TV series
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 for drug use, he's sentenced to do 1,500 hours of community service, somehow to be squeezed into his 24/7 cutthroat world of mergers, acquisitions and board meetings. Reluctantly, he's now The Guardian - a part-time child advocate at Legal Aid Services, where one case after another is an eye-opening instance of kids caught up in difficult circumstances.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Checked Jul 22, 2026
The Guardian is available to stream on Paramount+, Paramount+ (Via Amazon Prime), and Paramount+ (Via Apple TV) in United States. You can also buy it from Amazon and Apple TV. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
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 for drug use, he's sentenced to do 1,500 hours of community service, somehow to be squeezed into his 24/7 cutthroat world of mergers, acquisitions and board meetings. Reluctantly, he's now The Guardian - a part-time child advocate at Legal Aid Services, where one case after another is an eye-opening instance of kids caught up in difficult circumstances.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
Burton tries to save Nick who is behind bars temporarily for drug possession by looking for a defense in Mandy's daughter Shannon. Shannon's grandmother doesn't want her to testify.
Directed by Kevin Rodney SullivanWritten by Michael R. Perry, David HollanderGuest stars AJ Michalka, Farrah Fawcett, John Rubinstein, Leslie David Baker, Steph DuVall, Jamie Anne Allman, Ben Siegler, Dorothea Harahan
Episode 2
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.
Directed by Steve GomerWritten by David HollanderGuest stars Jimmy Bennett, Denise Dowse, Kathleen Chalfant, Frank John Hughes, Michael Dorn, Katherine LaNasa, Adina Porter, Mack Dryden
Episode 3
Burton's past comes back to haunt him as he gets close to being a Federal Judge.
Directed by Jerry LevineWritten by David HollanderGuest stars AJ Michalka, Grace Zabriskie, Farrah Fawcett, Johnny Sneed, John Rubinstein, Evan Handler, Alan Polonsky, Katherine LaNasa
Episode 4
After deciding to work together, Nick and Burton Fallin return to the old offices of Fallin & Associates to create a new firm, Fallin & Fallin. Finally working on equal ground, Nick and Burton's first big client turns out to be Allegheny County Hospital, which is under scrutiny as one of the nurses is arrested and confesses to killing patients in the oncology department during his shifts. The hospital faces several potential lawsuits from the family members of the patients who died. To assemble a strong team of attorneys, Nick and Burton bring in James Mooney to help with the case but soon discover that his grandmother died in that very hospital just a few months earlier. James immediately removes himself from the case but he eventually gives into his desire to fight for the underdogs and tries to find representation for the family members. Meanwhile, Nick is also thrown into a case as a favor to Laurie Solt, where he must defend a child's right to attend an adoption party. This is a concept that Alvin Masterson finds reprehensible, as he believes it treats the children as though they are cattle to be sold at market.
Directed by Joan TewkesburyWritten by David HollanderGuest stars Kerry Washington, Denise Dowse, Kathleen Chalfant, Floyd Van Buskirk, Roger Guenveur Smith, Victor McCay, Sarah Rayne, Harry Johnson
Episode 5
Alvin head of Legal Service of Pittsburgh is arrested and LuLu takes over after seeing him on tv.
Directed by Mel DamskiWritten by Nick Santora, David HollanderGuest stars Denise Dowse, Johnny Sneed, Kathleen Chalfant, Rusty Schwimmer, Doug Sinclair, Kathleen York, Francis Guinan, Charles Esten
Episode 6
As the legal guardian of two siblings he represented the year before, Nick must find the missing sister so she can be a bone-marrow donor to save her dying brother.
Written by Michael R. Perry, David HollanderGuest stars Will Rothhaar, Denise Dowse, Kathleen Chalfant, Anita Finlay, Courtney Stevens, Tricia Dong, Anastasia Basil, Zach Grenier
Episode 7
Nick takes on the case of two children after their brother dies from their father's neglect.
Directed by Juan José CampanellaGuest stars Geraldine Hughes, Karen Hensel, Hallee Hirsh, Kathleen Chalfant, Bruce A. Young, Alan Polonsky, Tate Donovan, Joyce Guy
Episode 8
LuLu represents an old friend after one of her adopted children is dead. Nick represents someone he knew as a kid.
Directed by Jerry LondonWritten by David HollanderGuest stars Denise Dowse, Kathleen Chalfant, Katherine LaNasa, Shannon Kenny, Rob Nagle, Kieran Mulroney, Steph DuVall, Barry Del Sherman
Episode 9
Nick has to represent Levi who may not be allowed in school for not telling who beat him up.
Directed by Mel DamskiWritten by Nick Santora, David HollanderGuest stars Paul Gleason, Al Ruscio, Lee Thompson Young, Dusty Sorg, Courtney Stevens, Dierdre Holder, Peter Kevoian, Nick Jameson
Episode 10
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.
