Alien Invaders: Asha, Felicity, and Doctor Peterson
FAMILY LAW – Season 1 Episode 10 – SPOILERS
The three lawyers at Svensson and Associates are quite different from one another. Abigail (Jewel Staite) is ruthless and borderline unethical in advocating for her clients. Harry Svensson (Victor Garber) is mainly concerned with the firm’s financial stability, and chooses cases primarily on mercenary grounds. Cases he takes for other reasons are a well-kept secret. Daniel (Zach Smadu) is idealistic and ethical almost to the point of impracticality, which has prevented Harry from making him a partner in the firm. Feeling undervalued, Daniel decided to seek employment elsewhere.

Bryan Beasley (Patrick Gilmore) and his daughter Nina in bowling league uniforms — Gilmore is also Gabriel in Bradley Stryker‘s thriller SHELTERING SEASON.
This week’s case, which involves Nina the Receptionist (Kelli Ogumndson), changes everything for Daniel. Last episode, Nina’s dad, (Bryan Beasley, played by Patrick Gilmore) gifted Nina with a DNA kit for her 22nd birthday, and this episode the results arrive, showing that Nina has a younger brother she knew nothing about and that Bryan is not genetically related to her. Nina was the result of in vitro fertilization conducted by Dr. Doug Peterson (Kristian Bruun), and Abigail’s aggressive investigations (which involve pilfering the remains of the doctor’s takeaway for a DNA sample) determine that Dr. Doug is Nina’s biological dad. After manipulating Peterson’s assistant (Flora Karas) to get access to the Doctor’s office, evidence emerges showing that Peterson habitually used his own sperm to ensure his clients were successfully fertilized.
Abigail suggests to Harry that they go after Peterson with a class action suit, with herself and Daniel as co-councils. Otherwise, she says, she will take the (potentially very lucrative) case to her old firm. Harry agrees and makes Daniel a full partner (while indirectly suggesting to Abigail that, were she not on probation, she would be more suitable for that role). Abby is happy about these developments, and stays happy until she has a look at her husband Frank’s old phone which he gave to their son without deleting texts he exchanged with Felicity (Jenn Bird). Despite his denials, it turns out, Frank is still seeing Felicity.

(top) Joe Flanigan and Jenn Bird in STARGATE ATLANTIS (Episode 2.11) and Jenn Bird as Felicity on FAMILY LAW
This episode has two very strong scenes, and both of them involve Abigail. The first one happens in court, and peaks when (addressing Dr. Peterson but looking at Harry) Abigail says: “A real father tends to bloody knees. A real father sits through soccer games in the rain. A real father tucks his child in at night. You may have had a biological connection, but you were never a father.”
The second happens after Lucy (Genelle Williams), who earlier participated in the artificial insemination of her wife Maggie (Ali Liebert), decides to discontinue her affair with Asha (Celia Reid) and blocks Asha’s number. This turns out to not be a very good idea, because Maggie runs into Asha, who is no longer inclined to keep her relationship with Lucy a secret. This causes Maggie to walk out on Lucy. Because she “didn’t know where else to go”, Lucy shows up at Abigail’s place just in time to stop her sister from taking a drink. As @TheThinker1958 said on twitter: “on those last 5 minutes, the performances of Jewel and @OriGenelle were incredible…”.
More things go Daniel’s way. The Bannings, who (after the breakup of their marriage) have been haggling over custody of Craig the Pug, decide suddenly that neither of them want the dog. It seems that Kyle (Fred Ewanuick) is moving in with his new girlfriend, and Parker (Fiona Vroom) has a new job in Winnipeg and her condo has a strict “no pets” policy. Daniel happily assumes custody of the no-longer-disputed dog.
Daniel is no longer engaged, nor is he apparently dating anyone. Lucy and Maggie have at least temporarily separated, and Maggie is pregnant. After finding out about Frank and Felicity, Abby might not move into the basement apartment at Frank’s place, but she still might because the kids are expecting her to do that. As Season One ends, the only character in a stable relationship (other than Office Manager Jerri) is Harry, who continues to date (to his family’s horror) right-wing influencer Crystal Steele.
In Canada, Season Three will begin airing on Global TV this winter.
In Australia, Seaaons Two and Three can be streamed on 9Now.