What I’m Watching: Goliath

Goliath: Season 2, Episode 2 “Politics” (B)

I didn’t watch the season premiere until a month after it was released on Amazon, and it’s been a full three months since that time. I’m now feeling like I can pick back up my streaming shows again, but I’m having a bit of trouble getting back into this series. I really liked season one and the vast array of complex supporting characters, and I’m just not sure if we have that anymore. Seeing Patty is always a highlight, and watching her family try to get Billy into business deals or to take on a high-profile bunion case was entertaining. Her plan not to ever interact with Brittany is going to make things at the office exceptionally awkward, and Billy seems to be especially relieved to have Brittany back even after what she did. Denise confiscating all of Billy’s alcohol as a low-key attempted wake-up call for him to take a look at his life was an interesting instance of reverse parenting, but as usual, Billy seems to have too much to think about to really stop and notice. I knew I recognized the voice in the opening sequence, which turned out to be David Cross, and I’m still not sure that Mark Duplass is the right person to play Tom, whose reactions in certain situations appear unnecessarily comic. I’m much more impressed with Ana de la Reguera, whose Marisol is caught in a complicated situation where she’ll definitely have to compromise her principles to stay alive, and is only making things much grayer by sleeping with Billy.

What I’m Watching: Parenthood

Parenthood: Season 3, Episode 15 “Politics” (B+)

There’s plenty going on in this hour on all fronts, and a few romantic developments about which some of our protagonists aren’t all too pleased. Dr. Joe asking Jasmine to move in with him is a huge step, and it’s notable mainly because of how Crosby reacts. As is often the case with relationships that one partner hasn’t gotten over, Crosby actually did the most damage to his current relationship by being mature but then confiding in Lily, expressing his true feelings for her. Nobody wants to play second fiddle to the idea of someone else, and therefore I don’t think Lily and Crosby will last. The business partnership between Adam and Crosby isn’t rock-solid either, as Adam’s efforts to be assertive force Crosby to compromise his morals. Zoe’s difficulty separating caused some friction, and Joel is a good guy to have gone to her to make sure that she doesn’t cause Julia any undue agony. Sarah’s opportunity to meet Mark’s high school friends didn’t do their relationship any favors, but hopefully he is as genuine as he purports to be about his love for her and what he’s prepared to give up to be with her. It’s no surprise that Bob kissed Amber after getting that promotion, but it was still worrisome. She seems to have handled it smoothly, and it’s possible, though not entirely likely, that they can move past it and work together well without angry feelings or sexual tension affecting their day-to-day interactions in the office.