Reasonable Doubt – Season 2 Episode 1 “Can I Live?” Recap & Review

“Can I Live?”

Episode 1 of Reasonable Doubt season 2 starts with Jax waking up and hugging her husband in bed. Simultaneously, we see a battered Shanelle standing over Tucker as he begs her to call the police. He has been hit and bleeding on the floor. However, Shanelle only continues to watch as he takes his final breaths amid an apology. 

The scene then cuts to Jax at her therapist’s office. She is excited to be off work and looking after the kids. She is in a better place and even though Lewis has not moved back into the house, things are okay between them.

He sneaks into the house almost every night, but they have not been intimate. Jax also talks about not starting her medication and the fact that she is expected to go back to work. She is not looking forward to returning to work, but asks the therapist to clear her.  

After the session, Jax heads for her run when Shanelle calls and informs her she killed Tucker. As expected, Jax rushes to Shanelle’s house and finds the police securing the scene. Seeing Tucker’s dead body triggers her trauma, but there is no time for that.

Shanelle explains that Tucker was choking her, and she grabbed the nearest trophy and hit him. Shanelle says she called the cops and then Jax. The police insist on taking Shanelle’s photos to document the injury, and Jax orders them to call an ambulance for her friend. She then calls Lewis and explains everything. He offers to pick up the kids from school, even though Jax wants him to come to her. 

At the hospital, the detectives ask Shanelle some questions, but Jax quickly stops them as they didn’t follow protocol. She and her friends worry that Shanelle will be overwhelmed by the media coverage of the case.

Jax warns Shanelle from speaking to the police without a lawyer. After sorting everything, Jax returns home and has a panic attack. Thankfully, Lewis helps her through it. They then argue when Jax informs him that she is going back to work and will help Shanelle with her case. Lewis storms out, saying he wants to stay, but Jax is making it hard.

The following day, Jax returns to work, and everyone is glad to have her back. The senior partners are ready for her to take over the Tucker case and grow concerned when Jax mentions she is going to try to get a better work-life balance. She assures them it is only temporary and they happily back off.

Later, Jax takes Shanelle to get a psych evaluation and grows concerned when the doctor says Shanelle is still scared of Tucker. She has not acknowledged the recent trauma. Later, Jax heads to the DA’s office to find out what they have against Shanelle.

Mike says things are still iffy, but if the evidence supports self-defence, then they will inform her. While they talk, another prosecutor, Lucy, drops by and makes a dig at Mike for interacting with Jax and getting doughnuts as bribes. Lucy is new but a force to reckon with.

On the other hand, Naima confesses to Lewis that she is happy Jax is back at work. She feels suffocated that Jax has been in the house full-time. She reveals that they know Lewis has been sneaking into the house.

Later, Lewis runs into Jax while she is also grabbing something to eat. He invites her to lunch, but she gets a call from Daniel that things aren’t going well. According to the ME, Shanelle waited two hours after Tucker’s death to call the police. She also moved the body. Jax rainchecks lunch with Lewis and visits Shanelle.

Shanelle says everything was a blur. She turned Tucker over to make sure he was dead. She lashes out, saying it was self-defense and Jax tries to comfort her. However, she tells Shanelle that she might be charged, given all the inconsistency. Shanelle asks Jax to look into a plea deal if things get messier. Jax returns home to an empty bed and ends up having nightmares. She then opts to take her medication.

The next day, she arrives late for the couple’s therapy and the session doesn’t go well. The therapist advises them to stop counting who hurt who more. By the end of the session, Lewis angrily leaves and Jax gets a call from her mom. Things between the two ladies are not exactly great, but Jax tries to ignore her mom’s remark about therapy being useless.

Jax heads to the DA’s office and Mike tells her that Lucy is in charge of the case. Lucy sets up a press conference and announces they have charged Shanelle with first-degree murder and she is already in custody. Jax tries to talk to Lucy about overcharging Shanelle and failing to notify the lawyer before the arrest. Lucy goes hard on Jax and refuses to back down. 

Following the arrest, Jax visits Shanelle in prison and informs her there will be no plea deal. Bail is looking unlikely and Shanelle needs to try to stay calm during the arraignment.

Later that night, Jax returns home and Lewis drops by. She tells him that she has decided to get Shanelle a different lawyer since she is not in the best place in her life. She has finally learnt to prioritise herself and can’t do that if she is Shanelle’s lawyer. She still plans to be there for Shanelle but wants to work on their marriage, too.

Lewis is happy that she is trying to give their relationship a chance. The episode ends with Jax calling one of her old acquaintances, Corey Cash, to talk about Shanelle’s case.

The Episode Review

Season 2 is finally here and we are sorry, Michael Ealy, but we are ready to lose it over Morris Chestnut. It is so good to see him back on the screen, looking fine and divine like always.

Reasonable Doubts season 2 has started on the right footing and we do not doubt that things will only get better this season. Jax is already showing some growth by choosing herself over work and Lewis is sincere about wanting to fix their marriage. It won’t be easy, but it will be entertaining to watch their redemption journey.

The only question we have is whether Corey Cash will jeopardise this new stability in Jax’s life. Lastly, this season will delve into domestic violence which can be triggering for many people. Hopefully, the show will handle this theme with the utmost sensitivity it deserves.