Show cover for The Guardian

The Best Episodes of The Guardian

Every episode of The Guardian ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Guardian!

Nick Fallin is a hotshot lawyer working at his father's ultrasuccessful Pittsburgh law firm. Unfortunately, the high life has gotten the best of Nick. Arrested for drug use, he's sentenced to do 1,500 hours of community service, somehow to be squeezed into his 24/7 cutthroat world of mergers, acquisitions and board meetings. Reluctantly, he's now The Guardian - a part-time child advocate at Legal Aid Services, where one case after another is an eye-opening instance of kids caught up in difficult circumstances.

Genre:Drama
Network:CBS

Top Episode Ratings Summary

The best episode of "The Guardian" is "Heart", rated 8.6/10 from 215 user votes. It was directed by Jeremy Kagan and written by David Hollander. "Heart" aired on 11/20/2001 and is rated 0.3 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Intersection".

  • Heart
    8.6/10 215 votes

    #1 - Heart

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/20/2001

    Nick Fallin finds himself the advocate for a 12-year-old girl, Lesley, who needs to be adopted by foster parents immediately in order to receive a heart transplant. Laurie Solt, a social worker for Legal Services (LS), is having trouble placing her due to the many demands of caring for a child with congenital heart disease. Inspired by Lesley's strength after she learns her current foster parents are unable to adopt her, Nick takes the search on as a personal campaign to save Lesley's life. As hope of finding suitable foster care fades, Nick decides that the only way to save Lesley's life is to become her legal guardian. Nick's supervisor at LS, Alvin Masterson questions Nick's ability to care for Lesley. Eventually, the judge does grant Nick legal guardianship. Meanwhile, one of Burton Fallin's old friends, Harry Josephs is dying of cancer and tells Burton he is challenging the employment contract of Hopeson, Inc., which terminates employment if an employee is unable to work for 90 consecutive days. Hopeson Inc. is a long time client of Fallin & Assoc. and Burton helped finalize the original employment contracts. Burton struggles with the responsibility of fighting for his clients and opportunity to stand by his friend.

    Director: Jeremy Kagan

    Writer: David Hollander

  • The Intersection
    8.3/10 102 votes

    #2 - The Intersection

    Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 2/25/2003

    Caroline Novack returns to find out that Nick and Lulu were in a car accident which could prove fatal for Lulu.

    Director: Peter Medak

    Writer: Nick Santora, David Hollander

  • Big Coal
    8.3/10 97 votes

    #3 - Big Coal

    Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 9/30/2003

    Nick tries to help a young lady who has cancer but get can't the insurance company to help her out, this puts Nick in a bind. Nick asks Lulu to help him get the insurance company to pay for her medical care. Nick tells his client's dad he needs to look somewhere else for the money.

    Director: Mel Damski

    Writer: Nick Santora, David Hollander

  • Mothers of the Disappeared
    8.2/10 127 votes

    #4 - Mothers of the Disappeared

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 3/26/2002

    When a mother of a missing child shows up in Nick Fallin's office at Legal Services, he finds himself in the middle of an emotional struggle for closure and justice. Prior to the disappearance of her daughter Grace, Janine McGregor was in a car accident with her for which they were awarded a large settlement. However, since Grace has been missing for 10 years, the insurance company will not release the money. After years of searching for her daughter, Janine believes her only chance to get the money she so desperately needs is to have Grace declared deceased. However, just as a judge is about to sign off on the declaration, Grace unexpectedly reappears saying she had been kidnapped and taken to Europe. Nick encourages Janine to take the necessary steps to verify Grace's identity. However, with nothing but her gut feeling, Janine is convinced that the girl who has returned claiming to be her daughter is really her "Gracie." Meanwhile, Nick and Burton Fallin are faced with the death of a close friend and colleague, Judge Stanton. He was a long-time friend of Burton's and was the judge who presided over Nick's probation. His passing causes Burton to re-evaluate his life and his accomplishments as a lawyer.

    Director: Steven Robman

    Writer: Michael R. Perry, David Hollander

  • The Weight
    8.2/10 94 votes

    #5 - The Weight

    Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 2/18/2003

    A tough case involving a sick baby brings Nick and Lulu closer together when Lulu gets attached to the mom.

    Director: Steve Gomer

    Writer: David Hollander

  • My Aim Is True
    8.2/10 110 votes

    #6 - My Aim Is True

    Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 3/18/2003

    The past comes back to haunt Both Nick & Burton, When a drug dealer from Nick's past is shot and Burton's new client is the police officer.

    Director: Simon Baker

    Writer: David Hollander

  • Burton & Ernie
    8.2/10 94 votes

    #7 - Burton & Ernie

    Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 4/29/2003

    Burton, Lulu & Nick each find themselves in tight spots. Burton tries to stop Shannon from being hurt, Alvin finds Nick & Lulu at the office late Will they still have jobs after Alvin finds out?

    Director: Martha Mitchell

    Writer: Michael R. Perry, David Hollander

  • Carnival
    8.2/10 110 votes

    #8 - Carnival

    Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 9/23/2003

    No description available

    Director: Félix Enríquez Alcalá

    Writer: David Hollander

  • Beautiful Blue Mystic
    8.2/10 117 votes

    #9 - Beautiful Blue Mystic

    Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 1/13/2004

    Nick begins taking a drug called Beautiful Blue Mystic, not realizing how it hurt Fallin & Fallin and LSP. Nick goes to get help to kick the habit. Nick learns that Anne needs help finding a place for her son because she is dying of cancer. Lulu confronts Suzanne about the affair she had with Nick.

