'The Good Fight' Season 4 Episode 3 Review: No easy answers available as the firm discusses reparations
Spoilers for 'The Good Fight' Season 4 Episode 3 'The Gang Gets a Call from HR'
In many ways, the study of law is the search for definitive answers in places where answers don't come easily. Who is in the right, who is in the wrong, what even is "right," and, most relevantly, who owes what to whom, and how much of it? 'The Good Fight' has never pretended that there are easy answers - or for that matter, satisfying ones - but this episode feels particularly unsatisfying in a lot of ways.
A room full of Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart's best and brightest holds a mirror up to the divisiveness of current American political debate, and illustrates perfectly why so little in politics actually gets done despite the number of passionate voices talking about it.
Beginning with a discussion on how to engage more African American voters, the topic quickly moves to reparations for slavery, which then turns to the need to bring in the firm's few Caucasian employees for "diversity," soon followed by an investigation from Human Resources for Adrian Boseman's (Delroy Lino) use of the n-word in a quote to illustrate one of his points. To sum up, what was meant to be a discussion on voter engagement ended up with a reprimand from HR regarding hostile work environment. If open-minded, civil political debate is even possible anymore, it most certainly won't be happening with a room full of lawyers.
The different perspectives being brought to the table is impressive, even if the inability of those perspectives to reach a common ground is not. If it is impossible to have a comfortable discussion that race is at the heart of, it's because there are a lot of uncomfortable opinions harboured by people. Opinions like the belief that reparations would mean that African Americans would never be able to call out racism again - that without reparations, white guilt can be held over Americans' heads indefinitely. Or the idea that racial bias will always make its way into official policy. Opinions that are usually kept buried deep down but that nonetheless inform a great many people's decisions and judgements.
The debate over who and who can't use the n-word sparks just as much debate as everything else seems to at the firm - though charged with a lot more anger than usual, as HR is called to step in. This is not the first time Adrian's unique fascination with the use of the n-word has gotten him in hot water - a clip from an earlier season of 'The Good Fight' was even trending a few weeks ago. What makes this different, however, is that Adrian's use of the word is being policed by the largely Caucasian firm of STR Laurie, where Adrian is being judged by a panel of Caucasian HR employees.
A lot of points of view are brought up this episode, and all of them have that unique blend of political and personal bias wrapped around nuggets of truth, all suffused with pride and a refusal to give anyone else the satisfaction of gaining ground in a debate. It's an uncomfortable mix that makes it hard to completely agree with anyone, and is one of the reasons why the show's debates can stick with you long after the episode is done.
With all the moral murkiness, it's almost a relief to see Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) championing a more pure cause as she brilliantly adapts to the challenges of Memo 618 while trying to bring it to light. The lengths that are taken to keep Memo 618 are just as ominous as Diane's determination to find ways around the order are ingenious. Searching for the truth with all the determination of a drowning man seeking air, Diane may be in for the fight of her life - but that's not going to deter her one bit.
The next episode of 'The Good Fight' airs May 7, on CBS All Access
