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The Good Fight Recap: S1E1 “Inauguration”

To put it quite simply, The Good Fight is the essential television show we didn’t even realize we needed right now. The Good Wife left a gaping hole in my heart, with its analysis of career versus morality, acceptance of sexual fluidity, and unflinching willingness to tackle current events and social issues in a swift and blunt manner. While we don’t have the flawless Julianna Margulies to follow as the cast constantly navigates blurred lines as Alicia Florrick, Christine Baranski’s Diane Lockhart was one of my favorite characters, whom I always wished got more screen time and character exploration.

The title of the premiere episode has a two-fold meaning, earmarking the beginning of a new era both in Cook County and in real-time American. The opening scene of The Good Fight could quite possibly go down as one of the most relevant, impactful openers in television. Diane sits along on her couch in the dark, watching dumbfounded as Donald Trump is sworn is as the 45th President of the United States. She abruptly turns off the coverage, shock and resignation on her face.

Same Diane, same.

“The opening scene of The Good Fight could quite possibly go down as one of the most relevant, impactful openers in television.”
As Diane leaves us to pull herself together post-inauguration, we’re introduced to Maia Rindell, a recent law school graduate furiously refreshing her computer for the results of the Bar exam we caught a quick glimpse of her tackling. After about twenty refreshes, Maia’s results pop up, indicated she passed the Bar! Squealing with delight, Maia wakes up her (hooray!) girlfriend Amy and leaps onto the bed to celebrate with an early morning cuddle sesh.

  It was at this moment, right here, that I fell in love with this show. We knew beforehand that Maia would be in a relationship with a woman, but it was such a refreshing surprise to see this relationship presented on screen in such an organic, nonchalant way. No coming out storyline, no shocking reveal, no plot revolving around the signature straight girl who suddenly realizes she loves a woman. Maia and Amy just are, from the beginning, which is beautiful and necessary and real. Yes, coming out stories are necessary, as well as insight into all the ways being in a same sex relationship can be just plain hard, but sometimes we just need to see a lesbian relationship on screen that just exists, outside of the science fiction dystopian universe.

“Maia and Amy just are, from the beginning, which is beautiful and necessary and real.”
Apparently other things exist in this show outside of Maia and Amy in bed together, so back we go to Diane’s retirement announcement at her law firm, which features several familiar faces to those who loved The Good Wife. David Lee does a mini-celebration after the meeting, after which we learn that Maia is starting as an Associate on the same day. After Maia is settled into her new space, we learn that she’s receiving pretty special treatment because she’s Diane’s goddaughter. Diane, of course, takes her under her wing and brings her on to help with the final case of her career.

Diane and Maia enter mediation with the opposing law firm, which happens to be the firm Lucca Quinn recently joined. Lucca and Diane have a history that’s not elaborated on much, but you shouldn’t feel too left out if you’re not familiar with their backstory. It turns out Diane’s last case is one involves police brutality. The defendant, a young black man, was injured so badly by three white police officers that he’s now in a wheelchair. Diane and Maia are representing Cook County, a/k/a, the cops, and they’re both struggling with the morality of potentially being on the wrong side of justice here.

Cut to Diane’s retirement party, where Maia and Amy arrive looking dashing together. Amy is a powerhouse in her own right. After we watch other elite lawyers celebrate Diane and Maia’s father encourage Diane to borrow from her retirement fund to purchase a new house rather than withdrawing all of the money (can you say red flag?), it’s back to business as usual.

But wait, the next day Amy calls Maia in a frenzy when the FBI shows up with a warrant to search their apartment looking for signs of collaboration with Amy’s father, who, it turns out is being arrested for being the ring leader of a massive Ponzi scheme involving thousands of investors’ retirement money, including Diane’s.

Once Maia’s dad is hauled off to jail, the plethora of news coverages leads to total destruction of Maia’s reputation, result in constant disgusting threats via telephone, text message, and in person at her own place of employment. After the first day in total hell, Maia comes home to be spooned by Amy in the shower, and can’t we just stay here forever?

Diane meets with her financial advisor only to discover that, long story short, she’s completely broke. She also finds out that there’s a possibility her assets might be frozen while the investigation is going, so she’ll likely have to live off of a predetermined budget. Bye bye, designer power suits.

Upon learning about her money woes, Diane cuts a slice of humble pie and scarfs it down before strolling into a meeting and stating she’s decided not to retire after all. David Lee, always the gentleman, reminds her that she already executed her exit agreement and reorganized the structure, refusing the allow her to remain at the firm as a Partner.

Dejected, but ever the confident crusader, Diane threatens to leave and take all of her clients with her. She swiftly approaches various other law firms in search of a new job. As it turns out, Diane has been more or less blacklisted from Chicago law firms for her staunch endorsement of the Rindells and their investing firm, which resulting in a widespread bankruptcy for several of Diane’s colleagues and clients.

The icing on the cake is spread when her estranged husband Kurt shows up to discuss divorce, as they’re separated, and failure to make it official might result in the freezing of his assets too. Kurt cheated on Diane, but he still loves her and I can’t help but want them to stay together, especially when Diane gets all vulnerable and cries. I didn’t know she could cry. Damn you Kurt and your cowboy attitude.

Back at Diane’s firm, she’s forced to ride out this last case before leaving even though she’s still searching for a new job. She can’t keep it together, and Lucca capitalizes on this weak moment and delivers a few low blows. As ruthless as Lucca is on the legal front, she defends a guy out in the lobby who continues to threaten and harass Maia and follows up by giving her a blunt but effective pep talk in the ladies room about toughening about and digging into her work to forget her family’s financial and legal woes.

Adrian Boseman, a Partner at the up and coming firm who is sitting across the table from Diane and employs Lucca, approaches Diane with an offer to join his firm. His strategy revolved around Diane’s knowledge and influence with having Cook County as a client, as she could have insight that could help Adrian’s firm win social justice cases against the county.

Diane doesn’t exactly have bestie status with the other attorneys at the firm, but nevertheless, she persists.

Meanwhile Maia, who’s having a really fantastic day as usual, comes to discover Amy in shambles over a sex tape that was released online, claiming to be of the two of them. The two aren’t the ones on the tape, but we all know how much that matters when it comes to perceived legitimacy. So far Amy doesn’t seem to be on her way to resentment road over this new found fame thanks to Maia’s parents, and here’s to hoping that never happens.

Once Diane breaks the news that she’s heading to Adrian’s firm David Lee takes it upon himself to fire Maia as well, one last middle finger to her godmother, I guess. After watching Maia get escorted out, Diane puts a call in to Adrian, providing a good word that lands Maia a position there as an Associate as well. This is where we close, with Diane, Lucca, and Maia all embarking on vastly different journeys along the same road.

The Good Fight has set the tone for a drama about powerhouse women of all colors, ages, and sexual identifications, and it’s hitting all the right notes.

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