    Director: Mel Damski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Beginning
    8.1/10 120 votes

    #10 - The Beginning

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 5/21/2002

    In The Season Finale Burton and Lulu tells Nick damaging information but that deals with a wanted killer. Dr. Reed asks to be his son's (Hunter)Trustee but their future could be in trouble.

    Director: Michael Pressman

    Writer: David Hollander

  • The Innocent
    8.1/10 114 votes

    #11 - The Innocent

    Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 11/12/2002

    Nick takes on the case of two children after their brother dies from their father's neglect.

    Director: Juan José Campanella

    Writer: N/A

  • All Is Mended
    8.1/10 86 votes

    #12 - All Is Mended

    Season 3 Episode 14 - Aired 2/10/2004

    Nick learns his unborn baby has Down Syndrome to learn more about it Nick helps Mark set up a trust fund so he won't lose his Social Security. Nick tells Lulu about Mark and that he took the case to understand more about Down Syndrome and help Lulu understand what maybe a head for their baby. Kate Shaw asks Jake to take an AIDS test because Kate wanted him to join a country club.

    Director: Emilio Estevez

    Writer: N/A

  • Remember
    8.1/10 97 votes

    #13 - Remember

    Season 3 Episode 19 - Aired 4/6/2004

    Alvin tells ALS will later affect Nick about his date with Victoria and how they're relationship and for Alvin his only form of communication will be blinking his eyebrows. At a court hearing Alvin is asked to turn over his files involving past clients at LSP. Alvin isn't ready to turn over the yet just yet because feels that in doing so would violate the Attorney client privilege. Nick also helps a young boy who claims he can't remember being abused Nick learns that Andrew has been lying to him all along and now has to testify at his father's hearing.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • In Loco Parentis
    8.0/10 134 votes

    #14 - In Loco Parentis

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 2/26/2002

    Nick thinks a woman he helped get her kids, may still use drugs.

    Director: Michael Pressman

    Writer: David Hollander

  • The Neighborhood
    8.0/10 102 votes

    #15 - The Neighborhood

    Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 11/19/2002

    LuLu represents an old friend after one of her adopted children is dead. Nick represents someone he knew as a kid.

    Director: Jerry London

    Writer: David Hollander

  • The Dark
    8.0/10 104 votes

    #16 - The Dark

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 11/26/2002

    Nick has to represent Levi who may not be allowed in school for not telling who beat him up.

    Director: Mel Damski

    Writer: Nick Santora, David Hollander

  • Ambition
    8.0/10 98 votes

    #17 - Ambition

    Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 1/21/2003

    Lulu's mom comes to town to offer her daughter a job. Soon Nick learns of Mrs. Novack's bad business practices which causes a problem.

    Director: Duane Clark

    Writer: N/A

  • Where You Are
    8.0/10 84 votes

    #18 - Where You Are

    Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 2/11/2003

    Rob a college roommate of Nick's wants to test a device for tracking kids. Will Nick agree to testing the tracking device on L.S.P. kids?

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Michael R. Perry

  • What It Means to You
    8.0/10 110 votes

    #19 - What It Means to You

    Season 2 Episode 20 - Aired 4/22/2003

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Swimming
    8.0/10 86 votes

    #20 - Swimming

    Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 12/16/2003

    Nick learns that his dad will need surgery to fix his heart, also Nick must keep the firm from losing a merger, help Burton find a good doctor to do the surgery. Nick wonders if Burton will make it through the surgery and tells his dad Lulu is pregnant. Shannon asks to go to the hospital because worries Burton might die and have no place to live.

    Director: James R. Bagdonas

    Writer: N/A

  • Amends
    8.0/10 90 votes

    #21 - Amends

    Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 1/27/2004

    Nick finds out how hard it is to get the trust of the people he hurt back. Burton feels Nick isn't ready for a heavy caseload that might hurt Fallin & Fallin. Nick wonders if the bus driver caused the accident on purpose. Lulu tries to place Connor Adams in a foster home and understand why Nick had the affair with Suzanne.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Without Consent
    8.0/10 110 votes

    #22 - Without Consent

    Season 3 Episode 15 - Aired 2/17/2004

    Jake lies to everyone about how he got hurt soon Burton & Maureen find out the secret. Nick tries to figure if Luke should live in Foster Care or live with his dad after seeing his mom sleep with a friend of his. Lulu drafts a trust fund for their baby; Nick wants them both to be trustees. Burton worries about Jake who was supposed to help on a case.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Home
    7.9/10 136 votes

    #23 - Home

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/18/2001

    Nick, now working at another law firm, is reinstated as the guardian of young Hunter Reed, his first case. Polly Draper ("thirtysomething") guest stars Both Nick and his child advocacy boss, Alvin, face Nick's father, Burton, in court. Nick, who is now working for Burton's competitors, Kirk and McGee, faces him when he is reassigned to Hunter -- the young boy who witnessed his father kill his mother -- after Hunter's father's controversial verdict comes in. Meanwhile, Alvin agrees to defend his ex-wife (Draper), for whom he still has some unresolved feelings, in a wrongful termination case, only to realize that the company they are suing is represented by Burton.

    Director: Oz Scott

    Writer: David Hollander

  • Family
    7.9/10 130 votes

    #24 - Family

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 2/5/2002

    Nick's Aunt Liz visits Burton & Nick and tells them she is dying.

    Director: Andy Wolk

    Writer: N/A

  • Testimony
    7.9/10 130 votes

    #25 - Testimony

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 9/24/2002

    Burton tries to save Nick who is behind bars temporarily for drug possession by looking for a defense in Mandy's daughter Shannon. Shannon's grandmother doesn't want her to testify.

    Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan

    Writer: Michael R. Perry, David Hollander