tvline: Celia Imrie Commands the Courtroom as Budgie in ‘War’

Budgie takes the courtroom

Budgie may appear disarming, but Imrie gave her an unmistakable edge in court. In her opening statement, the attorney made the case for Carla while joking that she admired Carla’s acting work, adding, “don’t tell her I told you.” Budgie then questioned Morgan, Carla’s estranged husband. After some warm-up questions, she turned to the creation of his social media platform, Zephyr, and Carla’s part in its beginnings.

A pointed line of questioning

Carla had recently endured cyberbullying when Morgan conceived Zephyr as a more positive platform. Budgie argued that Carla must have influenced its creation, prompting Morgan to bristle and ask whether she had a real question for him.

Imrie played Budgie’s response with a grin: “Not yet... but don't hesitate if you want to interrupt.” The exchange showed how the attorney used charm to unsettle her witness while pursuing her argument.

A second performance earns notice

The legal contest between Carla and Morgan has not been decided. Imrie’s performance nevertheless made Budgie a standout, and the story expressed hope that she will return for “War”’s second season. An honorable mention went to Martinez for her work as Special Agent Eva Ramos on “FBI.” Eva faced a family crisis involving her mother and an abusive partner, then negotiated with a woman threatening to jump from the Staten Island Ferry.