The Good Fight 6×05 “The End of Ginni” features a delightfully zany court case that combines all the chaotic energy of Elsbeth Tascioni, Ri’Chard Lane, and this new, “improved” (debatable) Diane Lockhart. But, underneath all of that, is the continued threat of a world that’s rapidly falling apart. So, the episode constantly delivers that huge contrast to keep viewers on their toes — and does so very effectively. (See also: The laughter coming from the direction of Diane’s office when we hear about “BUB.”)
Then, while we’re balancing the fun with the incredibly dark, there’s this “off” situation with Liz. Despite thinking it could be a prank, she’s having regular conversations with someone who claims to be Ginni Thomas. In some ways, it fits — except for the part where it really, really doesn’t.
At the midpoint of the season, there are still so many questions — especially now that The Good Fight 6×05 ended with a new character and, dare we say…Jay getting to be something other than the investigator? Probably the biggest of the most immediate ones, though, is simply this: WTF was Liz thinking?
“The End of Ginni”
This whole Ginni Thomas thing in The Good Fight 6×05 is pretty brilliant, as far as timing goes. As fate would have it, Thomas’ testimony before the January 6 committee was, like, a week before the episode’s release.
And, of course, SCOTUS’ legitimacy is basically in the toilet all while it tries to dismantle anything resembling rights. As long as the husband of the lady who texted with Mark Meadows about overturning an election is still there, said legitimacy will keep getting flushed. Which, as a reminder, Thomas isn’t the Court’s only problem…
So is the guy the other guy with the sexual misconduct allegations and the insurrectionist, unqualified jack-o-lantern’s pick for a stolen seat. Then, don’t forget the unqualified hack who was rammed through as 2020 votes were underway, who refuses to recuse herself — even when her own reasoning says she should. And, of course, a bunch of them either artlessly dodged the Roe question or, at the very least, were misleading with their answers in their confirmation hearings.
ANYWAY.
With all that (and then some) in mind, having a little bit of fun at Ginni and Clarence Thomas’ expense is definitely timely. And it’s by no means something we’d ever discourage. In fact, the opening to The Good Fight 6×05, in which Liz said Ginni’s behavior “besmirched the Court and the country,” while calling her “unhinged” and him a “nut,” was very appreciated.
The problem here is…Liz’s behavior as the episode continues, actually. Which is decidedly not good halfway into the series’ final season.
It doesn’t matter that Liz fell for a prank, even as she was pretty sure she was being pranked. That’s perfectly fine, actually.
“And the best that can happen is you will you will encourage the most conservative member of the Supreme Court to retire in time for Biden to replace him.”
And, easily the strongest part of Liz’s involvement in the so-called “End of Ginni” was her conspiring with Diane to (hopefully, possibly, if only) get rid of Thomas. You know, the guy who sexually harassed Anita Hill, got appointed to the Supreme Court anyway, and has been a part of a mountain of very bad decisions ever since. (Especially lately, with the other three losers helping to steer the clown car right into the crash.)
The bothersome bit here, which I’m struggling to figure out, is why Liz Reddick would make frenemies with “Ginni.” And because they both like Below Decks at that. What’s the message here? Some sort of “hug it out and reach across the aisle because we’re more alike than different” rhetoric? Just…no. There is no television show, no food, no hobby — no nothing — that anyone should be bonding with the likes of Ginni Thomas over. Not if they hold any of the values Liz supposedly does. And certainly not anyone who stands to suffer as the result.
So, sure, “Ginni” turned out to not be Ginni Thomas anyway. But…aside from trying to lead this person on to figure out what the game was and/or, in case of a miracle, sabotaging the garbage man who helped gut voting rights, Liz should’ve never been talking to her in the first place.
“I kind of like her.” How about not? Never. No. Would literally rather discuss my favorite scary movie with Ghostface. (It’s Scream, as a surprise to no one after that reference.) The end.
The Coming Civil War
Ok. Bad-weird aspect of The Good Fight 6×05 out of the way. Commence good-weird. As in, from here on out, it’s all good things.
There is a lot happening in “The End of Ginni,” and a big part of that is carrying through on everything that’s happened so far this season. All these protests have been increasingly violent, and nobody has felt safe. Pretty sure nobody even knows what they’re about. Still. And, that’s just a huge part of bringing everything together in this episode, specifically.
When Liz left “Breakfast in Chicago,” there was that weird white camera dude pointing finger guns at her for what she said. And then, there’s the follow up to the “lone” gunman who tried to shoot Eli Gold…and killed Frank Landau instead.
Which, of course, there was nothing “lone” about it, as predicted. As it turns out, the shooter was part of a white supremacist group. Again…as predicted. This particular group has a thing for green shoelaces and has named itself Totenkopf. After some of Hitler’s elites, of course. Because they’re all obsessed with the guy who *checks notes* lost.
So, now, everywhere Marissa goes, she’s nervous. We see it when she’s at the packed crosswalk and checks people’s shoelaces. Or when she’s at the shooting range and does the same. There’s also the bit where, after trying to help Diane avoid doomscrolling not so long ago, Marissa takes a deep dive of her own. And, basically, she learns that we’re about one “sign” away from a Civil War.
She even calls Jay for help because she’s pretty sure she’s being followed. And when she’s unloading all her anxieties about the current state of things to him in the bullpen, Carmen pops in with some pretty unsettling information herself. Namely, the “BUB” sticker in the elevator is also some Nazi bullshit.
