I know just how Brooks felt; I tried law school and decided it wasn't for me (although I never got hold of a copy of an exam in advance). What's so surprising--and pleasantly so--is that when Brooks confesses to Kingsfield, and exonerates the rest of the study group--Kingsfield is actually sympathetic--no sarcasm, no lectures, just a handshake and wishing Brooks good luck in whatever he decides to do with his life. He's aware that Brooks has been uncomfortable in the law-school classroom environment and he knows that one does not do well at what they don't like. It's also one of the times (and there are more than you might think) when Kingsfield shows a softer side (don't worry, though, he'll never be taken for a pushover).
3 Reviews
A good way to trim down the cast.
planktonrules25 April 2013
Warning: Spoilers
The show begins with the study group members, aside from goody-goody Hart, becoming angry at Brooks. Once again, he's absent from the group and seems to be off in his own world doing law school his own way. When he does show, he tells them that he's receiving private tutoring--but his in-class performance makes it seem that he's being tutored by Mr. Potatohead! However, in an act of desperation, the perpetually lost Brooks suddenly proves that the group SHOULD let him back--he's somehow come up with a list of questions from Kingsfield's previous exams--including one that hits them totally by surprise. This 'missing question' turns out to be THE question on the exam--making others wonder just how Brooks got these questions--and this obscure one in particular.
The character 'Brooks' and his wife appeared to be an early idea for the series that simply never panned out. This character's wife is shown in the credits at the beginning of the show but was seldom seen and seldom had any lines. As for Brooks himself, he was the married member of the study group and as such never was hanging out in the dorms--so was also seen far less often. Combining this with a relatively bland persona, Brooks clearly was not an important cast member. No,...more than that...he was expendable and it sure looked as if the writers soon realized this. However, instead of just writing him off the show, they featured him in a very good story--and provided an excellent and logical way to remove him from "The Paper Chase". Well worth seeing and well done all around.
The character 'Brooks' and his wife appeared to be an early idea for the series that simply never panned out. This character's wife is shown in the credits at the beginning of the show but was seldom seen and seldom had any lines. As for Brooks himself, he was the married member of the study group and as such never was hanging out in the dorms--so was also seen far less often. Combining this with a relatively bland persona, Brooks clearly was not an important cast member. No,...more than that...he was expendable and it sure looked as if the writers soon realized this. However, instead of just writing him off the show, they featured him in a very good story--and provided an excellent and logical way to remove him from "The Paper Chase". Well worth seeing and well done all around.
Swan song
sscheiber28 May 2016
This is one of the most interesting episodes of the entire series. That Brooks always came off as superfluous is obvious to anyone who's seen the shows. With the exception of the first episode, he rarely did anything that justified his recurring-character status. Again I find myself agreeing with planktonrules. Instead of simply writing him out, they gave him a powerful story about the pressures facing law students (and medical students) who can't bury themselves in their schoolwork without distraction. Throughout the series they show you Hart coping with the pressures of balancing his financial problems and his academic pursuits. Not everyone can succeed under those conditions. An excellent episode with a logical and appropriate resolution.
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