I can't believe this has even become a hot take on this sub

To me, Turnabout Sisters is one of the most iconic episodes of the series and arguably the most important single case. In many ways I consider it the true first episode (at best, 1-1 is an amusing gameplay tutorial and decent intro to 1-2)

It's an incredible hook to the game to immediately ramp up the stakes from a normal trial, to the death of your mentor. You're facing off against an elite, demon prosecutor. There's a conspiracy to send Maya to jail, and we learn Mia's killer is powerful enough to control the courts

I've recommended this series to a lot of people, and most of them drop the game during the investigations in 1-3. Nobody has ever dropped it during 1-2. I'm willing to bet that if the Turnabout Samurai was the second case in the series, many more people would have dropped it and not be on this sub today

I don't want to make this too long, so I'll address the two main complaints I see

The first is about how "there's no mystery--we know who did it, the murder weapon, etc." To this I'd just say that this case is more focused on drama, and teaching the player how to find contradictions and actually catch the bad guys. We know who the bad guy is in this case, and the drama comes from how the hell our rookie attorney is going to stop him and save Maya. Yes this is a mystery series, but considering this is the first case in a series unique for having the player spot contradictions, I think 1-2 gets a pass here

To the point that this case is about drama, the drama is really good! Everything surrounding Maya is so heartbreaking, and it's completely believable by the end of the case that Maya and Nick would stick together. I like that Nick saves Maya, and when Nick gets accused of the murder Maya is the one who stands by his side this time (and saves him via Mia)

The second complaint I see about this case is Redd White. To that I'd just agree he's a disappointing villain, and I'm sure he would've bee better had he come from a later game

The thing about Redd White is that he's a buffoon, and he gets all his power from his blackmail. Everyone says he's "easy to take down", but forgets that Phoenix wouldn't have won if Mia didn't blackmail him. Edgeworth was about to call a recess after the lamp receipt was presented, and in all likelihood was going to get White off on an easy lie. As much as people complain about Deus Ex Mia, it would've been less credible to White if he had been beaten in any other way (also Phoenix can't surpass Mia this early in the series)

Some people say this case should've come later and allowed us to build up to Redd White more. I don't agree, because I think this case works so well as an intro

Finally, think about all of the intros and iconic moments:

• introduces Edgeworth, Maya, Edgeworth, and Gumshoe

• introduces investigations

• introduces pressing the testimony

• introduces spirit channeling (I admit this put me off my first time, but it's an important pillar of the series)

• updated the autopsy report

This case sets the table for the entire series and introduces the core (most popular, and most beloved) cast. AA wouldn't be what it is without this case. And even with all this, half y'all would say "meh, D-Tier." Fuck your D-Tier (jk, kinda)