8.6/10215 votesLoading...#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
8.3/1098 votesLoading...#2 - 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
- 8.2/10129 votesLoading...
#3 - 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: David Hollander, Michael R. Perry
- 8.2/10104 votesLoading...
#4 - 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
- 8.2/10112 votesLoading...
#5 - 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
- 8.2/1095 votesLoading...
#6 - 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
- 8.2/10118 votesLoading...
#7 - 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
- 8.1/1096 votesLoading...
#8 - 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
- 8.1/10111 votesLoading...
#9 - Carnival
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 9/23/2003
No description available
Director: Félix Enríquez Alcalá
Writer: David Hollander
- 8.0/10135 votesLoading...
#10 - 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
- 8.0/10122 votesLoading...
#11 - 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
- 8.0/10104 votesLoading...
#12 - 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
- 8.0/10106 votesLoading...
#13 - 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
- 8.0/10101 votesLoading...
#14 - 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
8.0/1087 votesLoading...#15 - 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
- 8.0/10112 votesLoading...
#16 - What It Means to You
Season 2 Episode 20 - Aired 4/22/2003
No description available
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.0/1091 votesLoading...
#17 - 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
- 8.0/1087 votesLoading...
#18 - 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
- 8.0/10111 votesLoading...
#19 - 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
- 8.0/1098 votesLoading...
#20 - 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
7.9/10113 votesLoading...#22 - Monster
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 10/1/2002
A 13 year old is charged with the rape and murder of his mother and could be tried for first-degree murder. Nick must try and get the case to juvenile court.
Director: Steve Gomer
Writer: David Hollander
- 7.9/10102 votesLoading...
#23 - Sacrifice
Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 12/10/2002
Nick takes the case of a 16 year old mom who wants to put her baby up for adoption, after her father ends up being arrested for the murder of the 16 year old's very ill mom. Brian Olsen (LuLu's Husband) ends up being accused of negligence.
Director: Michael W. Watkins
Writer: N/A
- 7.9/1086 votesLoading...
#24 - Sensitive Jackals
Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 5/6/2003
Nick hands the case file of Taliek to James, who goes before Judge Rebecca Damsen for custody, James and Nick help a young dad try and trying to get his son back but due to the dad's temper may lose his son. Meanwhile over at Fallin & Fallin Nick wants to have a criminal defense attorney to the team because Nick feels Burton needs to worry about the firm and less about Shannon. Nick worries that James may be to close to Taliek Allen because James believes that Taliek may have killed Levi (who was a nephew of James.) Lulu could soon leave LSP for a job in California. Nick thinks Lulu's job move is bad because he may lose her love.
Director: Joan Tewkesbury
Writer: David Hollander, Nick Santora
- 7.9/10123 votesLoading...
#25 - All the Rage
Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 5/13/2003
Nick is upset because Lulu is about to take a job in California and while in court loses control of his temper while trying to finish his call and later goes to court ordered therapy. Shannon meets her dad for the first time, Burton has to go to a hearing to find out if he can keep Shannon. Nick advises James to stay away from Taliek (James accused him of killing Levi then found out he accused the wrong guy) Now Taliek lost the court battle to get his son back. James and Larry Flood get ready to leave for home having no idea that they will be fighting for their lives.
Director: David Hollander
Writer: David Hollander
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...
Genre:Drama
Network:CBS
Best Episodes Summary
"Heart" is the best rated episode of "The Guardian". It scored 8.6/10 based on 215 votes. Directed by Jeremy Kagan and written by David Hollander, it aired on 11/20/2001. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Big Coal".