‘So Help Me Todd’ 1×13 Review: “Wall Of Fire”

So Help Me Todd 1×13 “Wall of Fire” brings Margaret (Marcia Gay Harden) and Todd (Skylar Astin) full-circle, making it feel very much like a season finale. While the pair started the season more-or-less forced to work together and struggling to figure out how to manage it, this episode forces them to work independently. And now they can’t seem to figure out how they ever managed it solo. It’s the kind of character growth you love to see.

Cross-Purposes

Okay, call me a bit of a law geek. But I kinda loved the show’s premise this week. Todd and Margaret inadvertently find themselves at opposing sides of the same case. It’s a clear conflict of interest, and so the firm itself has to erect a metaphorical “wall” to avoid even the slightest hint of impropriety. Well, I say metaphorical. It’s clear that if the Keeper of the Wall, Lyle (Tristen J. Winger) had his way, there’d be an actual wall erected to separate the two camps. With Todd probably moved out into the parking lot for good measure.

It’s all played for laughs, of course, but Lyle’s concerns are no joke. In the real world, this kind of conflict of interest could cause huge problems for the firm. But there’s also some hilarity in the idea that Todd and Margaret can’t even interact on a personal (familial) level, leaving Todd to celebrate sister Allison’s (Madeline Wise) birthday out on the patio.

On a narrative level, the fact that Todd and Margaret are on opposite sides of the same case suggests that one of them is going to end up on the losing side. Of course, the show finds a way to neatly skirt the issue. In a legal sense, at least. But that doesn’t mean that one of them still doesn’t end up with the fuzzy end of the lollipop.

In a sense, their hearts got both of them involved in the case in the first place. Margaret gets involved when Gus (Jeffrey Nordling) ropes her into it. After never returning her text. (Boo, hiss!) Todd gets involved when personally asked to help by Susan’s (Inga Schlingmann) fiancé Peter (Desmond Chiam). To the show’s credit, it avoids the rather obvious temptation to make Peter a jerk in furtherance of potential Todd/Susan shipping down the line. Peter genuinely seems like a good guy. Maybe a little too good to be true, in fact. But he clearly manages to convince Todd of his good intentions, since the erstwhile lover seems to develop something of a crush of his own over the course of the episode.

In the end, while both Margaret and Todd let their hearts get them into their current case, only one of them ends up on top. Margaret and Gus seemed primed to take their relationship to the next step – though he’s going to have to work for it after leading her on a bit this episode. But things aren’t looking so promising between Todd and Susan, who seems truly happy with Peter. And, honestly, Todd seems to be okay with that. He wants her to be happy, and if that happiness is found with Peter, well…he’s happy for her. Though it does suck to be alone.

What’s Next?

With the recent announcement about the show’s pickup for a second season, this all begs the question of where the show intends to go from here? One thing seems certain: Todd and Margaret are right now stronger than ever. But for everything else?

So Help Me Todd 1×13 “Wall of Fire” left the writers at a crossroads in terms of the Todd/Susan relationship. Yes, this is a ship that has ostensibly been set up from the very first episode. The show could still decide to go down that route. But the writers haven’t done much with it (or Susan’s character in general) to-date, so they could decide that this is a good place to leave any prospect of their romance for good. Susan’s happy with Peter. Todd’s happy for them. What more needs to be said?

And, honestly? As much as I’ve wanted to ship the pair all season, the show has given me precious little to hang that hat on. So I’d be fine with either way the show decides to take this ship. Provided, of course, that they find something for Susan to do. She doesn’t have to be one-half of an OTP to have a purpose on the show. And her purpose shouldn’t be just that. So here’s hoping that moving forward, the writers find something for both Susan and Francey (Rosa Arredondo) to do outside of being Characters Who Are Technically Present.

As for Margaret and Gus, they truly are a (potential) romance of opposites. And that gives a lot of fodder for humor – and growth. But it could also end a giant disaster. Maybe it won’t be a ship that lasts forever (though heaven knows Margaret deserves some happiness in love). But I’m looking forward to seeing where this story goes, either way.

One thing is for sure, though: Margaret doesn’t have to act strong. She is strong. And, whatever else may happen in her future, I’m glad she finally sees that too.