#especially because it came out Right Before johns tried turning henry into a hero

[augustheart]

one eternally frustrating thing about comics is that sometimes an issue will be really good for fleshing something out about a character you love while at the same time absolutely obliterating an aspect of a different character you love's characterization. and you just have to take this shit lying down

[sorin-in-the-sixth-sense]

A list of my favourite fictional grey characters (not in order) SPOILER ALERT!

Regina Mills (Once Upon A Time)

There is a reason why Regina is called «The Evil Queen» She was pure evil. A murderer, a kidnapper, a rapist, how could I like her? Well it wasnt before season 3 I started to like her. It took a lot of time. And I suppose I will never fully love her after she raped Graham for...years... and murdered people - children when she was a tiny bit frustrated. I would even say that she is irredeemable. And I thought her redemtion arc was unrealistic in the beginning, and for God’s sake, she should not have been crowned The Good Queen in season 7. But she tried to change so hard for Henry, she tried to redeem herself. Tried to be a good mother for a change. She saved multiple lives and souls. She didnt completely redeem herself, I must admit it. But she tried so hard and I feel like she deserves something from that. She eventually became a very good mother, even though it was a little late since Henry was already 12 when she became one. She was still a bitter bitch and blamed innocent people for unfortunate things that happened to her (Zelena, Mary Margaret, Emma) but by season 7, she became something more than that. She became half good. Grey. And even though she didnt completely redeem herself, she came close. Also, I love her sassy personality, she should be crowned The Sassy Queen, not The Good Queen.

Rumplestiltskin (Once Upon A Time)

The Dark One who after 7 seasons became one of the greatest heroes in OUAT. The man who was known as the village coward because he ran away from the Ogre War and was too afraid to fight for his wife became one of the bravest men. Like Regina, he was a murderer. He was super manipulative with all his deals and the «all magic comes with a price, dearie» thing. He manipulated people into getting themselves killed. Before he became The Dark One, he was a good man with a pure heart. But the power of the dagger took over him and his heart was all black. He was power sick. He always wanted power, but not for selfish reasons. He felt like he needed power to protect his son Bealfire/Neal and his wife Milah, but when he took that power, the darkness came over him and he, after time, became evil. It wasn’t before he met Belle French his heart showed a little bit of light. As he said, she was his light in an ocean of darkness. Their relationship was problematic and selfish in the beginning. He manipulated her into thinking he changed (which you know i detest *cough* James Potter) Rumple loved power more than he loved her, at least in season 4. He too often chose it over her, until season 6 when he started to properly redeem himself. His redemtion arc took over 300 years but it came in the end. His love for her changed A LOT. In the other seasons, his love was unhealthy and selfish. But in season 6 and 7, he changed a lot. This time it wasnt only for Belle, but Gideon too. They helped him let go of power and in season 7, he tried so hard to get rid of the dagger and the power so that he could live a normal life with his family. And after Belle died, he didn’t return to the dagger or the dark side. He helped the good side to defeat Drizella and the other villians in that season. He even became a father figure to Alice. And in the end he sacrificed himself to save Killian’s (Nook) life. And he got reunited with Belle. He is the most interesting character in OUAT, no doubt there.

Sawyer/James Ford (LOST)

Sawyer is without a doubt one of my fave characters from LOST (after Charlie and John) in his background, he was a thief and manipulated woman to believe he loved them, just to take all their money. (Maybe except Cassidy, since he fell in love with her later, but he still manipulated her AND got her pregnant) He’s a real asshole. Buuut - then he became an entirely different (and better) man. He meets Kate Austen and I feel like his love for her changes his character. In the beginning he was a bit of a perve with her (i mean, walking straight towards her completely naked...) he doesnt develope much in the 1 season, but later (beginning in the 3 season) he becomes quite selfless and protective. In season (was it 4? I dont quite remember) he falls in love again with Juliet Burke, and heeeeell, she was good for him. He also developes a nice relationship with Claire Littleton (platonic) he becomes protective of her. He attemts to comfort Hurley after Charlie’s death. In the rest of the seasons he is the born leader. He puts the team before himself (like when he sacrificed his chance to escape the Island) and in the paralell universe he is absolutely the best.

