Give-and --Take Drives ‘Guardian’

The first-year show “The Guardian” is one of those serious dramas with the plain title to prove it: You know, “The District,” “The Agency,” the this, the that.

What sets it apart are its compelling flawed hero, Simon Baker as corporate lawyer Nick Fallin, and his volatile chemistry with Dabney Coleman as his crusty father, Burton. The give-and-take between TV newcomer Baker, who has a weather-beaten, Steve McQueen kind of charm, and the veteran Coleman feels lifelike.

As fans know, “The Guardian” traverses two legal worlds, cutthroat corporate law and advocacy for troubled youths. The premise: While striving to further his career, Fallin must serve 1,500 hours at a Pittsburgh legal clinic because of a drug bust.

In tonight’s episode (CBS, 9 p.m.), co-written by creator David Hollander, the battle of wills at the heart of the show heats up as Fallin comes face to face with his addiction when his old dealer turns up at his new workplace. Fallin’s relationship with his dad--and now ex-boss--also comes to a head as they square off in a simple business negotiation that turns ugly.

Meanwhile, clinic chief Alvin Masterson (Alan Rosenberg) draws a case that stirs the pangs of guilt that led him to a career in legal aid. In a series in which no one escapes his past, co-star Rosenberg helps anchor a potent cast.

Like its protagonist, “The Guardian” has flaws. Courtroom scenes can get maudlin, and some story lines feel rote, including tonight’s subplot about an abandoned baby.

But the unlikely hit continues to unfold slowly, as characters reveal themselves. Fallin surely will have to find redemption by degrees. As viewers, we wouldn’t want it any other way.