'The Good Fight' Season 4, Episode 2 Review: Memo 618 is the most terrifying thing the show's produced so far
Spoilers for 'The Good Fight' Season 4, Episode 2 - 'The Gang Tries to Serve a Subpoena'
In its move from serious law drama to full-on satire, 'The Good Fight' has dealt with some ridiculous ideas. Last season focused on an idea so absurd that the writers still don't seem entirely over it — the presidency of Donald Trump. Though the show constantly points out how ridiculous his presidency has been, it's still an idea based entirely on fact. With the introduction of Memo 618 this episode, the show introduces another ridiculous concept that just can't be true. However, American politics is in such an absurd position already that there is room enough for reasonable and terrifying doubt.
Where the last episode was a sharp detour from the regular plot, this one starts the season back up in earnest, hitting the ground running by introducing us to Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart's brand new offices as a subsidiary of STR Laurie. With the firm's financial problems largely behind them, things are looking up for the main cast, with large bonuses for the name partners, and Diane Lockhart's return to court as the new head of the pro-bono division, fighting the good fight. Not even the reappearance of the ruthless Louis Canning (Michael J Fox) can ruin her reinvigorated mojo — at least, not until Memo 618 comes into play.
This episode gives us a great reintroduction to familiar faces on the show, the return of characters introduced in 'The Good Fight,' and a memorable introduction to the new character Gavin Firth (John Larroquette). It's freshly appointed judge Julius Cain (Michael Boatman), however, who truly steals the show. The mysterious Memo 618, which appears to utterly exempt the rich from the law on even a federal level, is a new judge's worst nightmare. Indeed, a nightmare for anyone with any belief in justice at all, and Michael Boatman sells the full range of the emotions involved beautifully.
From the hilarious bewilderment as an attempted subpoena is outright ignored, to Julius' trademark cartoonish outrage, to the fear that starts to slip through the cracks. Even before he learns just how much of a threat to his career and livelihood the memo is, he is haunted by the implications of what it might mean. When realization finally dawns on him, and he is forced to let the defendant jot just go, but be released with a personal apology, it's almost difficult to watch, because right there on screen is a man who has been broken.
Memo 618 could easily have just been another silly thing to be outraged at. A lot of shows have begun introducing the idea of crime being perfectly, and literally legal if you're rich enough, and that's what Memo 618 appears to be. The rich have always done what they wanted, regardless of consequences, and now there is paperwork declaring them able to do so. Where Diane may have been looking for a fight, she might just have found the biggest one of all — battling for the soul of the justice system itself. "If the federal court ignores the law, what's left?" asks an outraged Diane.
'The Good Fight,' of course, provides no comfortable answers.
Due to a delay in post-production because of the coronavirus, there will be no episode of 'The Good Fight' next week. Episode 3 will air on April 30, on CBS All Access.