Directed by Michael W. WatkinsGuest stars Ashley Johnson, Johnny Sneed, Kathleen Chalfant, Frank John Hughes, Mack Dryden, Bobbin Bergstrom, Angela Sargeant, Harry Johnson
Episode 11
Nick helps a boy stay in the shelter. Burton helps Mary Gressler and Shannon out.
Directed by Lou AntonioWritten by Nick Santora, David HollanderGuest stars AJ Michalka, Farrah Fawcett, Denise Dowse, Alex Fernandez, Chachi Pittman, Rod Britt, Daniel Hagen, Michael Olifiers
Episode 12
Lulu's home is broken into forcing Nick to protect her. Nick takes Gavin Putinski a former child actor who claimes his parents want him to leave home.
Guest stars Corey Feldman, Denise Dowse, Johnny Sneed, Geoffrey Lewis, Bruce A. Young, Stephanie Venditto, Katherine LaNasa, Joyce Guy
Episode 13
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.
Directed by Duane ClarkGuest stars Rick Hurst, Rita Moreno, Percy Daggs III, Rod Britt, Dorothea Harahan, Todd Stashwick, Dee Freeman, Lahmard J. Tate
Episode 14
Nick meets Sam at a gala in Burton's honor. Sam who is a transvestite tries to get custody of lover's son. Also Nick finds out Mary and Shannon have been living with his father.
Directed by John PattersonWritten by David HollanderGuest stars AJ Michalka, Farrah Fawcett, Cyia Batten, Denise Dowse, Johnny Sneed, Kurt Fuller, Wayne Dalglish, Todd Kimsey
Episode 15
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?
Written by Michael R. PerryGuest stars David Burke, Krysten Leigh Jones, Leslie David Baker, Joshua Preven, Robert Bailey Jr., Rod McLachlan, David Raibon, Thomas Bankowski
Episode 16
A tough case involving a sick baby brings Nick and Lulu closer together when Lulu gets attached to the mom.
Directed by Steve GomerWritten by David HollanderGuest stars Dion Anderson, Nicky Katt, Denise Dowse, Rusty Schwimmer, Daniel Hagen, Kirk Baltz, Todd Robert Anderson, Michelle Azar
Episode 17
Caroline Novack returns to find out that Nick and Lulu were in a car accident which could prove fatal for Lulu.
Directed by Peter MedakWritten by Nick Santora, David HollanderGuest stars Rita Moreno, Dion Anderson, Nicky Katt, Johnny Sneed, Rusty Schwimmer, Bobbin Bergstrom, Todd Robert Anderson, Mason Lucero
Episode 18
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.
Directed by Simon BakerWritten by David HollanderGuest stars Bethany Joy Lenz, Denise Dowse, Paul Dillon, Floyd Van Buskirk, Amanda MacDonald, M.J. Karmi, Dorothea Harahan, Jacob Price
Episode 19
Caroline Novak goes before a Grand Jury who will look into her bad business practices. A former boxer tries to get custody of his child after spending time in prison.
Directed by Jeremy KaganGuest stars Rita Moreno, Zena Grey, Dakota Floeter, Richard Topol, Taylor Sheridan, Michael Ensign, Patricia Bethune, Madison Mason
Episode 20
Guest stars AJ Michalka, Bethany Joy Lenz, Kathleen Chalfant, Jon Sklaroff, Dorothea Harahan, Joshua Harto, Kimberly Huie, Brandon Keener
Episode 21
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?
Directed by Martha MitchellWritten by Michael R. Perry, David HollanderGuest stars AJ Michalka, Dan Byrd, Kathleen Chalfant, Christine Estabrook, David Wiley, Dorothea Harahan, Christienne Wadsworth, Kim Chase
Episode 22
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.
Directed by Joan TewkesburyWritten by Nick Santora, David HollanderGuest stars AJ Michalka, Eugene Roche, Denise Dowse, Vicellous Shannon, J. Grant Albrecht, Cedric Pendleton, Mark Kiely, Tom Kiesche
Episode 23
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.
Directed by David HollanderWritten by David HollanderGuest stars AJ Michalka, Denise Dowse, Kathleen Chalfant, Vicellous Shannon, Will Ferrell, Dorothea Harahan, Mark Kiely, Teresa Campbell
Episode information updated Jul 23, 2026
Simon BakerNick Fallin
Dabney ColemanBurton Fallin
Alan RosenbergAlvin Masterson
Wendy MonizLouisa 'Lulu' Archer
Raphael SbargeJake Straka
Charles Malik WhitfieldJames Mooney
AJ MichalkaShannon Gressler
Erik KnudsenHunter Reed
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