Heathcliff (Wuthering Heights)

Okay, no he’s not exactly a grey character since he’s a lot more dark than light, but I love him too much to not put him here. Differently from the other character I’ve mentioned above, Heathcliff doesnt have a redemtion. He died an awful person. He abused and manipulated a lot of people. Before he became this asshole, he was a much better person. He was an ass to those who deserved it (Hindley, That bitch deserved to die so young. Edward was a kind man, but I don’t like him, sooo... nevermind) The way he treated Isabella was sickening and awful, she had every right to leave him and take Linton away and hate him. I Don’t like Isabella, but she never deserved to be treated that way. His love for Cathy was unhealthy, but it was true and he would do so much for her. (They kinda remind me of Snily, so ofc I ship it) Heathcliff went through so much trauma in his life and never recovered. After Cathy died, he was practically dead too, then he killed himself years later. His life made me cry for days, especially the ending. He is such an interesting character with so many layers.

Ulrich Nielsen (Dark)

(Before I say anything, I haven’t finished the entire show yet, so this is gonna be short and probably not 100% correct)

To be honest, I don’t like Ulrich at all as a person. I look at him and I see a fully grown up man with no remorse for what he did to Regina as a teen. He cheated on his wife with a woman he didnt even love. He tried to murder a CHILD who hadnt done anything wrong (yet) because he thought he was going to kill his brother and son in the future (okay, i get why he did it. He was desperate to get Mikkel back and the whole time-tarvelig thing was extremely stressfull) BUT HE COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING A LOT LESS HARMFULL TO PREVENT EVERYTHING TO HAPPEN. Despite this, i love him as a character. He is so interesting and there are times were I have to remind myself why i dont like him. He is brave and intelligent and... so fucking hot as a teen.

Hannah Kahnwald (Dark)

(Again, havent watched the whole show yet)

This girl is MESSED UP. When she was fourteen, she accused Ulrich of being a rapist, which is a very serious accusation and then blamed it on Regina who she knew was a victim of Ulrich and Katharina’s bullying. She is a home-wrecker, and when Katharina found out about Ulrich cheating on her with Hannah and confronted her, Hannah blamed it on Ulrich and said he pressed her and that she wanted it to end, but he refused or whatever, i dont 100% remember the conversation. But she was also a very good mother to Jonas and she was so sweet to Mikkel/Michael. She is a bitch, so much that its impossible to not like her.

Severus Snape (Harry Potter)

Saved the best one to last. The guy my whole account is about, ofc he’s on this list, and ofc this is gonna be the longest text.

This guy is a complete asshole. Always has been, always will be. He bullied Harry and Co (mostly Harry and Neville) he was a bitter and sarcastic bitch. He used to be a follower of Voldemort. Even in his youth he had a lot of flaws. We all know he became the bastard he was due to childhood trauma, mental illnesses and manipulation. I believe he had depression, grief and PTSD. At least in his 20’s he was suicidal, and I believe it remained like that til the day he died, because he had no one to help him or give him support. He turned to the dark side in an attemt to make his life better (as many members of gangs do) but he only stayed like that for two years, which is extremely impressive if you know what kind of person Voldemort is. As a 21 year old, Snape was a very different person from what he was as a 38 year old. If he was the way he was as a 38 yr old when Lily, James and Harry was in danger. First of all, he wouldnt start to try to save Lily by asking Voldemort, he would have went straight to Dumbledore, probably with his own brilliant plan on how to save them. Second, he wouldnt hesitate for a second to save James and Harry to. In canon, he needed to have a personal reason to save them, which was Lily’s feelings I believe. As a 38 yr old, he risked his life to save people he hated (Lupin) This is a great character developement. He went from being a selfish bitch, to become a selfless asshole. He was that kind of person who did anything in his power to protect someone, even if that person had nothing to do with winning the war and had nothing to gain himself.

