Goliath

Goliath was such a good show. I'm actually mad at myself for putting it off for so long and just now watching it. I just finished season one and can't wait for the next three. If they're half as good as this first season I'll be satisfied. Billy Bob Thornton was perfect for this role. It's about a once powerful lawyer named Billy McBride (Thornton) who's now an ambulance chaser and a drunk. He takes a wrongful death lawsuit against his old firm which he helped create. He's then in a life or death trial against his old firm who he wants revenge against and the conspiracy behind it. I couldn't get enough of this and binged it as quickly as I could.

I'm not into courtroom dramas, & I don't have a particular interest in procedurals of any stripe. I did find "Goliath" to be very involving and entertaining. There are some clichéd tropes, as there are to some extent in ALL narrative fiction: the wastrel who has squandered his position of privilege and is handed the means to his own retribution, the big bad corporation pitted against the little guy, the 11th hour testimony to save the day for the plucky litigants...these contrivances in no way detract from what is at heart a good story with vivid, lifelike characters who suffer real consequences. There are a few "types", characters who fulfill a narrative function, but if you're THAT hung up on purity, screw it; you shouldn't be watching television, you should be writing stories and making your own truthful narratives. This is quality entertainment, and easily the best thing I've watched recently. Billy Bob Thornton is perfect, the supporting cast is top- notch, and while it does follow some genre formulae...it's artfully rendered GENRE, people. I suspect that the person complaining that it wasn't up to the standards of Chandler or Connelly (WTF?) suffers from ODC and likes having the last word in any discussion, whether it's regarding crime fiction or upholstery. I found it very entertaining.

Amazon smartly released all 8 episodes of Goliath so you could binge and follow the full arc of the story in a continuous setting. Goliath doesn't bury the lead by making you watch 7 episodes before stuff happens. Crucial elements of the story are revealed quickly and consistently and still it goes a full 8 episodes. Billy Bob Thornton just absolutely crushes it with his unique voice. Combined with Nina Arianda, it may have the best acting on TV that seems to never get noticed.

Meanwhile Apple continues to water-board viewers as it slow rolls its shows, with one episode at a time making you forget the reason you watched the first 2 episodes of any of their shows in the first place. They have ruined Ted Lasso and pretty much every other show in this way. I mention this b/c Apple put out several shows at the same time Goliath was released, including Foundation, See, and Ted Lasso. Goliath's full season was more satisying than all 3 of those shows combined.

I thought season 1 was great and looking forward to season 2. However, the storyline was a bit boring and didnt care much for any of the characters. Very disappointed with the second season. Please dont bring back the writers from season 2 if the creators plan a season 3.

Moves briskly despite the length, great courtroom scenes, amazing work from the actors, all of them. Nina Arianda, Tania Raymonde and Olivia Thirlby are standouts in a cast featuring Thornton, William Hurt and Molly Parker, and this is the first role I've seen Harold Perrineau in where I didn't see him, just his character. Maria Bello is quite good as well.

One of the best shows of the year, for me. Maybe 2-3 mildly preachy bits that dragged, but altogether solid. While there's not much actual action, a lot happens, but it doesn't feel clumsy or forced. I would be into a season 2.