Franklin & Bash: Strange Brew – When Legal Eagles Meet Craft Beer
Grab your favorite pint glass and get ready to dive into the frothy world of Franklin & Bash, where legal shenanigans and bromance flow as freely as craft beer at a hipster wedding. Today, we’re dissecting the delightfully quirky Season 2, Episode 7: “Strange Brew.” It’s a tale that’ll leave you buzzing with laughter and possibly craving a cold one!
The Setup: A Lawsuit on the Rocks
Our story kicks off with Franklin and Bash, the dynamic duo of legal mischief-makers, tackling a case that’s more bitter than an overhopped IPA. The client? A small, independent brewery being sued by a corporate beer behemoth for trademark infringement. It’s David versus Goliath, if David wore skinny jeans and had a handlebar mustache.
Jared Franklin (Breckin Meyer) and Peter Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) are like the craft beer of lawyers – unconventional, full of flavor, and sometimes leaving you with a headache the next morning. But hey, that’s part of their charm!
The Case: Brewing Up Trouble
As our legal heroes dig deeper into the case, they discover that the world of craft brewing is about as clear as a good hefeweizen. The corporate giant claims that our plucky underdogs have stolen their beer recipe, but something smells fishier than a badly cleaned tap line.
The suspect list is a veritable tasting flight of colorful characters:
- The passionate but slightly unhinged brewmaster
- The corporate suit with a palate for destruction
- The rival microbrewer who might be playing both sides
It’s enough to make you need a drink… which, conveniently, is exactly what Franklin and Bash decide to do. In the name of research, of course!
Enter Wooten: The Man, The Myth, The Beer Snob
Just when you think you’ve got a handle on things, in walks Wooten, played with delightful pomposity by the incomparable DC Douglas. Wooten is the kind of guy who can tell you the exact hop profile of a beer just by sniffing the empty bottle from across the room. He’s part expert witness, part walking beer encyclopedia, and all entertainment.
Douglas brings a perfect blend of expertise and eccentricity to the role, making Wooten the guy you’d love to have a beer with… as long as you don’t mind a three-hour lecture on proper glassware. His testimony is crucial to the case, but delivered with such beer-snob flair that you’re not sure whether to take notes or roll your eyes.
The Twist: When the Head Blows Off
In true Franklin & Bash fashion, just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, the case explodes like a poorly sealed bottle of home brew. Turns out, the recipe in question isn’t stolen at all – it’s an ancient brew rediscovered through some seriously nerdy beer archaeology.
The real villain? Well, I won’t spoil all the fun, but let’s just say it’s someone who proves that in the world of craft beer, the most dangerous person is the one who can’t tell a lager from an ale. And no, it’s not who you’re thinking. Or the next person. Maybe the one after that?
The Resolution: Justice Served, Ice Cold
In the end, our intrepid team cracks the case wide open, proving once again that you can’t outfox Franklin and Bash, especially when there’s beer involved. The true culprit is brought to justice, the small brewery is saved, and our heroes celebrate the only way they know how – with a victory dance that’s equal parts embarrassing and endearing.
The episode wraps up with a scene that perfectly encapsulates why we love Franklin & Bash. There’s witty banter, a sense of triumph, and just enough heart to cut through the froth of silliness. It’s like a perfectly balanced beer – hoppy, malty, and leaving you wanting more.
The Cast: Serving Up Justice with a Smile
Let’s raise a glass to the fantastic cast that brought this sudsy tale to life:
- Breckin Meyer as Jared Franklin: The lovable rascal who never met a rule he couldn’t bend
- Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Peter Bash: The charming face of the operation, with a smile that could melt a jury’s heart
- Malcolm McDowell as Stanton Infeld: The eccentric boss who’s either a genius or madman (or both)
- Reed Diamond as Damien Karp: The straight man in a firm full of jokers
- Dana Davis as Carmen Phillips: The investigator who keeps the boys in line (someone has to)
- Kumail Nanjiani as Pindar Singh: The agoraphobic legal savant with a fear of… well, everything
- And of course, DC Douglas as Wooten: The guest star who stole the show faster than you can say “flocculation
Behind the Scenes: The Brewmasters of Comedy
Of course, we can’t forget the brilliant minds who crafted this episode:
- Created by: Kevin Falls and Bill Chais
- Written by: Bill Chais
- Directed by: Michael Lange
These creative geniuses prove that sometimes, the real magic happens behind the camera. They’ve crafted an episode that’s part legal drama, part buddy comedy, and all entertainment.
The Verdict: A Full-Bodied Episode with Notes of Hilarity
“Strange Brew” is Franklin & Bash at its finest – a perfect blend of legal hijinks, pop culture references, and bromance. It’s the kind of episode that reminds you why you fell in love with the show in the first place. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a newcomer to the series, this episode is sure to leave you entertained, intrigued, and maybe a little bit thirsty.
So, the next time you’re enjoying a craft beer, take a moment to appreciate the legal eagles who keep the little guys brewing. And if you ever find yourself in legal trouble, well, maybe give Franklin and Bash a call. Just don’t be surprised if your legal strategy involves a keg stand.
The Bottom Line
“Strange Brew” proves once again why Franklin & Bash was a refreshing splash in the often too-serious world of legal dramas. It’s got everything you could want – clever legal maneuvering, laugh-out-loud moments, and a healthy appreciation for the art of brewing. So why not give it a watch? Just be warned – you might find yourself binge-watching the entire series faster than Franklin can object to proper courtroom decorum!
And remember, in the immortal words of… well, probably someone at some point: “In beer there is freedom, in wine there is health, in cognac there is power, and in water there is bacteria.” Let’s all be grateful that Franklin and Bash chose law over water treatment!
(Note: This review is based on publicly available information about the episode. For the most up-to-date and accurate details, please refer to official sources. All opinions expressed are solely those of the author.)
Sources:
