So Help Me Todd

Todd is a talented but aimless private investigator who reluctantly takes a steady job working for his mother, Margaret, a high-powered attorney dealing with a recent divorce. Their personalities clash: he’s informal and unpredictable, she’s controlling and precise. The show follows how their personal history bleeds into office life as they tackle legal mysteries, probe clients and suspects, and handle the emotional fallout of family tensions. Cases mix procedural mystery with lighter comedic moments, and episodes often put the duo’s uneasy trust and differing methods front and center, while keeping outcomes and major twists under wraps.

Released in 2022, the series was created by Scott Prendergast and stars Marcia Gay Harden as Margaret and Skylar Astin as Todd, with Madeline Wise, Tristen J. Winger, and Inga Schlingmann in key roles. It was developed for television and marketed as a hybrid legal-mystery comedy.

So Help Me Todd hasn’t been a major awards contender so far, there aren’t notable Emmy or Golden Globe wins linked to the series. That said, Harden’s performance has been singled out by reviewers and viewers as a standout element, helping the show gain attention even without big industry accolades.

The series has prompted conversation about complicated parent-child relationships in professional settings and about mixing genres on network television. Online viewers have discussed the chemistry between Harden and Astin, and the show found a modest but engaged fanbase that appreciates the mix of courtroom tension and lighter character beats.

Critical and audience response has been mixed to positive, reflected in a 7.404/10 average from 57 votes. Reviewers tend to praise the lead performances and the show’s tone, while noting uneven plotting at times. Recurring themes include family loyalty, the search for professional purpose, moral gray areas in investigations, and how personal history shapes work life.