[popwasabi]

“The Farewell” Review: Asian Family Dramedy Finds Bittersweet Humor in Grief

Directed by Lulu Wang

Starring: Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin

It’s been a while since I’ve gone out of my way to see a film that didn’t feature super heroes, dog-loving hit-men, or giant atomic-breathing fire lizards but a chance to see Awkwafina flex her comedic and dramatic chops while supporting Asian American creative voices was too good to pass up in “The Farewell.”

Director Lulu Wang’s film, based on “an actual lie” that her family went through, is a mesmerizing bittersweet and often hilarious take on the cross section of immigrant family values and the love that holds it all together. It’s the kind of story that will make you want to hug your parents and relatives extra tight, while laughing your ass off and shows a new angle to the family dramedy through Asian American voices that Hollywood rarely touches on.

(Since I’m sure most of you NERDS don’t watch Indie films, here’s the trailer to get you up to speed.)

“The Farewell” tells the story of an Asian American woman named Billi struggling to find purpose in her life out in New York. When she learns that her Nai Nai (grandmother) is dying from cancer she is told she is forbidden from telling her about her condition as per Chinese tradition. Under the guise of a wedding for her cousin the family uses it as an excuse to get together to be with Nai Nai one last time but the secrecy does not sit well with Billi and now she finds herself struggling with keeping the truth as it slowly eat her inside.

The best thing about “The Farewell” is that it doesn’t choose a side in its East vs West dynamic that may feel apparent in the film’s trailer. In fact, it’s more closely East AND West when it comes to the message of the story. The film doesn’t aim to vilify Billi’s family for hiding the truth from their matriarch but rather simply state this is how it is in China. It doesn’t try to state that this is the right way of thinking either, of course, as plenty of the film’s dramatic frictions comes from this lie but the film balances this East and West ideology very well by ultimately choosing not to take a side and simply show how this family loves one another which is ultimately more important to its narrative.

Though the film has an ultimately tragic premise it is here that much of the movie’s great comedy comes from and often at hilarious levels. It doesn’t simply make comedic scenes take place between the family drama it actually melds the two perfectly as humor comes directly from the tragedy. Often while viewing this film in fact you might find yourself wondering if you should laugh or cry and sometimes, you’ll end up doing both and the film is better for it in this way.

(That look we all gave when we tried to avoid spoiling “Endgame” to friends a couple months ago before they got a chance to see it.)

The film does such a wonderful job of making good, bittersweet humor out of this familiy’s struggle with tip-toeing around the truth that you’ll simultaneously want to sympathize with them and laugh at/with them at the same time. The humor can be both outrageous, dry and sometimes even dark in this way and makes for a very complex viewing experience. It’s a great balancing act that projects both emotions in perfect harmony from start to finish that’ll have you crying from laughter and sadness.

It’s the cast though that makes all this work perfectly as they form a believable loving but slightly dysfunctional family from various parts of the world. Tzi Ma is great as Billi’s father who struggles in his own way with his Chinese principles and his newer American beliefs. Diana Lin reminds me almost too much of my own mother, who is both loving and haranguing toward Billi throughout the film. And Zhao Shuzhen will make you wish she were your grandmother as her undeniable charm keeps the story humming along at a delightful and loving pace.

But it’s Awkwafina (real name Nora Lum) of course who shows off her impressive range here as both a dramatic and comedic talent that brings this all together here. Her catchy one-liners and star-making performance in last year’s “Crazy Rich Asians” was one of the film’s big highlights and she’s no less charming in “The Farewell” as well. 

