Screengrab
Well, it looks like the romance is over and Liz and Diane are back to feuding again. And this time it wasn’t really Diane’s fault. Julius is desperate to start his own firm and he knows just the man to hit up for an investment — David Cord. But there’s nothing interesting about Julius, in Cord’s eyes. So what if he’s a conservative Black man? He doesn’t have the razzle dazzle of big name clients that Cord thinks he needs to be a success. Okay, then, what about … Diane Lockhart? Well, that was music to Cord’s ears, so if he can secure Diane as a partner then Cord is in.
But nothing is that easy because Julius then found himself being ticketed for parking in a ‘purple zone’, a thing that does not exist in Chicago. But the parking enforcement officer was adamant that he was going to take that ticket, no matter how many times he ripped it up, getting the fine raised in the process. Failing to take it seriously as it came from Wackner’s court, Julius then found his car towed from a parking garage, now having to deal with the City of Chicago, claiming none of this is real. Two others also had the fake tickets and they went to Wacker’s court to fight it, but they lost any backbone they had an apologized to the court and Wackner let them go. Julius refused to apologize, and Wacker put him on trial. Choosing to represent himself, David Cord took on the role of prosecutor, and it all just snowballed out of control as Julius found himself plunging down a rabbit hole, possibly facing jail time in Wackner’s prison.
When Marissa saw that Julius was on trial, she flipped out on Wackner, reminding him that Julius works for the law firm that represents Wackner. For his part, Wackner turns it around on Marissa, reminding her that it was she who took him to task for showing favoritism to Del Cooper. She can’t have it both ways, right? If he has to fairly judge those other cases, then it doesn’t matter who Julius is. The law is the law.
Screengrab
Meanwhile, Diane isn’t seriously considering Julius’ offer, but wind of her leaving the firm made its way to David Lee, who called Liz and Diane to his office, advising them to get their shit together or else he’d be working in Liz’s office right next to her. And neither of them want him working on their floor. Liz is once again angry at Diane for considering leaving the firm, and warns her she’d better not poach any of their clients. Diane is insulted that Liz would suggest such a thing, but reminds her that those clients are free to go wherever they want.
Earlier Diane had suggested to Liz that they find a partner to replace Adrian and she said she’d think about it. But with the walls still closing in on her, Diane conjures up RBG once again for some advice, this time quite clear that she’s just being told what she wants to hear because the Justice is just in her head. But talking the situation out, Diane comes upon the idea that she needs to find someone she can work with but doesn’t necessarily have to like regardless of their political stance. She has to convince Liz that she doesn’t like the potential hire so Liz will hire them and then Diane will still be able to work with them. It’s a tricky game, but in the end it would be a win for Diane. And with RBG’s help, Diane remembers one of Ginsberg’s law clerks, Allegra Durado, who left to work on a book about truth. Liz meets with her to suggest she apply for the job at her firm, and while Durado seems a bit kooky, Diane thinks her little plan will work.
But first Liz and Diane have to address Julius’ issue with Wackner, suddenly realizing the major police presence in the courtroom is there for a reason — payback and intimidation, still holding a grudge against anyone associated with Riddick & Lockhart. Wackner eventually commutes Julius’ sentence, but now he finds himself summoned to Liz’s office where she and Diane are presenting him with the balance remaining on his retainer and a dissolution of their business together. Wackner says he has a right to choose his legal representation and he chooses them because he trusts them. Liz says they also have the right to dismiss their client, especially after what he did to Julius. Wackner just says no and walks out, leaving Liz and Diane baffled and frustrated. To make matters worse, after some re-edits of the pilot episode and focus group feedback, ‘Wackner’s Rules’ is being picked up as a series.
Liz is then surprised to learn Allegra is there to see her, asking about the partner position. It only takes a few seconds for Liz to figure out what’s going on, asking if Diane put her up to this. Allegra answers all of Liz’s questions honestly, and Liz is aware of Diane’s game to try to make her thing hiring Allegra is her own idea. While Allegra has answered in the affirmative to all of Liz’s questions, Liz gets a no when asked if Allegra will tell Diane about their conversation, ‘only if she asks me.’ Liz has a look on her face that says two can play at Diane’s game. But is Allegra simply going to become a pawn who may get hurt in the process? Hard to say, but it was great to finally see Wanda Sykes on the show!
What did you think of this episode? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
The Good Fight streams Thursdays on Paramount Plus. Use Hotchka’s affiliate link to subscribe!
Share this post
