Now we have formally jumped the shark.
In case you had been on the fence earlier than (like me), the post-credits of The Good Battle Season 5 Episode 10 made it abundantly clear this collection has gone off the deep finish.
What began as a season filled with chance and exploration has changed into one thing unrecognizable and not set in actuality. The present has reached the purpose of no return and is heading straight towards loopy city.
That is to not say we should always write off The Good Battle totally. The way in which The Good Battle Season 5 ended permits the present to course-correct come Season 6, as a lot of the storylines had been wrapped up somewhat properly.
Ought to the writers resolve to ignore the occasions of its mediocre fifth season and blame it on a gasoline leak à la Neighborhood, that is one thing that might be organized.
Diane: Ma’am, is it true that you’re considering of making an attempt Matteo for homicide.
Vinetta: Sure. Might I present you one thing?
Diane: In fact.
Vinetta: That is Christopher. He was strolling residence from faculty when he obtained caught within the crossfire of gang shootout. One of many gangs was Oscar Rivi’s. I did the eulogy Christopher’s funeral. Ever carried out a eulogy for an 8-year-old?
Diane: No.
Vinetta: Not nice. That is Gabriel. He needed to go to USC movie faculty. He was killed by a nook boy who mistook him for any person else.
Diane: I’m sorry. I imply I am unable to say that I perceive your ache, as a result of, after all, I am unable to, however Matteo needs to be given over to the police, not held right here.
Vinetta: The police have not arrested anybody for these murders, any of those. Because the BLM Motion, they’ve pulled again from our streets. Nobody’s coming to assist. That is why I began this courtroom. It is not a joke to us. It is not your agency’s actuality present…
Diane: Oh, that’s not my agency.
Vinetta: Truly it’s Mrs. Lockhart. If I had been you I might put together your shopper for trial.
As a result of once more, earlier than the previous few minutes, the season finale was a reasonably strong, if not manner excessive, season-ender.
There have been, after all, some points, specifically the Chicago Police Division busting up Vinetta’s neighborhood courtroom due to mental property theft somewhat than false imprisonment and illegal restraint, but it surely’s nothing we have not handled all season.
In order irritating as it’s not to see these fictional characters objecting to the illegality of Wackner’s and Vinetta’s courts and the fake judges doling out punishment (illegally imprisoning folks, maintaining them in cages), it is develop into virtually commonplace. Nobody besides Marissa even bats an eye fixed in any respect this craziness.
As I’ve identified many instances, it is ludicrous that our favourite characters have not concerned the authorities, gone to the press, or filed a lawsuit.
They might not be proud of what is going on on earlier than their very eyes, however almost all of them — Marissa, as soon as once more, being the exception — do nothing to cease it.
Sure, they have a billion different issues happening proper now, and the agency has reached its tipping level, however how laborious is it to file a police report or a lawsuit. Diane, Liz, and co. are legal professionals, in spite of everything, and on a present known as The Good Battle, you’d assume the characters had been, properly, combating the nice battle.
It has been a clusterf*ck of a scenario, but it surely’s one we have sadly develop into used to. So if we disregard the presumed madness and ignore the dearth of motion, we discovered ourselves with a satisfying 50 minutes of tv, excluding the ultimate jiffy, after all.
One of many greatest developments of the installment was Diane relinquishing her title partnership on the agency.
Diane: I need you and Allegra to be title companions. I will be an fairness associate.
Liz: Why?
Diane: 5 years in the past once I hit all-time low, this agency took me in. I do not like the thought of splitting this agency in two, and I am unable to lead if nobody will comply with.
Liz: And your shoppers?
Diane: We’ll handle them collectively.
Liz: You’re important right here Diane.
Diane: I do know, however I believe I must show myself.
Liz: I missed you.
Diane: I am right here.
Weirdly, her false imprisonment made Diane perceive what Liz and the opposite Black fairness companions have been making an attempt to inform her all season: As a white lady, she should not be main a Black regulation agency nowadays.
It took Diane some time to get there, however ultimately, she did. Diane’s coronary heart is often in the precise place, so we knew she would get there finally, however she obtained caught up in what she felt she was owed somewhat than what she owes to others.
She felt she deserved her title partnership due to her laborious work, shopper roster, and billable hours, but it surely’s not nearly her clout, stature, and numerous years of expertise. It is also about Diane, as an individual, and as she talked about to Liz at first of the season, she will’t change her pores and skin colour.
Nobody can deny that Diane is an asset to this agency, however as a white lady, she should not be the top of a Black regulation agency. A lot of this season noticed Diane and Liz at odds over the previous’s title partnership, so it is fairly a reduction that they had been capable of patch issues up by the top of the episode.
Diane and Liz are at their finest once they’re working collectively, combating the nice battle, as an alternative of being at odds, and Diane stepping apart has allowed the pair to renew their friendship/lesbian lover standing.
Moreover, whereas in jail a cage, Diane realized she likes beginning over, which, upon reflection, is so true. It had by no means crossed my thoughts earlier than, however Diane does like that problem of combating her solution to the highest.
All through the collection and its predecessor, Diane began over a number of instances, most notably when she left Lockhart Gardner to hitch Florrick, Agos, and Associates on the finish of The Good Spouse Season 5 Episode 22 after which once more when she “retired” on The Good Battle Season 1 Episode 1.