Awkwafina carries this film as the audience’s primary western point of view but again it never turns to condescending of cultural traditions as our main character struggles internally throughout the film but never vilifies what is going on either. It’s a highly nuanced performance that shows Awkwafina’s star is indeed rising and deserving of recognition when awards season eventually rolls around.

(Side note: If I ever get famous I want to party with Awkwafina haha)

So, now it’s time for me to get on my soapbox again for a minute. If there was any doubt that diversity and showcasing minority artistic talents is important just look at all that’s changed in the wake of last year’s “Crazy Rich Asians.” I mean, just look at this picture of the theater I went to see this film at this past weekend.

It was a full house and it wasn’t even the showtime I originally wanted to see it at because the previous one had sold out too! And this wasn’t a crowd of predominantly Asian folk seeing this film; viewers of seemingly all backgrounds came out to see this wonderful family dramedy. It’s further proof that these films about the Asian American condition are relevant and more importantly have mass audience appeal.

On the surface a film like “Crazy Rich Asians” (especially compared to the complexities of this film) feels like a pretty standard rom-com but by getting it in theaters past all the countless bull shit, nay-saying it effectively broke down the door for new films that featured Asian Americans. In just a year’s time Henry Golding has already starred in “A Simple Favor” and is set to star in two more before the year’s end. John Cho was able to make his directorial debut with “Searching” and is set to play Spike Spiegel in Netflix’s “Cowboy Bebop.” Ali Wong’s “Always Be My Maybe” was a huge streaming hit as well on Netflix last month. And Marvel Studios is finally ready to have an Asian American super hero make his debut in Shang Chi later in the MCU’s phase 4.

(Ali Wong is just delightful if you didn’t already know btw.)

This is what I mean whenever I say Hollywood needs to give these films a chance because look how much has changed with just one movie. Who knows if a movie like “The Farewell” would’ve had a chance at even minor independent film stardom if a movie like “Crazy Rich Asians” hadn’t been given a chance to shine first on the big stage.

These movies and these people deserve a chance to tell their stories because they are relevant, they are poignant and more than anything they are good fucking stories! “The Farewell” is easily my favorite film of the year and I am grateful to “Crazy Rich Asians” for making it a possibility to be here. And if you think diversity still doesn’t matter then kindly just go fuck yourself because Asian Americans, these films and these beautiful, heart-wrenching and often funny stories are here to stay whether you like it or not.

(Seriously though can we like hang out, Ms. Awkwafina?)

“The Farewell” is well worth searching for a theater that’s playing it on the limited release circuit and will have you laughing and crying at the same time before and after the credits roll. It’s a film that will undoubtedly leave a mark no matter what cultural background you come from because the love in this story is relevant to everyone.

So, go see this movie and don’t forget to bring your Nai Nai too.

 VERDICT:

5 out of 5

*Me after the credits rolled.*

[avenger09]

Ideas for a new Bravestarr Series

Deep in Space, on a new frontier lies a planet beset by outlaws on all sides. Folks just trying to forge a new life for themselves live in fear and hope is a luxury. The desperate people of this planet call for help thinking they'll need a hundred lawman to restore peace. They got one... he was enough. His name: BraveStarr. Blessed with incredible Galactic powers and strength of character, BraveStarr alongside his posse of fellow Champions of Justice, fight off not just the corruption of Tex Hex, but the worst quality's the frontier can bring out in the ordinary people of New Texas.

Note: (This is just a few concepts I as a fan have come with with. Ironing out is for professionals.)

Marshal Bravestarr

-Noah Watts- 

One of the best Marshals to come out of the Academy, he was sent to the desperate planet of New Texas whose people where terrorized by undead outlaw, Tex Hex and his gang and return justice to this frontier planet.

Gifted incredible powers as a boy by a burst of energy, when the tainted spirit Stampede attacked his home. He spent his youth learning to be worthy of the abilities given to him: Strength of the Bear. Speed of the Puma. Eyes of the Hawk.

