soon
Todd (Astin), a former private investigator with a knack for breaking the rules, is hired by his high-powered mother Margaret (Harden), who reluctantly brings him into her law firm. Together, they tackle legal cases and family drama in equal measure. Each episode delivers a new mystery-of-the-week, peppered with quirky humor and emotional “awwww” moments.
Unfortunately, the show tries so hard to be everything at once that it ends up being not much at all.
The Casting: Star Power Doesn’t Always Save the Script
Let’s be honest: Marcia Gay Harden is a powerhouse. She brings sophistication, nuance, and sharp timing to the role. Skylar Astin, best known for his work in Pitch Perfect, adds charm and wit. Their chemistry is… fine. Not electric, not awkward — just fine.
But even talented actors can’t salvage weak writing. The banter feels forced. The jokes rarely land. You find yourself rooting for them more out of pity than passion.
The Humor: Trying Too Hard to Be “Fun”
The show aims for quirky. Think Monk or Psych—but with less bite. Instead of clever laughs, you get awkward punchlines and predictable setups.
Picture this: Todd does something reckless. Margaret lectures him. Cue canned laughter. Rinse and repeat.
The humor lacks edge. It’s safe, inoffensive, and ultimately forgettable. It’s the kind of background noise you put on when you’re folding laundry—not something you can’t wait to binge.
The Tone: Legal Drama Lite (With a Side of Sentimentality)
One of the biggest problems with So Help Me Todd is its identity crisis.
Is it a legal drama? A family sitcom? A feel-good character study?
It’s all of the above—and that’s the issue. The tonal shifts are jarring. One moment you’re dealing with a serious courtroom scene, and the next, Todd is bumbling his way through a stakeout like a 2000s rom-com sidekick.
It’s like watching Law & Order and Gilmore Girls mash together—with none of the charm or stakes.
The Writing: Predictable, Cliché, and Safe
TV writing doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel. But it should at least feel fresh.
Here, everything is formulaic. Each episode has a case, a family spat, a goofy mishap, and a heartwarming wrap-up. Wash, rinse, repeat.
The characters speak in clichés. Plot twists are visible from a mile away. There’s no risk, no edge, no surprise. Just comfort food TV—but without the flavor.
The Characters: One-Dimensional with Occasional Flickers
Let’s break it down:
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Margaret (Marcia Gay Harden): A control freak who might have a heart of gold. We’ve seen this type a hundred times before.
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Todd (Skylar Astin): A lovable screw-up who’s actually a genius beneath the chaos. Sound familiar?
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Supporting cast: Token coworkers, a quirky receptionist, an ex-girlfriend… all cardboard cutouts without real depth.
There are brief flashes of potential—moments where characters hint at more complex inner lives. But the show never digs deeper. It’s all surface-level.
The Direction & Pacing: CBS Assembly Line Vibes
You can almost hear the executive notes behind each scene:
“Add a joke here.”
“Cut to a close-up of Marcia’s reaction.”
“Make Todd trip over something.”
There’s a mechanical feel to how it’s shot. The pacing feels like it’s checking boxes, not building momentum. Every episode is just… fine. Never awful. Never memorable.
The Verdict: CBS Comfort TV, But Not In a Good Way
Let’s not sugarcoat it: this show is disposable. It’s not terrible—but it’s not essential, either.
If you’re into safe, low-stakes TV with familiar faces and easy laughs, you might enjoy it. But if you’re craving depth, originality, or storytelling that surprises you? So Help Me Todd won’t deliver.
What Could Have Saved It?
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Sharper writing: Give the dialogue more bite.
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Riskier tone: Choose between comedy or drama and commit.
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Deeper character arcs: Let us see their flaws and growth.
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Better cases: Make the legal side compelling, not just filler.
Why This Show Exists Anyway
CBS knows its audience. Viewers who loved The Good Wife but want less stress and more laughs. Folks who aren’t looking for edgy prestige TV but still want something mildly entertaining.
So Help Me Todd fits neatly into that category. It’s TV for people who miss network drama comforts—predictable plots, neat resolutions, and a sprinkle of emotion.
Is It Worth Watching? Depends on Your Mood
If you’re in the mood for:
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Mindless entertainment
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Familiar faces
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Background noise while multitasking
Then sure, give it a shot.
But if you’re expecting:
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Innovative storytelling
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Laugh-out-loud comedy
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Compelling courtroom drama
You’ll likely be disappointed.
What Viewers Are Saying
Online chatter mirrors the tone of the show: lukewarm.
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“It’s cute, I guess.”
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“Skylar is charming but the writing is meh.”
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“Good show to fall asleep to.”
Not exactly glowing praise.
Bottom Line: It’s Just… There
So Help Me Todd had potential. With a killer cast and an intriguing concept, it could’ve been CBS’s next big hit. But instead, it plays it safe—and ends up feeling like filler.
You won’t hate it. You just won’t remember it.
Conclusion
So Help Me Todd is a classic case of wasted potential. With a mother-son legal duo, an Emmy-winning lead, and a promising concept, it had every reason to shine. But it gets bogged down in clichés, lacks tonal clarity, and refuses to take storytelling risks. In the end, it’s background TV — pleasant, inoffensive, and ultimately forgettable.
