# 'The Practice' speculation (SPOILERS) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 18, 2000, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146 "2000-12-18T14:43:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/1 "2000-12-18T14:43:24Z")
Warning: SPOILERS for last night’s episode of ‘The Practice’. \> \> \> \> \> \> \> \> \> \> \> \> \> \> \> \> \> \> Well. Mister Kelly has left us with some rather interesting unresolved plot points going into the winter reruns. I’d like to offer my speculation as to what he may be planning, and ask for opinions as to the show’s direction. First, Bobby Donnell: Here’s a man who seems to be losing it. His wife is being menaced by a maniac, all his friends have this nasty habit of killing people, especially their wives, and he seems to be losing all connection with reason. He’s attempted to influence Jimmy to alter his testimony because of his guilt over Scott Wallace’s most recent murder (yes, his second, IMHO), he lost control in court, and now won’t even listen to his partners when they suggest that he back off. Is he unable, as has been suggested, to handle the demands of his work anymore? My thought is that all this is going to come to a head, with the end result being that Bobby’s character is going to undergo a major change in outlook. Possibly less willing to bend\break the rules all the time, definitely more balanced in his approach. Next, William Hinks: This guy is the creepiest serial killer since Hannibal Lecter. Or is he? That’s the confusion that DEK is trying to sow. I think it’s pretty obvious that Hinks is the killer. And I suspect that nice pollyana therapist is going to be his next victim. btw, did you notice that shot of Lindsay on the phone freaking out, as a woman walks behind her with a dog? foreshadowing perhaps? Finally, Scott Wallace: I see a prison suicide in this guy’s future, with an angst ridden Bobby blaming his partners for pulling him off the case, thus indirectly causing Scott’s death. So…thoughts anyone? Does anybody have any inside information about the direction of the show? Or any other WAG’s as I did? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Ivar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ivar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivar)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/2 "2000-12-18T17:48:35Z")
First, and I’ve said this once before on the boards, The Scott Wallace story arc is flawed for one simple reason. No autopsy of the wife was ever mentioned. An autopsy would have determined the cause of death, in this instance, if she had committed suicide by CO inhalation, there would have been CO in the blood stream, therefore suicide. Had she been bludgeoned first, then set up in the garage to make it look like a suicide, there would not have been CO in the blood, therefore murder. The fact that this was left out to create a story line pissed me off. But it was necessary to create the storyline. On another note, Hinks didn’t do it. He is delusional. Someone else sent the dog and then killed it. He didn’t know about the dog being sent to her. That’s my WAG ---
**Author:** ![magdalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@magdalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magdalene)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/3 "2000-12-18T18:02:04Z")
Oooh, Ivar, good point about the autopsy. As for Hinks, I am undecided. Full props to the casting director for finding the creepiest actor ever for the role. If Hinks is not the killer, I forsee a possible plot twist where he ends up **protecting** Lindsay from the real killer. By the way, I so called Mitchell’s death last night. ---
**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/4 "2000-12-18T18:40:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ivar \* > \*\*On another note, Hinks didn’t do it. He is delusional. Someone else sent the dog and then killed it. He didn’t know about the dog being sent to her. > > That’s my WAG \*\* **Ivar** , I don’t remember the dog being killed? When did that happen? ---
**Author:** ![magdalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@magdalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magdalene)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/5 "2000-12-18T18:51:35Z")
Lucy came back to the office, called the dog, it didn’t come, she opened her desk drawer and it was inside, dead. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/6 "2000-12-19T00:45:25Z")
I am enjoying the “creepy guy” storyline but will someone please tell me why this firm cannot afford decent locks on their doors???\* Everyone and their brother has been able to get inside the office. I am pretty sure they are in a nice-enough building to have a security guard and most likely have sign-in procedures. Why can all manner of weirdos just waltz in and pick the locks every few weeks? Oh well, I suppose in a firm with what, five partners and maybe one (Rebecca?) associate, things just aren’t done in the normal fashion. Also, what’s with letting Lucy participate in decision meetings? She’s the _receptionist_, for god’s sake. I must work on my suspension of disbelief. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/7 "2000-12-19T02:04:18Z")
I’m getting rather tired of the “getting stalked by psychos” storylines. This is the third one - minimum. There was the guy dressed as the nun, the guy who kidnapped Bobby, and now this guy. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/8 "2000-12-19T16:20:56Z")
The anorexic prosecuter eats a full lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Ivar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ivar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivar)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/9 "2000-12-19T16:45:27Z")
The show has been degenerating in other ways as well. It has definitely become a scream fest for Bobby Donnell. This week it was "THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS!.."repeat twice. Too much outright yelling and not enough real dialogue and storytelling. I knew Mitchell would get whacked, too. Where’s the twist in the plotline? Plus I don’t remember him saying he was going into Witness Protection. David Kelley is stretching himself a bit thin with all the writing he’s doing. and Boston Public is too over-the-top to last. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/10 "2000-12-19T23:58:49Z")
Ivar, I think when Helen said, “He was supposed to be going into Witness Protection,” it was because she thought the dead guy was the criminal - the one who got a new lawyer. I don’t think she realized that the dead guy was the defense attorney until she saw his face. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/11 "2000-12-20T05:41:51Z")