A charismatic and unflinchingly virtuous man, Bravestarr first made a name for himself by bringing in his own instructor, Jermaine "Jingles" Morgan, for a murder Jingles committed after loosing to the victim in a competition. In-spite of seeing his Hero fail to uphold the values he taught, Bravestarr promised himself to be a true servant of the law regardless.

When New Texas was told they would be getting him as a Marshal, the people doubted anything but a hundred law men would do any good. Soon they learned, he was enough.

Thirty/Thirty

-Gregg Burger-

Tough loyal and ready to have your back.

Thirty is a member of the endangered cyborg Equestroids who met his soon to be best friend, when he was framed by criminal kingpin who did not like the young Bravstarr's sense of justice. Thirty helped clear his name an act he got deputies for. If only to "keep his new buddy out of trouble".

Unlike his partner in law, Thirty/Thirty is far more quick-tempered, pugnacious, tough, hot-headed, independent, reckless, negative, defiant, rebellious. But also thoughtful, tenacious, heroic, insightful, truthful and sensitive. Occasionally the two have vocal disagreements between them about the use of force in the line of duty. Still they both have nothing but respect for the other. He has only one love in his life, his custom laser blunderbuss Sara Jane.

Judge J.B. McBride

-Kari Wahlgren-

Before the new Marshals arrival McBride was the last official representatives of justice on New Texas. Originally a simple town lawyer she was Inspired to become a Judge after her reporter father was beaten to near death by one of Hex's thugs for a story he'd written about their crimes. She's acted as the voice of reason among a decent but increasingly desperate people, calming tensions between the off-world settlers and the local Prairie-People, with both her words or her power-hammer. Which comes mighty handy during Hex's raid's. 

While skeptical of BraveStarr's chances at first she's come around to see him as a valued partner in justice and only her sense of professionalism and BraveStarr's own, has kept the two from expanded their relationship further, but everyone in the Fort can see the spark between them.

Deputy Fuzz

-Antony Del Rio-

The only deputized member of the indigenous New Texas folk, called the Prairie People. Young (for his race) and a savant with technology, he assists with the problems of the town In hopes of learning to combine the best of his People with the best of the Galactic's, which he sees in the Marshall and the Judge.

Since the rush began the Prarie's have mostly tried to keep to themselves in their underground kingdom, but greedy prospectors and other less scrupulous settlers have unjustly made them feel unwelcome on their own planet, forcing them from the tunnels closest to the surface to get at the rich resources that may lay under their feet. While others view them as vermin for their small size and seemingly simple nature.  

Fuzz is the only one of his tribe trying to understand the tech brought to their planet and improve on it, not just gather for scrap to trade like many other tribes choose to do. Because of that, Fuzz can't help but feel like a self made outcast as he seems to be the only one who understands the changing situation there in, even if he isn't treated like one like his cousin Scuzz is. Who shared his innovative spirit, unfortunately, he preferred the worst traits of the Galactic's when he fell in with Tex-Hex.

Handlebar 

-Jon St John-

The humble barkeep with a name no one can pronounce, so he lets everybody call him Handlebar, for the impressive Human style facial hair he has proudly cultivated. 

The Shaman

-Fred Tatasciore-

Descended from tribes uplifted from Earth by a dying Alien race who saw their spiritualism mirrored their own, and thus could be trusted with same magics as them. When their cousins eventually joined their thriving counterparts in space centuries Bravestarr’s family where among them. 

Soon becoming a mentor to the boy, the Shaman saw the same pure heart their precursors saw in them, he taught Bravestarr many things about the wonders of the universe as well as the many dangers that inhabit it. The worse among them Stampede. His lessons where fortuitous as the evil soon rampaged across their land scattering those may one day pose a threat to him. Many died including Bravestarr’s parents and the Shamans own family. 

To ensure their survival he sent Bravestarr away in an escape pod, confident they would meet again, which they would. Years later on New Texas.

