Memphis-born legal drama “Bluff City Law” faces uncertainty of a second season

By Emma Hurst

Image from NBC

Memphis-made NBC legal drama “Bluff City Law” started strong airing its first episode on September 23, 2019. The first episode’s 4.6 million viewers showed great potential as the season-high, but dropped as low as 3.2 million as the season continued. However, the production of episodes has come to a halt with NBC having no plans to air reruns of the show. 

The show follows accomplished lawyer Sydney Strait who initially works at her father Elijah’s well-known law firm until their complicated relationship drives her away. However, Strait’s mother suddenly passes away, leading Elijah to ask Sydney to rejoin his civil rights firm amid this loss. Strait agrees, aware that working with her father will give her the best chance of making a change in the world. The show as a whole portrays the investigations of a Bluff City law firm that dedicates itself to clients fighting for justice against corporate, institutional and government opponents.

The filming of the show in Memphis brings money and jobs to the city. People involved in tourism services are interested in what “Bluff City Law” could do for Memphis, mainly in exhibiting iconic locations featured in the show. Along with the boost in tourism, job opportunities for local film production crews expand, and revenues are increased for local businesses with the entire cast and crew in town.

In an interview with the Commercial Appeal, producer and co-creator of the show Michael Aguilar said, “The more we researched and learned about Memphis, the more it made sense to set the show here. The more time we spend [in Memphis], the more excited we become about the stories we can tell.” 

Unfortunately, the show is quite possibly facing its end. 

The show received a 36 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 6.62/10. As for the audience reviews, “Bluff City Law” received an eighty-eight percent approval rating. 

While reviews and ratings make “Bluff City Law”’s future seem dim, fans of the show are fighting for season two. With enough support, it is entirely possible that “Bluff City Law” can continue for a second season. Producer of the show Dean Georgaris tweeted on November 25, 2019: “Let’s hope people find the show. And we can pick up the pieces in season two."