Cupertino Season 1, Episode 6, “Harper,” puts the dream team in both a standstill and a race against a life-saving clock. This episode, written by Keith Eisner and directed by Rosemary Rodriguez, takes what this show already does well and turns it on its head. The results aren’t only satisfying, they’re energizing. Cupertino is not even halfway through its debut season, and it is adamant to keep finding ways to make it known that it is must-watch TV.
This legal drama continues to make choices that are surprising in both story and structure. Even the direction and editing have literal and figurative depth that is becoming increasingly rare to see on TV, let alone network TV. “Harper” starting from Nichole’s perspective alone exemplifies this. It’s unexpected and exciting. That perspective-changing opening and the storytelling devices this episode uses — the cars and technology — set a high bar that pay off in the end.
MORE: Cupertino Season 1, Episode 5 Review: “Every Disaster Makes You a Better Lawyer”
A Productive Traffic Jam
Cupertino has spent more time with the core three – Michael, Olivia, and Christy – and even Natalia. It needs more time with Nichole, who mostly appears on the other side of the courtroom. This episode gets in her head and puts the viewer in her shoes by starting with that Shepherd Pandas (What a name) offer. “Harper” does such a good job of making that firm weird and uncomfortable. The dogs have a disarming quality that can only do so much.
It’s a big choice – and the right one – for Cupertino to have Nichole and Michael get stuck in a car while she works through this decision. In those scenes, the episode delivers these morsels of characterization. For example, Nichole chooses luxury because she didn’t have it growing up and she chases distractions, from Michael’s perspective. That observation tugs on how well they know each other. Renée Elise Goldsberry delivers “They can crush you, you know” in a way that really captures how much Nichole cares about Michael.
All of which folds nicely into how differently they work. Michael has this small, tight knit team, and Nichole is on the outside of that. More broadly, it’s respectfully ambitious to spend most of “Harper” in cars. It inspires visual creativity and a change of pace from Cupertino’s past court scenes. That different approach compliments Ry, who would be in a self-driving car, and Michael having to switch arguments.
MORE: Cupertino Season 1, Episode 4 Review: “It’s Been a Weird Day”
Deciding Who to Fight
The cars also force communication between Olivia and her older brother, Jacob. This episode has a lot of heavy lifting to do there because Cupertino is introducing this character in such interesting circumstances. It works for the most part, with the load-bearing exposition about their parents. Jacob being lonely and his parents becoming more overbearing with him now that Olivia has moved out explains how he crosses digital paths with Angela, a scammer.
That’s such a delicate conversation to navigate — also because of what it insinuates. Olivia’s disbelief in Angela doesn’t translate as protectiveness. Instead, it lands as Olivia thinking that Jacob isn’t smart enough to notice a scam and that he can’t find love with someone real. While he’s searching for that, Olivia seems to have found something with Vik. His “Well, I guess it’s better to be needed than not” before agreeing to help her with whatever she needs makes me want to see more of them.
However, I appreciate that Jacob asks about Michael because there is chemistry there, but it’s decidedly different from what Olivia has with Vik and Michael has with Nichole. Mostly, I like that this storyline with Jacob makes Olivia question if she has become cynical. I don’t know if we’re far enough into the season or Olivia’s tenure as a lawyer for it, but I’m more than willing for Cupertino to prove me wrong.
Regardless, one of the best parts of “Harper” is when Christy takes a beat to take in Michael’s compliment. She is good at her job! She spends most of this episode in a race that is anything but easy. It’s exhausting – emotionally and physically – but she never gives up. The dream team’s fight pays off in the relief of that adorable, closing group hug.
MORE: Cupertino Season 1, Episode 3 Review: “Congratulations, We Exist”
—