Reunited Shaman helped the noble marshal unlock the full potential of the powers within him. The Strength of the Bear. Eyes of the Hawk. Speed of the Puma, and been a trusted confidant to his young friend. 

Wherever he goes expect the unexpected and learn to heed his wisdom.

Tex-Hex

-Charlie Adler- 

The undead, undisputed, unforgivable reigning outlaw on New Texas.

Years ago he and his business partner Angus first discovered the planets rare new resource. Despite promising to share the rights for it, a strange, intense greed took a hold of Tex, leading him to double cross his partner and fill his ships hold with more then it could bare, causing crash that killed most of the crew and Tex himself.

Angus survived and left to tell the Galaxy triggering a rush for this new mineral, but Tex his story wasn't over. The greed had twisted him down to the soul, and he rose again in service to the one who had infected him with it. A being in the form of a skeletal metal bull who revealed himself to Tex as the embodiment of malevolence Stampede.

In this revanant state came a sort of immortality, that Tex has used to torment the good, bad and ugly of New Texas ever since. Collecting the worst of the worst to fight in his posse. For these 20 years, no lawman or bounty hunter has managed to bring him in for very long, which is the only option they have to stop him. As hanging, shooting, drowning, burning and once even defenestration has failed to put him down.  

Stampede

-David Kaye-

"He is the manifestation of a aspect of Nature. Survival of the Fittest. As the beings of the Galaxy evolved so did it and by extension, Stampede, and not for the better. If he is cruel, it is because we are cruel, if he is ruthless, it is because we are ruthless, and if he is Evil it is because  we are. That is why he despises goodness valor and courage. They are the only things that can guide us from these selfish acts that empower him. Justice diminishes him, so he has made it his enemy."  

Original Characters 

Henry Walsh

-Kelsey Grammer- "Your a good man Marshall, this planet needs that. So please, don't get in my way." "If I don't, who will?" A wealthy man who arrives on New Texas with seemingly benevolent intentions. With his support the town receives new technology and better defenses to keep out the rotten influence of degenerates like Tex Hex. He even greatly admires Bravestarr for his dutifulness. And especially Fuzz, who he admits to that he sees some of himself in him. An entrepreneur who works to benefit others doesn't let others tell him what to do. Soon he starts to bring in his own men and making the odd "suggestion" or too to the Judge on how things should be done on New Texas. Bravestarr notes this and becomes conflicted over the benefits Walsh gives to the citizens and the risk of him eventually turning it into his own personal Kingdom. Though Walsh wants to work with the Marshal, when push comes to shove, Bravestarr can't condone Walsh’s threats and underhanded deals. What makes it more complicated is Fuzz siding with him over Bravestarr at a crucial moment essentially forcing him out of Fort Callahan. Fuzz is convinced of the good they'll do until Walsh makes he plans on forcing the Prairie people off their land so he can build another town. When he protests Walsh tries to convince him it's for the best as it'll finally force them to adapt like him. Not wanting things done this way, he ally's with Bravestarr again (who never lost faith he would) and they with the townsfolk and even Tex's help, bring him in. While being shipped off to Prison, Walsh condemns them for being so foolish. How he would have made New Texas a paradise and that it was a wasted effort arresting as he will be free anyway with the friends he has. Only for Bravestarr to say because this is on the edge of space he falls under frontier law and that means he's getting a swifter sentencing, and those "friends of his”, said they are more then happy to allow it. Seems they've been waiting for a chance to be rid of him for awhile with what he has on them. The victorious mood is soon brought down as now they have no benefactor anymore so the fort's back where it's started. Plus Bravestarr shares this observation with Fuzz. "Luck helped Justice today. But I can't help but think of all the folks out among the stars, who are just like him. People seen as too connected and too rich to get there dues no matter what they've done." (Much of his character is based on the Land Baron types who considered themselves above the law in the Old West. I added a bit more to the guy by including his genuine admiration for Fuzz. There's good in him but progress needs to be made his way and he won't have anyone tell him otherwise and he's willing to use seedy means to get it done, which brings him into conflict with our heroes.)