Maybe I heard it wrong, but did Lucy mention she was pregnant when she was stringing up the tree? I’m going to have to go back to the tape to rewatch it. Speaking of Lucy, man, I would be out of that office so fast Maurice Green couldn’t catch me. How many psychos does it take before you say “um…I think I’ll find another receptionist job across town thankyouverymuch.” The whole Scott Wallace thing didn’t get to me until I saw this episode. I don’t like the actor too much and the character is actually quite boring. The whole plot line (autopsy flaw aside) just wasn’t that interesting. Certainly not enough to warrant the entire season being spent on it. It wasn’t until this episode that I realized that it wasn’t about Wallace. It was about Bobby. It’s about his reaction, his emotional investment, and his character change. This I can accept. It doesn’t justify the whole story arc, but it does at least put it in perspective. I liked the fact that when they had a partnership vote, Jimmy didn’t raise his hand. Good continuity. Though if I were Jimmy, I’d be asking for some tenure already. OK to paraphrase a bit: of all the cabs in all of Boston, why did she have to walk into mine? C’mon! Other than being incredibly cheesy and unrealistic in a horror film, let alone a drama show, it was entirely unncessary. She just happened to pick the cab that he (supposedly) happened to be driving? Ya. There’s more to it than that…I hope. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@Farmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/12 "2000-12-20T08:49:19Z")
Mars Horizon - \*\*Next, William Hinks: This guy is the creepiest serial killer since Hannibal Lecter. Or is he? That’s the confusion that DEK is trying to sow. I think it’s pretty obvious that Hinks is the killer. And I suspect that nice pollyana therapist is going to be his next victim. btw, did you notice that shot of Lindsay on the phone freaking out, as a woman walks behind her with a dog? foreshadowing perhaps? \*\* I believe the plot twist will show that the therapist is the killer and she just happens to have this psycho to deter everyone. And in her sick mind, she’s loving every second of it. Now was she his therapist most of his life, or just the length of his arrest? I think she want’s people to find out it’s her with her own set of mind games. ---
**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/13 "2000-12-20T13:44:03Z")
**Farmer** , good point. I hadn’t considered the possibility that it could be the therapist. Didn’t they mention in the episode where Hinks’ character was introduced that the therapist and Lindsay have known each other for some time? If so, maybe there is something in their past which will come to the surface, some old jealousy. Or maybe a [dramatic voice]deep abiding hatred[/dramatic voice] for Lindsay because of some perceived hurt that (I imagine) Lindsay has no recollection of. Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/14 "2000-12-20T14:33:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enderw23 \* > \*\*OK to paraphrase a bit: of all the cabs in all of Boston, why did she have to walk into mine? C’mon! Other than being incredibly cheesy and unrealistic in a horror film, let alone a drama show, it was entirely unncessary. She just happened to pick the cab that he (supposedly) happened to be driving? Ya. There’s more to it than that…I hope. \*\* My take on that scene is that Lindsey hallucinated, she only thought it was him in the cab. She’s been under tremendous stress etc, etc. And why **didn’t** Helen know the attorney was going to be the one that died? I mean, hadn’t she ever watched _Star Trek_ : Landing party of Captain Kirk, Spock, Bones and guy-soon-to-be-dead? (:D) One other aside. Silly me, I did not know that Boston was the hotbed of the nation for serial killers. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/15 "2000-12-20T15:43:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Farmer \* > \*\*Mars Horizon - > > \*\*Next, William Hinks: This guy is the creepiest serial killer since Hannibal Lecter. Or is he? That’s the confusion that DEK is trying to sow. I think it’s pretty obvious that Hinks is the killer. And I suspect that nice pollyana therapist is going to be his next victim. btw, did you notice that shot of Lindsay on the phone freaking out, as a woman walks behind her with a dog? foreshadowing perhaps? \*\* > I believe the plot twist will show that the therapist is the killer and she just happens to have this psycho to deter everyone. And in her sick mind, she’s loving every second of it. Now was she his therapist most of his life, or just the length of his arrest? I think she want’s people to find out it’s her with her own set of mind games. \*\* Oh, what an idea! That would be incredibly devious of the writers, now wouldn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Farmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@Farmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/16 "2000-12-21T08:22:51Z")
Your not mocking me are you Dolores? ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/17 "2001-01-02T13:26:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Farmer \* > \*\*Your not mocking me are you Dolores? \*\* No! Seriously, I think that would be a really cool plot twist. I missed seeing The Practice on New Year’s Eve… but NYPD Blue starts next week! Yay! ---
**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/18 "2001-01-08T17:04:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mars Horizon \* > **\William Hinks: This guy is the creepiest serial killer since Hannibal Lecter. \ I think it’s pretty obvious that Hinks is the killer. And I suspect that nice pollyana therapist is going to be his next victim.** Well, I called it. The therapist _was_ next, and Hinks made it look like a heart attack. But he didn’t count on Bobby ‘Murder Defender’ Donnell’s hitman coming after him following his threats to Lindsay. Well. This all seems a little too neat now. The following points need to be considered: Why did Hinks give the hitman that strange little smile when he saw him? Why did the hitman then _decapitate_ Hinks? Was there a connection between the two of them? Is the _hitman_ the real killer? Or is is as it appears?-- Bobby just sent a violent man who interpreted his instructions to ‘put the fear of God into Hinks’ a little too literally? Hmm… ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-practice-speculation-spoilers/46146/19 "2001-01-10T17:38:51Z")
IRL, Bobby would be disbarred so fast for what he did on that last episode. In The Practice, he’ll probably get a slap on the wrist. My guess as to why. The hitman was the real serial killer and Hinks knew that. He killed Hinks because he couldn’t just beat him up without the possibility of Hinks talking to the cops about the truth. Because of this, Hinks was going to die anyway despite Bobby telling him that that’s not what he wanted. So…it wasn’t Bobby’s fault. It was going to happen anyway. I still think that doesn’t justify it. He should still be disbarred. But it’s the best explanation I can come up with to prevent that from happening.