The Guardian

The Guardian

2001
The Guardian
Watch on
The Guardian
Watch on

The Guardian

7.4 | TV-PG | en | Drama

Nick Fallin is a hotshot lawyer working at his father's ultrasuccessful Pittsburgh law firm. Unfortunately, the high life has gotten the best of Nick. Arrested for drug use, he's sentenced to do 1,500 hours of community service, somehow to be squeezed into his 24/7 cutthroat world of mergers, acquisitions and board meetings. Reluctantly, he's now The Guardian - a part-time child advocate at Legal Aid Services, where one case after another is an eye-opening instance of kids caught up in difficult circumstances.

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Seasons & Episodes

3
2
1
EP4  The Father-Daughter Dance
Oct. 14,2003
The Father-Daughter Dance

Lulu starts her job as Director of LSP, leaving Alvin to wonder if he is needed at LSP. Nick helps a couple sue a fertility clinic because the baby is black. The parents want to keep the baby and the clinic to pay for damages. Nick needs to help find Samantha Gray who lost her sight because her dad. Samantha goes to Nick's office to tell him she isn't going back to the place she came from. Nick has dinner with Mrs. Aaronson who became pregnant after doing a procedure to have a baby, now the lawsuit against the clinic will be dropped. Samantha learns her dad lost his rights to be a dad because he was drug addict. Nick waits with Samantha on a bench in the courthouse wondering if her dad will show up for the hearing. When he doesn't show up Nick finds him doing drugs.

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The Father-Daughter Dance

Lulu starts her job as Director of LSP, leaving Alvin to wonder if he is needed at LSP. Nick helps a couple sue a fertility clinic because the baby is black. The parents want to keep the baby and the clinic to pay for damages. Nick needs to help find Samantha Gray who lost her sight because her dad. Samantha goes to Nick's office to tell him she isn't going back to the place she came from. Nick has dinner with Mrs. Aaronson who became pregnant after doing a procedure to have a baby, now the lawsuit against the clinic will be dropped. Samantha learns her dad lost his rights to be a dad because he was drug addict. Nick waits with Samantha on a bench in the courthouse wondering if her dad will show up for the hearing. When he doesn't show up Nick finds him doing drugs.

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EP21  Blood In, Blood Out
Apr. 27,2004
Blood In, Blood Out

Nick 's future at the firm is about to be voted on, as Nick awaits the verdict on his future he takes on two cases that involve two boys. The first boy Nick defends is Kevin Brown who is accused of raping a girl who became pregnant with a baby. The second boy Nick defends is a young boy who attacked an 8 year-old girl and attacked a social worker who was trying to place him in a foster family. The boy was placed in a center that was supposed to help rehabilitate the boy into society. Alvin defends a former client of LSP named Taliek Allen. Alvin defends a former client of LSP named Taliek Allen who fired his attorney. Taliek Allen shot a friend of Alvin's. He tries to get his client's sentence appealed. Alvin's client says he is tired of going through the appeals process to get his prison sentence reduced.

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Blood In, Blood Out

Nick 's future at the firm is about to be voted on, as Nick awaits the verdict on his future he takes on two cases that involve two boys. The first boy Nick defends is Kevin Brown who is accused of raping a girl who became pregnant with a baby. The second boy Nick defends is a young boy who attacked an 8 year-old girl and attacked a social worker who was trying to place him in a foster family. The boy was placed in a center that was supposed to help rehabilitate the boy into society. Alvin defends a former client of LSP named Taliek Allen. Alvin defends a former client of LSP named Taliek Allen who fired his attorney. Taliek Allen shot a friend of Alvin's. He tries to get his client's sentence appealed. Alvin's client says he is tired of going through the appeals process to get his prison sentence reduced.

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EP22  Antarctica
May. 04,2004
Antarctica

Nick takes a job at the law firm of Walter and McNeil. Lulu gives birth to a baby girl. She decides to work part-time at legal services of Pittsburgh to take care of the baby. Burton thinks his son made a mistake by taking the new job. Alvin tries to stop the execution of Taliek Allen because of new evidence that Alvin's client suffered brain damage when he was attacked. Alvin along with Nick must try and get a trial stating why he should live and not be executed. Lulu decides to have full custody of the baby and give the baby her last name not Nick's. Alvin is angry because of what Nick told his client regarding his chances for a clemency hearing. Nick learns that Burton has stepped down from his firm to be a grandfather to the baby. Nick also leaves his job at the firm of Walter and McNeil.

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Antarctica

Nick takes a job at the law firm of Walter and McNeil. Lulu gives birth to a baby girl. She decides to work part-time at legal services of Pittsburgh to take care of the baby. Burton thinks his son made a mistake by taking the new job. Alvin tries to stop the execution of Taliek Allen because of new evidence that Alvin's client suffered brain damage when he was attacked. Alvin along with Nick must try and get a trial stating why he should live and not be executed. Lulu decides to have full custody of the baby and give the baby her last name not Nick's. Alvin is angry because of what Nick told his client regarding his chances for a clemency hearing. Nick learns that Burton has stepped down from his firm to be a grandfather to the baby. Nick also leaves his job at the firm of Walter and McNeil.