Note

(In case it wasn’t clear I tried keeping the optimistic adventure tone, but adding in a few heavy subjects here and there. Unlike other shows. -Animated or otherwise- I don’t think you need to by gritty to be poignant, or that you should ignore your own mythology, or talk down to your audience. Stargate SG1, The DCAU, Avatar TLAB, and Beast Wars all proved that.)  

[cstesttaken]

The Good Fight Recap: Social Media and Its Discontents

Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart. Photo: Elizabeth Fisher/CBS

Social Media and Its Discontents Season 1 Episode 6

Editor's Rating 4 stars

Spoilers ahead for episode six of The Good Fight, now streaming on .

There are times when The Good Fight’s “ripped from the headlines” approach to storytelling feels exhilaratingly current, and then there are times when that immediacy hits a bit too close to home. This week’s episode, “Social Media and Its Discontents,” which tackles online abuse from the alt-right, is a bit of both.

Now that he’s moved all of his business to the new firm, Neil Gross has a massive task for his new lawyers. ChumHum (God, it will never not be depressing to type that word) wants to develop a new terms of service agreement to limit the rampant harassment on its platforms, especially its Facebook-like site. While I’ve tried, with limiting degrees of success, not to compare The Good Fight to the real world, this storyline feels especially unrealistic. The CEOs of social networking platforms have demonstrated that they’re much better at pretending to care about harassment than actually taking action against it. It’s too much to hope that that Facebook and Twitter’s leadership find inspiration in Gross’s proactive response, right?

That said, the framing of the storyline is incredibly effective, and it opens with several men against a plain backdrop, reading offensive comments aloud. The language is spot on, from its use of “cuck” and “SJW” to the specificity of its rape and death threats. (Still, I did find it a little surprising that the episode’s writers chose to include a threat naming a specific female celebrity, who is a woman of color. Using the very real harassment she’s faced as a plot point feels tone deaf to me.) As they review thousands of pages of comments, the firm’s lawyers are immediately besieged with questions. Does the N-word have to be censored, considering how that might limit the posting of certain hip-hop music videos? Does a rape threat have to include “I’m going to” instead of “I want to” in order to be taken seriously?

Ever the voice of reason, Lucca realizes they won’t be able to develop a one-size-fits-all set of standards. What they need is an appeals process. She suggests that after a certain number of threats or harassing statements, a user should be banned until a panel can review their activity on the site. It’s a good idea, though it’s a bit baffling that no one mentions how many employees would be needed for such a task. Still, problem solved … right?

Wrong. Enter John Cameron Mitchell, playing Felix Staples, a Milo Yiannopoulos-esque alt-right provocateur. His ChumHum account is almost immediately suspended under the new terms, which he interprets as a challenge, not a warning. He comes before the panel at the firm — side note: why are they the evaluating body, rather than ChumHum staffers? — and tells them his heroes are Christopher Hitchens, Wyndham Lewis, Andrew Breitbart, Yitzhak Rabin, and Lil’ Kim. I have to wonder the inclusion of Rabin is a nod to Mitchell’s musical, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which features a character named Yitzhak. It’s clear Felix will be trouble from the start — he immediately proclaims himself a martyr to the firm’s “political correctness.” (Mitchell nails this performance from start to finish.)

The firm’s lawyers start reading Felix’s online posts back to him, in which he calls for a selective holocaust, but he’s prepared for their onslaught. Although his rhetoric is incredibly wrong, he’s well spoken and smug, comparing himself to Ferris Bueller and bringing in a gay male prostitute to give him a blow job in front of the panel to prove a weird point about homophobia. (Seriously.) He eventually leaves the office, but not before “warning” Diane that a barrage of online harassment is about to come her way.

