Yes, I rated this 10 of 10. I rarely do that. This episode is as worthy of the honor as are only a handful of other episodes from the entire nine-season run. Paul Drake is a victim of soicumstance, as Jerome Howard would have said (nyuk, nyuk!) and even the authorities seem apologetic for having to do their duty. It's up to Mason to unravel this Gordian knot of intrigue, and after having done so - Mason does what he rarely does, which is to tell a third party just exactly what he thinks of him.
One can see, in this show about three years into the series run, Mason's gradual evolution from an attorney who works on the edge of the law to that of greater respectability and acceptance by his fellow court officers. No more film noir, merely film grise. By Season Seven, he'd be wearing the white hat in full force. While I liked the first two seasons the most, Season Three still was full of shows worthy of the time to watch.
One can see, in this show about three years into the series run, Mason's gradual evolution from an attorney who works on the edge of the law to that of greater respectability and acceptance by his fellow court officers. No more film noir, merely film grise. By Season Seven, he'd be wearing the white hat in full force. While I liked the first two seasons the most, Season Three still was full of shows worthy of the time to watch.