“Goliath” (Amazon)
“Goliath” Season 2 has arrived and most of the old gang is back. Billy Bob Thornton settles in once again to create a character that fits him like a glove. He could do this role in his sleep but luckily for viewers he examines and explores every facet of this fellow and presents a man who a loser in many people’s eyes but a winner with those who mean the most to him.
In season one of “Goliath” LA attorney Billy McBride (Thornton) won a huge case. It had a payout of millions so this season he is a wealthy man. But you couldn’t tell it by looking at him. He has bought a nice home in which his daughter lives but he stays at a cheap motel in a room/office. He hands out money to his friends and drinks and smokes too much.
One night he is asked by his friend Oscar Suarez (Lou Diamond Phillips) to take his youngest son Julio’s (Diego Josef) case. Julio has been charged with a double murder. At first Billy just offers money but finally agrees to take the case. He once again enlists the aid of Patti Solis-Papagian (Nina Arianda), a part time lawyer/real estate agent who became his partner of sorts in season 1.
The deeper Billy gets into the case the more complex it becomes. All around him bodies of one type or another are piling up. The crimes appear to extend to a mayoral candidate, Marisol Silva (Ana de la Reguera) but Billy doesn’t believe it. He thinks with her he has finally found love.
There are all sorts of twists and turns in this second season which is watchable but definitely not for the squeamish. There is a lot of gore this season and some images you can not unsee. When you find out a drug cartel is involved in the murders then you know the violence is going to be ratcheted up.
Billy Bob manages to keep your attention focused on him as he goes through the motions of solving the crimes and defending his client. And he does it all in spite of being thin to the extreme and wearing one of the worst wigs in Hollywood history.What helps deflect attention from these two attributes is the fact he has surrounded himself with an amazing supporting cast. Top of the list is Arianda, an actress who just gets better and better in her role as Patti.
This season we get to see some of Patti’s vulnerabilities. Plus we get to see a budding romance between her and FBI Agent Jeff Clayton (James Wolk). Some of the scenes between Patti and Jeff are the most tender and touching in the series. Wolk has always been looking for the right role to boost his career. Jeff Clayton could be it if he could only get more screen time.
The weakest actor in the show is Diana Hopper who plays Billy’s daughter Denise. She looks much too old for the role and her character never rings true. She isn’t terrible but on this show everyone else is so good that a less than solid performance sticks out like a sore thumb.
The eight episodes fly by except in episode 7 when everything seems to slow down. Don’t know if the makers of the show were just trying to drag it all out in order to have 8 episodes but it hurts the pace of the show. Also there are many.many questions left unanswered at the end. It would be nice to know there is going to be a season 3 and if these questions are going to be answered.
Still “Goliath” is a giant of a series and provides good entertainment. Here’s hoping Billy Bob and company will return again soon and give us the answers to these questions and carry on with a new case.
“Goliath” is available on Amazon now.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com
Episode 8 is not really a part of the series. It loosely references to the prior superb episodes, but does not progress in any understandable sequence, bouncing from one scene to another unrelated one, not seeming to connect in any rational way. The ending is so poorly written, only the actors skill makes it even watchable.One scene in particular is so crude, unrelated and offensive one wonders what kind of person would present this as entertainment. My advice, stop watching after episode 7. No need to subject yourself to such depravity.
William, I too think they went overboard on the grisly parts, but I am such a fan of Billy Bob Thornton, James Wolk and especially Nina Arianda that I would still have to recommend the series. And I cannot imagine stopping after episode 7.
Disagree about ep 7…that was my favorite one! Loved the concept, just stuck in a house for most of the episode so it’s just solid suspense. And the actors were awesome, I love character actors and Goliath just brings out great ones even for these one episode roles.
Felt episode 7 was just treading water. It was too drawn out and the escape itself was farcical.