So Help Me Todd has been a delightful addition to the TV landscape, offering a unique blend of legal drama, humor, and compelling character dynamics. But now, as the fate of the series hangs in the balance, many fans are wondering: Is Season 3 the right move for the show? Could it continue to build on its success, or would a third season fail to do justice to the essential characters we’ve come to love?
In this article, we’re going to examine why So Help Me Todd’s potential Season 3 might not be the best idea—especially when it comes to one pivotal character whose story needs more time, care, and attention. Let’s dive in and explore how the show could falter if it continues on its current path, and why it might be better to let it go before it’s too late.
The Unspoken Hero of So Help Me Todd: Margaret
At the heart of So Help Me Todd is a mother-son duo like no other. While Todd (played by Skylar Astin) may be the titular character, it’s his mother, Margaret (played by Marcia Gay Harden), who truly steals the show. Margaret is a no-nonsense attorney, a brilliant mind, and a force of nature, who often finds herself in a tug-of-war between her professional success and her relationship with her wayward son.
If you’ve watched So Help Me Todd, you’ll agree that Margaret is the glue that holds the show together. Her character is layered, complex, and, at times, unpredictable, making her the perfect centerpiece in the legal drama-comedy mix. But as we look ahead to a potential Season 3, it’s hard to ignore the fact that the show might not be able to do justice to her character’s full potential.
Margaret Deserves More Than a Surface-Level Exploration
One of the main reasons So Help Me Todd’s third season could be a disaster is that Margaret’s character has yet to receive the depth and exploration she truly deserves. From the outset, we know she’s an attorney at the top of her game—smart, savvy, and incredibly sharp. But we haven’t really delved deep enough into what makes her tick.
Season 1 and 2 have touched on her personal life, particularly her relationship with Todd, but we still don’t know enough about what motivates Margaret outside of her job and family. For instance, what are her aspirations outside of being a mother and a lawyer? What past relationships or experiences shaped her into the woman she is today? These are questions that deserve answers.
In a potential Season 3, it would be easy to continue relying on Margaret as the smart, strong, and slightly intimidating mother figure, but that would be a disservice to the complexity of her character. We need to see more—more of her struggles, more of her personal desires, and more of the obstacles she faces outside of her professional and family roles. A rushed or shallow exploration of her character in a third season wouldn’t be enough to truly do justice to Margaret.
Could Season 3 Over-Simplify Margaret’s Character?
If So Help Me Todd continues into a third season without fully unpacking Margaret’s complexities, there’s a real danger of oversimplifying her character. Right now, Margaret is portrayed as an incredibly capable, but often emotionally distant, character. While this dynamic has its place in the show, it also risks pigeonholing her into a one-dimensional role.
By giving her more of a backstory and a fuller range of emotional experiences, So Help Me Todd could turn Margaret into a much more multi-dimensional character. However, if the writers attempt to move forward with Season 3 without addressing this need for development, we could see Margaret reduced to just a plot device—a character who is there simply to move Todd’s storyline forward, without any real depth or exploration. That would not be fair to the character, and it would ultimately make the show feel less authentic.
Todd’s Story Shouldn’t Be the Only Focus
While So Help Me Todd is primarily Todd’s story, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that his relationship with his mother is the emotional backbone of the show. Without Margaret’s character, Todd’s journey would lose its heart. But as the show leans more and more into Todd’s personal development—his career, his relationships, and his emotional growth—it’s important to remember that Margaret’s story is just as essential.
Season 3 could easily fall into the trap of focusing exclusively on Todd’s growth and struggles, particularly as he navigates his private investigator career and his relationship with his mother. But if the writers continue to sideline Margaret’s personal journey, it could feel like an imbalanced show. Todd’s character arc might be compelling, but it should never overshadow Margaret’s equally compelling potential for growth and development.
The dynamic between Todd and Margaret is what makes the show special. It’s the heart and soul of the series. A third season should explore how both characters evolve and grow—together, not just as individuals. Margaret’s growth needs to be as integral to the storyline as Todd’s, otherwise the show risks losing the essence of what made it so appealing in the first place.
The Risk of Repetition in Season 3
Another danger of a third season is the possibility of repeating the same patterns without advancing the characters or the story. If So Help Me Todd doesn’t find new ways to challenge its characters, especially Margaret, the series could quickly feel stale and predictable. Margaret’s role as the competent, often emotionally closed-off lawyer has been established—now is the time to push her into new, uncharted territory.
Imagine Margaret facing a personal crisis that forces her to confront her emotional walls, or perhaps a case that challenges her moral compass in a way she’s never experienced before. Without such developments, Season 3 could easily fall into the trap of rehashing the same old tropes, ultimately doing a disservice to both the character and the audience.
The Stakes Are High: Why Season 3 Could Be Make or Break for Margaret
At the end of the day, Season 3 could be a make-or-break moment for Margaret’s character. If the writers and showrunners don’t take the opportunity to delve deeper into her motivations, her past, and her inner struggles, we could be left with a show that feels repetitive and lacking in emotional depth.
This could ultimately lead to the cancellation of the series, not because of lackluster ratings or poor performances, but because the core of the show—the dynamic between Todd and Margaret—wasn’t given the care it deserves. Fans may tune in for the cases and the drama, but they stay for the characters, especially Margaret. If her story isn’t handled with the depth and complexity it deserves, the show could lose its spark.
How Can So Help Me Todd Do Justice to Margaret in Season 3?
If So Help Me Todd were to get a third season, there are a few ways it could do justice to Margaret’s character:
- Delve Into Her Past: Give fans a deeper look into Margaret’s history. Who was she before she became the successful attorney and mother we know today? What shaped her emotionally and intellectually?
- Explore Her Personal Struggles: Margaret is brilliant, but she’s also human. Allow her to face challenges outside of her professional life—whether it’s a relationship, a health scare, or a personal moral dilemma.
- Make Her a True Equal to Todd: Instead of relegating Margaret to a secondary role, give her more agency in the story. Her growth should be just as pivotal as Todd’s, and her actions should influence the direction of the show.
Conclusion: Why Margaret’s Story Needs More Time and Care
As much as we love Todd’s journey, So Help Me Todd cannot afford to ignore the depth of its other lead character—Margaret. A third season could be a crucial opportunity to flesh out her character, allowing her to grow in ways that feel earned and authentic. However, if the show continues to prioritize Todd’s development while sidelining Margaret, it risks losing what makes the series truly special.
If So Help Me Todd is renewed for a third season, the writers must ensure that both Todd and Margaret have ample room to evolve. Margaret deserves more than just surface-level exploration. If the show fails to give her character the attention and depth she deserves, the third season could ultimately tarnish the legacy of a show that has so much potential.
