Billy Bob Thornton stars as the coolest brained foul mouthed big hearted lawyer with whom his peers in the field would be happy to keep a distance with if they happen to be his opponent. Watching the drama interspersed with a season of Fargo, in which he is cast in a villain avatar, it was not the only reason that Thornton appeared here as blissfully refreshing to me but this is surely one of his critically appealing performances till date.
Playing the part of once a giant, now turned shadow of his former self, Thornton as Billy bloody McBride spends the greater part of his time between the bar and his residence, when not meeting his scanty volume of clients with a willingness that borders indifference. But life as he got used to it, was going to take a roller coaster turn as he is hooked by Patty Solais-Papagian, a lesser lawyer with a greater ambition, in a case of his lifetime against a weapon manufacturer, represented by none other than McBride-Cooperman, the firm that he helped build but later left due to a personally traumatic episode. With wife estranged and still a partner in McBride-Cooperman and a daughter whose love for her parents gets thwarted by their relations, life was not so easy sailing for Billy already. But this case of challenging the Goliath in the law business swept everything aside. With the power of money and influence weighing heavily against him and Patty, his only hope lay in the justice which also seemed to look askance at quite a few occasions. Evidences are disqualified and witnesses dismissed in season 1, till Billy is trapped to call to stand his arch rival, the veteran with a twisted mind that looked forward for such a sort of bout to obliterate anybody that stand against his pride in this legal drama as the series intensifies. Donald Cooperman holds a grudge against Billy and remains his arch rival with a passion that is greatly perverse and is dutifully portrayed with necessary details by William Hurt that ensures the character is hated but never ignored.
Season 2 finds a more devastated Billy embroiled in a ring of cartel, politics and amour. With a familiar face getting murdered and another innocent destined for the gallows, the desperation for justice gets complicated by involvement of agents of the federal machinery with their distractions of various levels. Frustration runs supreme as the wealthy throws in their influence and the vicious their determined snipers who will stop at nothing to silence their targets. Beliefs are shattered while deceptions dominate that drives Billy to be trapped in the path of treachery. Clearly the best of seasons so far which will tax the emotions as when it seems justice prevails, but it will be partly so with delay that will cost innocent lives. Also, the hand of justice will seem a bit less fast as the verdicts are overruled by violence. Realistic to its core with the poetic touch of fictions, the season spells tragedy as it unmask the true Goliath of our times. There will be losses for Billy that include parts of his memory, but the lessons might teach him and Patty to hold a firmer grip over their instincts.
Memories will return as will some old enemies in season 3 as Billy battles a Goliath with evidence that is complicated to obtain. Fighting water theft in a drought ridden society, the leverage over the liquid sows the seeds of corruption favouring the economy of the riches without a conscience. Twists await while the folds of conspiracy unfurl, revealing surprises for the legal duo of Billy and Patty whose life also seems to be stabilised by some blessed turn of events.
A superb series that climaxes at each season with a cliffhanger but the beauty of the writings designed by Jonathan Shapiro, D E Kelley, Ben Myers, Noelle Valdivia, Tony Saltzman, Marisa Wegrzyn, Jennifer Ames, Steve Turner, Andrew Matisziw makes each theme standalone. The necessity of completion might be required for its absolute clarification, but without it, each season will still be satisfyingly refreshing. There is a rumour for season 4, mainly because season 3 classically concludes with a blend of fright and fresh start, but the critically biased audience will have something to contemplate over without a follow up nevertheless.
Created by David E Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro, the plots are gripping and intense.
The direction of Lawrence Trilling with Dennie Gordon, Alik Sakharov, Anthony Hemingway, Bill D'Elia ensures continuity of perspective amidst the variety of storylines weaving each event within already established fabric.
Radiating his characteristic charm amidst the roughest of situations, Billy Bob Thornton infuses optimism and hope to the deprived as Billy McBride who is practical yet emotionally foolish at times, following ethics that transcends standards but justifies the heart.
Applauds for her effortless performance as Patty Solais-Papagian, the equally foul mouthed partner of Billy McBride, it is Nina Arianda that breathes relief to the show by her impulsive, awkward loquacity. She gets inside the skin of Patty and capably characterizes the firm yet funny sidekick. She is irritatingly sceptical but humane at the same time. The character as well as the actor will be my personal favourite and is the true spirit of the show. Being the effervescent bundle of action called Patty, the frankly natural Arianda effuses spontaneity that uplifts the mood considerably. She proves to be the right partner to Billy with her contrasting attitude of life that is addictive as well as enthusiastic.
Streaming in Prime, this Amazon Original is a must watch for the critical minds in need of entertainment!
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