Who does Malcolm Jamal-Warner play on The Irrational?

The Irrational had a notable guest star this week in Malcolm-Jamal Warner. But just who did the TV veteran play in the episode?

Caution: This article contains SPOILERS for The Irrational Season 1 Episode 6

The Irrational focuses on Alec Mercer (Jesse L. Martin), a behavioral psychologist and expert in human behavior. Alex was scarred as a child in a church bombing and suspects there is more behind it than there seems.

Alec is often called on to lend his expertise to cases. In “Point and Shoot,” he was enlisted to vet psychological experts on a case of a man whose husband was killed when police mistakenly thought they were reading a drug dealer’s home.

The plaintiff was a friend of Alec’s sister, Kylie (Travina Springer), who was leading protests against the police. Alec soon decided to help, which led to him clashing with the chief witness for the police, Dr. Dustin Atwood (Warner). Alec and Atwood had an old beef, with Alec feeling Atwood was a morally dubious man who “never met a police shooting he couldn’t justify.”

Sure enough, Atwood talked on the stand about how the cops felt threatened by the homeowner and couldn’t be blamed for this and was smug telling Mercer he was going to win. Of course, this being The Irrational, there was another twist.

Just what was the reason for the murder on The Irrational?

It turned out this wasn’t a “clerical error” or a mistake but a conspiracy. Alec used Atwood’s own ego against him, getting him on a TV interview where he targeted the one cop who didn’t fire in the raid. That cop confronted Alec, who got him to reveal the truth.

The victim had stumbled onto a corrupt corporation that had the judge who issued the warrant and several of the squad cops on their payroll. All it took was one “incorrect” warrant and the problem was taken care of.

Alec played Atwood to approach the judge on a case and got the judge to accept a bribe. It was a sting to bust the judge. Atwood acted like this was just to protect his winning streak, although Mercer could tell the guy really was trying to do the right thing.

It was a fun turn by Warner, showing he could mix his usual skill at drama and comedy well, and it would be nice to see Atwood tangle with Alec again down the road.

The Irrational streams Mondays at 10/9c on NBC and streaming on Peacock.