Ep 9. A New Development

After being benched for two years, Nina Whitley finally gets a case to work on in the ninth episode of Benched season 1. The case involves a real estate developer, Bill, who is being accused of pushing out long-time tenants in order to build luxury condos. Nina is determined to win the case, as it could mean a lot for her career.

However, Nina's excitement is short-lived when she discovers that her boss, Phil, has hired a hotshot young lawyer, Trent, to help her with the case. Trent brings with him a fresh perspective and impressive legal skills, which immediately put Nina on edge. To make matters worse, Trent seems to have a connection with Phil, making Nina feel like she's been set up to fail.

As Nina and Trent work on the case together, they clash on their approach. Trent is determined to win by any means necessary, even if it means crossing ethical lines, while Nina wants to win the case fairly and justly. The two also have different approaches to their personal lives, with Trent being the playboy who has no problem sleeping with co-workers, while Nina is focused on her career and has no time for distractions.

Despite their differences, Nina and Trent work well together and even start to develop a friendship. However, their relationship becomes complicated when they discover a major development in the case that puts their ethics to the test. With their careers and reputations on the line, Nina and Trent must decide what's more important: winning the case or doing the right thing.

Throughout the episode, we see Nina struggle with her own insecurities and self-doubt. She feels like she's constantly fighting against an unfair system, where men like Trent are handed opportunities on a silver platter while she has to work twice as hard to get noticed. Nina also has to deal with the pressure of being the only woman of color in her workplace, which puts her in a difficult position when it comes to calling out the unethical behavior of her colleagues.

Despite the serious tone of the episode, Benched still manages to bring its trademark humor to the mix. Nina's interactions with her quirky co-workers, including her paralegal Carlos and her frenemy Cheryl, provide some light-hearted moments that balance out the intense legal drama.

Overall, A New Development is a compelling episode that showcases the complex world of lawyering and the difficult choices that come with it. It also highlights the challenges faced by women and minorities in the workplace, making it a timely and relevant episode for today's audiences.