So Help Me Todd – Season 2 Episode 10 “The Tooth is Out There” Recap & Review

The Tooth is Out There

Episode 10 of  So Help Me Todd’s final season starts with Todd bringing Margaret up to speed about Folding. She had lingering suspicions about something like this and she has been proved right. For now, they have to focus on Reese Walters, the “Mother of America” and owner of the cosmetic brand La Brilliance. If she can land Walters as a client, Margaret may well end up saving the firm. However, due to confusion with the Lee Sisters (who make a brief cameo in the finale), Margaret takes on Eve Parsons as a client.

Eve used to work for the firm and is suing them for damages. Even though Margaret sees merit in her case and sympathizes with her, she cannot risk the firm’s future. But when Eve reveals that she has a rich benefactor and will pay in full to fight the case, Margaret changes her mind.

Todd commits himself to solving the mystery of the 28th floor. He finds a letter by post from the Portland Philanthropic Society, which seems to be Folding’s choice of enterprise to launder his money. When Todd sees the list of charities the PPS donates to, his eyes instantly go to Mouths of Joy which looks circumspect.

In other news, Allison is suing Margaret for not paying her as a medical examiner. It looks like a reach for something deeper but for now, Allison maintains she wants the money. Eve alleges that Reese has anger issues. In a confrontation, Reese assaulted Eve and damaged her hand beyond repair.

Margaret meets Jordana, Eve’s benefactor. Jordana is a successful industrialist and part of a sisterhood called the Roses. Her rich brethren will give all their business to Margaret if she wins this case. Now, she has a lot riding on it!

Todd and Lyle are left to man all the phones since everyone in the office is out on sick leave. It hinders his investigation but Susan helps him out. Todd and Lyle go undercover to Brilliance’s office. There, Todd gets a lead on a woman named Diana, who used to work for the firm from another employee, Lanie. 

Todd also forwards all the calls at the office to his own number to get more insider info. Todd spots the dental van and asks Margaret to chase it. Their suspicion is confirmed when they learn that the driver is an unqualified dentist driving a worn-out van around. He also receives paychecks from his benefactor, who is probably Folding. Lyle helps get the identity of the person using a Swiss bank account to embezzle the funds. Once the photo is decrypted, they will have proof that Folding is the Broker.

Todd has been avoiding Judy since he isn’t sure what the future holds for them. By happenstance, she overhears one of the phone calls from the Brilliance office and says that the speaker wants to give compensation to Diana. This sparks Todd’s intrigue and gives the case a new direction.

Harry, who has been hired by Reese to throw off Margaret, secretly hints to her that Diana is suffering from a skin condition, which Allison later confirms. It could be on account of using Reese’s products, which she has been hiding till now. Lanie is brought to the stand and she blurts out the painful truth. The check is not for Diana but for her newborn daughter, on whom Reese threw coffee in anger. Eve wins the case and Margaret gladly accepts the new business from the Roses.

However, it is not enough to retain Francy, who has already left the job at the firm for another position at La Brilliance. Margaret gives Susan the portion she wanted, but unbeknownst to her, Susan has already accepted another offer from a law firm. Things are about to get even hotter for Margaret as the decrypted photo is hers! Folding has been laundering money from the firm and setting up Margaret to take the fall.

Margaret and Todd start their most important investigation — figuring out how to take Folding down before Margaret gets all the blame.

The Episode Review

The finale of Season 2 definitely feels like a step toward something. It is clear that CBS’ cancellation came mid-season when it was already filmed. Unless and until So Help Me Todd finds a new home – which is highly unlikely – the mystery of Meritt Folding shall remain unresolved.

Certain elements of the finale looked undercooked and forced. For instance, using Gus as an opposing counsel seemed wasteful. Bringing Henry back for a toothless cameo also did not seem an inspiring choice. Instead, more pressing dramatic overtones like Allison’s existential crisis should have been given more attention.

After a stellar run, the season is finally over. As I have repeated many times, the writers deserve at least another season to wrap things up because this isn’t how it was all supposed to end.