I didn’t mind Bratt, because he played well off of Orbach, even from Bratt’s first episode in a conversation after Bratt pulls his gun on the leader of a biker gang, angering the other members:
Bratt: That’s how you get respect, by kicking ass.
Orbach: Yeah, I would’ve respected the hell outta them after they kicked our ass, which they almost did.
Claire went to see her old law professor. We were led to believe he was her father. At the end of the scene he said “Your mother would like you to come to dinner”. This could have been her stepfather, or a good friend. All of us fans were scratching our heads, but isn"t that what good TV does? We wonder to this day.
Yeah, I seem to recall the producers wanted to try a little straight drama over he actors’ objections.
Conversely, I have heard that the subplot involving Lennie’s daughter’s death was written in at Orbach’s request, to give him some character work he could sink his teeth into.