This revelation means the title of the Paramount+ collection takes on a brand new which means: The characters on this present do not simply battle the nice battle, however additionally they like an excellent battle, which is particularly true for Diane.
Diane: I ought to stop.
Kurt: What are you speaking about?
Diane: That decide upstairs, she checked out me like I used to be essentially the most entitled white bitch on the planet, and that is the best way they have a look at me at work.
Kurt: No, no, no.
Diane: Sure, they do. I am the highest Karen. And why do I care? I might discover one other agency. I might stop. I am unable to impose my will on individuals who don’t desire me, and so they don’t desire me.
Kurt: Diane, I will stand on this cot as a result of I need to be demonstrative.
Diane: I ought to videotape this.
Kurt: No, no, we’re gonna neglect this tomorrow. My fear is that you’ll decide you’re gonna remorse.
Diane: I believe Kurt, Almighty Kurt, I believe I like beginning over. I just like the chutes and ladders of life. I need the nook workplace, however then I need to slip again to the start and battle for the nook workplace. I believe perhaps it is higher that I do not get the highest spot.
Kurt: OK, so long as you are glad, and we preserve fucking.
She likes clawing her solution to the highest, however as soon as she’s there, she misses that, so her stepping down as a reputation associate offers her with the chance to maintain on combating to regain her prime place.
There could very properly come a time when it is extra politically right for a Black regulation agency to have a white title associate, and if that point comes, you possibly can guess, Diane is ready within the wings.
Elsewhere, Wackner’s courtroom ended the best way it began: with a bang. Sure, the facsimile courtroom obtained destroyed by white supremacists — sure, you learn that proper — after Wackner determined to dam a portion of Illinois from seceding from the state. (As an FYI, it is unlawful to secede from the US).
The instances Wacker adjudicates have develop into exponentially crazier as every episode passes, so it wasn’t that a lot of a shock that the false decide discovered himself overseeing a secession case.
Apparently, although, the present’s exploration of who has authority to make selections on this nation. The irony is not misplaced on me that I hated the results of this thought experiment, however as a premise, it is nonetheless fascinating.
The present’s downside was it took this concept to the intense by ending the episode with folks holding their very own kangaroo courts and basically doing what the f*ck they needed.
Nonetheless, this try would have been extra profitable if the collection had simply targeted on Wackner’s courtroom as a case examine. Then, it might have been a strong instance of how absolute energy corrupts completely and the way issues solely have which means if we resolve they do.
As a substitute, the present obtained slowed down in making an attempt to push the envelope when the quieter ending of Wackner closing his courtroom after realizing it did not maintain the which means he thought would have been higher.
Marissa: Then why care when Decide Wackner decides.
David Twine: Why?
Marissa: Sure, why must you defer to him? Why defer to anybody?
David Twine: Is not that the purpose of this whole experiment? Decide Wackner judges as a result of we, the folks, don’t just like the Prepare dinner County judicial system.
Marissa: So for those who don’t love this courtroom system, you will simply begin a brand new one?
David Twine: I assume.
Marissa: So then why does this matter, this courtroom?
David Twine: It issues solely in as far as we proceed to agree that it issues.
Marissa: So for those who don’t love Decide Wackner’s rulings, you possibly can simply ignore them and create a brand new courtroom?
David Twine: Sure, nonetheless, I am guessing that I’ll like the best way the decide decides.
Marissa: Your Honor, is that this what you suppose? That it does not matter what you resolve?
Wackner: I would like a second to think about my ruling.
It might have capped his storyline off properly a couple of man who units out to make the world a greater place solely to find the pitfalls that include such an idealistic objective.
So, the collection selected to take the perversion and bastardization of Wackner’s courtroom and have it unfold to the remainder of the world in its jump-the-shark post-credits.
Some stray ideas:
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With Wackner closing his courtroom, does this imply Mandy Patinkin will not be again as a collection common subsequent season?
As a lot as this storyline pissed off me to no finish, Wackner was nonetheless a breath of recent air, and Patinkin was a pleasure to observe. If that is the top, I will miss the character deeply.
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After the shit present that was STR Laurie’s go to, how fearful ought to we be concerning the agency’s future?
The agency’s Dubai overlords already believed there was discord at Reddick Lockhart. With Diane and Liz MIA throughout their go to, STR Laurie cannot be proud of how administration is dealt with.
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Why was a lot time spent on Oscar Rivi this season? He isn’t a really likable character, and he did not convey a lot to the collection, but the final two episodes spent an excellent portion of time dedicated to his enterprise dealings.
Was it in order that Carmen would have one thing to do?
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Diane and Kurt are so cute. They began the season in a precarious place, however they’ve come via the opposite facet stronger than ever. They honestly are a pair that may overcome something.
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How fearful ought to we be that Jay’s nonetheless hallucinating historic figures?
So what did you suppose, Good Battle Fanatics?
Will you watch the present for its sixth season?
Did Diane make the precise alternative in stepping down?
What’s your tackle the post-credits?
Hit the feedback under to let me know your ideas.
Jessica Lerner is a workers author for TV Fanatic. Observe her on Twitter.