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7.4 | TV-PG | en | Drama | More Info
Released: 2001-09-25 | Released Producted By: , Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
info

Nick Fallin is a hotshot lawyer working at his father's ultrasuccessful Pittsburgh law firm. Unfortunately, the high life has gotten the best of Nick. Arrested for drug use, he's sentenced to do 1,500 hours of community service, somehow to be squeezed into his 24/7 cutthroat world of mergers, acquisitions and board meetings. Reluctantly, he's now The Guardian - a part-time child advocate at Legal Aid Services, where one case after another is an eye-opening instance of kids caught up in difficult circumstances.

Genre

Drama

Watch Online

The Guardian (2001) is now streaming with subscription on Paramount+

Cast

Simon Baker , Dabney Coleman , Alan Rosenberg , Wendy Moniz , Raphael Sbarge

Director

Vahan Moosekian

Producted By

,

The Guardian Videos and Images

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The Guardian Audience Reviews

SincereFinest disgusting, overrated, pointless
KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.
Derry Herrera Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.
Brennan Camacho Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.
carol-98151 I just discovered this program on Amazon Prime. Don't know how I missed the original. One of the best series I have watched in years. The conflicts, the human aspects and the characters touch us all. Great writing - well done by all!My only complaint was the "Lulu" character. I found her to be a narcissistic, insensitive, offensive and repulsive human being. Other viewers seem to like her character, but she did irritate me.I would highly recommend this program. Enjoy!
thezone1 I found this title on Hulu. I loved The Mentalist with Simon Baker, so, I gave this a shot. Nick Fallon (Simon Baker), is a very intelligent attorney who apparently loved to party. He gets busted for possession of cocaine and gets sentenced to 1500 hours of community service. This service is what makes the series so interesting. He is used to operating in a corporate environment playing for millions of dollars. Now, he has to help children often stuck in impossible situations. He tries so hard to do the right thing but it doesn't always turn out the way he wants or the way you think it should. I have known people that were stuck in the "system" and it isn't always the best for kids. In one episode a teenager is being seduced by her father (John DeLance). As awful as this is, it turns out that this destroys the family. The girl is sent into a worse situation (if you can believe that) and even says she would rather be having sex with her dad than being stuck in the system. A very interesting comment by the producer on the way it really works in the real world. I think what I really like about this series is it gives you a glimpse into what life is really like when you have to deal with judges and social workers. I guess the message is to keep your nose clean and whatever you do don't put yourself in a position that you have to deal with these people. Excellent Series, I was disappointed to see that it only has 3 seasons.
alanjarvishemenway (SPOILERS) There were at least a dozen writers for the series and multiple directors. In season 1, whenever a speech was given it was very impressive. There was SOME continuity to the story line between Nick and Lulu. In season 3, Nick was becoming more expressive and responding with smiles at folks. He became more likable. Then the writers didn't stick to a steady development. The writers were a mixed bunch who would go off on tangents such as the rapid succession of sex with the female police officer. It is reasonable to assume that the overall plan would have a season 4 which would have resulted in a better relationship between Nick and Lulu and they finally get married before the series ends. In the entire series, Nick never tells her that he loves her. The two of them would look at each other without saying a word and you are waiting for him to say it but he folds. She occasionally looked like she was consciously waiting for him to say something. If she could read him she'd know he cared. The writers had Lulu insulted for her assuming that Nick only wanted to marry her for the sake of the pregnancy. He didn't respond to that! The writers could have set up a happy ending by having Nick acting like a young man in love and telling her over and over again how much he loves her, and she respond irresistibly. Or, was that supposed to happen in season 4? How much notice did the writers have of the cancellation in order to slap together the close of the series? Were they holding out for the series being eventually renewed? The writers ruined the series for the viewers in season 3. They had Nick and Lulu getting along better but they didn't develop it the way the fans wanted it and the ratings suffered.
Moviegoer19 I just finished watching all 67 episodes of The Guardian. I didn't know anything about the show when it aired on CBS 8 years ago, but now, thanks to Netflix, I found it. I found The Guardian to be excellent in so many ways. The writing, the acting, the stories: almost all uniformly great. As other reviewers have stated, the show was often very moving, thanks to the quality of the writing and the acting. It was believable (most of the time) without stereotypical behaviors or responses. The character portrayals were super: from Simon Baker as Nick Fallin to Dabney Coleman as Burton Fallin to Alan Rosenberg as Alvin Masterson, to name a few. The overall plot/theme of the show, with Nick Fallin as the corporate lawyer who must juggle his time between his father's wealthy law firm and Legal Services of Pittsburgh which serves the indigent, is engrossing and thought provoking. The show raises many deep issues without being (overly) clichéd. In addition, I feel that I gained insight into the legal system and what it is to be a lawyer, on both sides of the socio-economic spectrum.