Bluff City Law is ready to change the world. HL spoke EXCLUSIVELY with star Caitlin McGee about the complicated father-daughter dynamic at the center of the show and why the series is more than just a legal drama.
Bluff City Law premieres Sept. 23 at 10 p.m. on NBC. The series follows a father-daughter duo Sydney and Elijah Strait, lawyers at an elite Memphis law firm who specialize in controversial landmark civil rights cases. But as we all know, families are complicated. Thats definitely the case for Sydney and Elijah. Their complex past has left them estranged, but in the wake of a mutual loss, they know they have to work together to make a difference in the world.
HollywoodLife sat down EXCLUSIVELY with Caitlin McGee, who plays Sydney, during the Television Critics Association summer press tour to talk about all things Bluff City Law. She revealed that the first season will dive deep into Sydney and Elijahs “estranged relationship” and the personal lives of those who work alongside them. Caitlin also discussed their courtroom dynamics, which will either help them or hurt them. She opened up about filming in Memphis and the city is a character all its own.
When we start this journey, where is Sydney in her life?
Caitlin McGee: I think Sydney and her dad [played by Jimmy Smits] have an estranged relationship. At the top of this show, its really hard for her to forgive him and vice versa for the choices that theyve made, so it takes a lot for them to come back together, but I dont know that shes super happy with the choices shes made. I think its just come out of necessity for self-preservation. She cares so deeply about her clients and about the people that she fights for to the extent where it really takes over her life. I mean, as you see very quickly, shes divorced and estranged from her father and shes working for a firm that is pretty soulless. I think theres a long way for her to go to sort redeem herself in the eyes of her fellow co-workers at the firm as well as herself.
Regarding her estranged relationship with her father, over the course of this season, are we really going to peel back the roots of that estrangement?
Caitlin McGee: Yes. I think the most exciting thing about this show is that we are a legal drama, but really, were a family drama. Its more about the people than it is about the courtroom. In the pilot, obviously, its a lot of establishment. But its really about our relationships and especially with Elijah and Sydney, I think theyve had so much history together and so much of it is behind the curtain, so much of it is within the four walls of their home and only Sydney and maybe Della know about it. I think as we get to know more about their history, people are going to be a little more enlightened on why they made the choices that they have made.
They have an estranged relationship outside of the courtroom, but how are they in the courtroom together? Is there a difference there for them?
Caitlin McGee: Yes. They approach things very differently. Sydney is a spitfire. Elijah plays by the rules because he realizes that sometimes it takes honey to get a bear. Its not necessarily with a rifle the way that Sydney enters a room, so I think when theyre on the same side and when theyre in sync, theyre unbeatable. But when theyre not in sync, thats when things start to fray. At the beginning of the pilot, at least, we have a lot of respect for each other. Hes still asking me to come back to his firm and to work for him because he knows how good I am at my job, but its hard for us to figure out a good dynamic and how to gel together again.
Is there an element with Sydney, being in the same field as her father, that shes trying to prove herself to him?
Caitlin McGee: Yes. Every daughter looks up to their father and puts them on a little pedestal, for the most part. I cant speak to all, but I personally put my own father on a pedestal. I love him. I worship him. Ive always wanted to make him proud, so even in her darkest moments, she still on a visceral level wants to make her dad proud, especially in the courtroom. I made sure to have moments of feeling like a 10-year-old who just wants to make my dad smile and for him to say, “You did a great job today.” Sydney got into this because she wants to make him pr