When Felix comes back to continue his appeal, the firm examines his harassment of a pro-choice activist, complete with threats of doxxing, the invocation of the Second Amendment as a scare tactic, and abusive speech like “bitch, bitch, bitch, double cunt.” The latter is a strong example of The Good Fight using its online platform to tell stories that The Good Wife couldn’ton network TV. It makes the episode harder to watch, but online abuse shouldn’t be anesthetized in a story that’s truly trying to get at the depths of digital cesspools.

The trouble with Felix is he’s funny and engaging — and, as Diane ruefully points out, sometimes he’s right. He’s also far too knowledgeable about the firm’s review process, and directs his minions to stop at 12 harassing posts each, knowing that the arbitrary number of posts in the new terms of service dictates suspension at the 13th offensive post. Jay and Marissa investigate the leak of that information, but everyone automatically suspects that Julius is the one who let it get out. He’s furious when he finds out that he was a suspect, claiming that Barbara and Adrian are targeting him because he voted for Trump. There’s a lot of paranoia at work here; were Julius thinking about it rationally, he might realize that his colleagues suspected him because he took such a devil’s advocate role in determining what constituted online abuse. But Julius quits anyway.

Meanwhile, Maia’s Uncle Jax comes to her office and warns her about her father’s motivations. He assures Maia that Henry is going to wear a wire the next time he sees her and try to get her to say something incriminating. Maia talks to Elsbeth, who tells her she has two options. She could feed her father false information, and if it gets repeated, she’ll know her father is trying to set her up. Or she could record their conversation. In the end, Maia does both, even though it’s clear she desperately wants to trust her father.

Colin comes to Lucca at the end of the episode and repeats back the fake story Maia told her father, which means he told Mike Krestiva about it. Given that Maia’s story fell firmly into subplot territory this week, I’m really impressed with how far it was advanced in a handful of relatively short scenes. In Good Fight’s first few episodes, the balance between Diane’s story and Maia’s felt a bit off, but it’s felt much more even as the series has found its footing. The only unfortunate side effect? Lucca’s story in this episode felt scant. While her chemistry with Colin is compelling, and I’m enjoying seeing her developed as a person, I don’t want to see her relegated to sexy phone calls and car makeout sessions.

By the end of the episode, Neil is fed up with the whole affair, especially when ChumHum users start using his name as a replacement for the N-word in posts. Neil decides that the whole thing with Felix needs to end, and directs Diane to throw in the towel. “He has too many followers.” Ah, now that feels more like the leaders of tech companies in our world. Diane, Barbara, and Adrian tell Felix they’ll be overturning the ban, and he’s devastated about the sudden loss of attention. “We took the oxygen from your room,” Diane says. “Go home.” She all but says, “Shoo!” to him, and it’s incredibly satisfying.

What’s less satisfying is Diane’s final conversation with Neil Gross. She knows that the leak came from the ChumHum offices, and she’s not particularly diplomatic about telling him. Neil asks why ChumHum would leak the deliberations, and Diane replies, “You wanted to censor your sites, but if you failed, you could to point to us as the problem. A liberal, African-American firm.”

Neil’s incredulous, but he doesn’t say she’s wrong. “That’s why we’re here, sir. To make you look good,” Diane continues. Later, Neil asks Barbara and Adrian to come and speak with him about some international business, explicitly excluding Diane in a retaliatory move. She’s left sitting alone in a conference room, a stark contrast to the strut of victory she took out of Adrian’s office at the end of last week’s episode. That’s one of the core strengths of The Good Fight. Where The Good Wife felt almost oppressively static in its later seasons, Fight is incredibly dynamic. It’s tempting to feel sorry for Diane as she’s shut out of the meeting, but it’s encouraging to know she’ll have every opportunity to turn things around.

Source

http://www.vulture.com/2017/03/the-good-fight-recap-season-1-episode-6.html