Whether that particular connection is all part of a single plot or just yet another, unrelated threat, is somewhat fuzzy. Which, honestly, either way? It works.
Actually. Come to think of it…
Seeing the one “BUB” that Carmen removed from the elevator’s ceiling replaced with tons — covering the entire ceiling — is perhaps one of the most damning visuals The Good Fight has given us all season. The image certainly heightens all of the anxieties we’ve been building on so far. And it produces that perfect reactions from Nyambi Nyambi‘s Jay and Charmaine Bingwa‘s Carmen in the process.
But, more to the point, that image is the metaphor for how these groups operate. They spring up out of nowhere, leave you in a state of constant confusion and fear. And, just as you think you’ve gotten rid of one, many, many more pop up. It’s that whole saying about cutting off the head of a snake…except worse.
Somewhere in all of this, there’s also what happens with Jay as an individual.
In some ways, the way The Good Fight 6×05 ends almost comes as a shock. Because Jay’s story is so tightly wrapped up in everyone else’s, it’s nearly unsettling to see “just the investigator” (which he’s not, never has been really) actually have things happening that are all his own. Like, what do you mean these “Collective” people are interested in Jay? And, while we’re at it: What do you mean they don’t want his investigative skills but are, instead, looking for something else?
But, even if brief, what goes on with Jay here does deserve its own consideration. In fact, I’d be willing to go so far as to say that the series hasn’t given him enough of that. As a general rule.
So, yeah. Jay only gets his moment in the spotlight, with all those cell phones coming out to record him, because of what he does to protect Marissa. But the fallout of that seems to be leading him to much bigger things. The question, of course, becomes whether or not those bigger things are actually better.
My first guess, especially considering all the black van, cloak-and-dagger stuff, is no. Then, my second guess is…also no. They only accepted Jay when he said he could help people get concealed carry licenses? Red flag.
It’s also worth pointing out that, while we know barely anything about her character as of this first appearance, Phylicia Rashad has presence in that final scene. She is so in command, calm, and just…it’s giving ruthless.
But, on the back of that praise, I have to ask why Rashad is even here after some of her remarks about her buddy’s sexual assault victims. So much for “cancel culture.” (Which, of course, anyone with any sense at all already knew wasn’t a thing.)
Legal comedy hour
In all of this dark, serious subject matter, there’s Carrie Preston’s return as Elsbeth Tascioni to brighten things up. Which, when does she not brighten things up?
Initially, it’s easy to say that the best part of seeing Preston back in The Good Fight 6×05 is just that she’s here at all. But then, it’s like. No, no. That pales in comparison to seeing Ri’Chard Lane get a little taste of his own medicine in the “wtf just happened” theatrical department.
While we’re at it, make no mistake: Some of Andre Braugher’s reactions to Preston’s antics as Elsbeth are right up there with Julianna Margulies’ original constant state of “WTF” around her. And anyone who knows me knows that’s basically the highest praise I can give.
But what really works here is not only seeing Ri’Chard learn — the hard way — not to underestimate Elsbeth…but also the way Diane winds up getting in on the action. The whole idea of a “push nup” is…well. It’s both completely ridiculous…
“As she says, it’s her body. It’s her morning sickness, and…she’s undercutting her own career by taking time off to raise the child. So, Morgan says, marriage gets a contract, so why shouldn’t motherhood?”
…and kind of makes absolute sense, when you think about it.
But then, there’s all the court hijinx with both “sides” of that case teaming up against the lawyer for the “trust,” who claims to represent the fetus. (But doesn’t.) And then, there’s a judge who has no business in the position with her very clear bias. But all the “good guys” take gross advantage of that, all while we get a laugh at the (very bad, in real life) lady screaming about babies in the gallery.
And “AMEN, AMEN, AMEN” indeed!
If the world is going to be crumbling all around you, and judges are going to decide fetuses have rights (they don’t), then damnit, we deserve to have fun with that. Glass-blowing and all. Diane and Ri’Chard alone could’ve made that work. But Elsbeth?! That’s what makes The Good Fight 6×05’s court case purely great.
…and don’t even get me started on seeing the “new” Diane giggle along with Elsbeth. Now, there’s a real treat.
More on The Good Fight 6×05 “The End of Ginni”
- Just saying if Ginni Thomas called my ass, the answer would be “fuck you, you white supremacist, fascist bitch” and a hangup. In case that wasn’t abundantly clear.
- Leland from Evil, reading his The Coming Civil War book and having a good ol’ time, should’ve been the next site Marissa opened after she created her checklist. Come on, y’all. Another missed opportunity. The worst.
- The Morning Show > “Breakfast in Chicago” for what it’s worth.
- Another way The Good Fight 6×05 wound up being more timely than anyone probably could’ve expected: Liz said Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson “will be one of the best” SCOTUS Justices. And, based in her first week, that is 100% correct.
- The way the camera just stays on Audra McDonald as Liz reacts to finger-gun guy? Utterly perfect. Sometimes, it works to spend more time. Here, it absolutely does.
- Christine Baranski vs. tree. Baranski: 0. Tree: 1. But! Surprise third part! Baranski’s face: 239847398473832.
- Those red eyes on Dr. Schuman? Another missed Evil crossover opportunity, tbh!
- “Such as what? Stop being Jewish.” Pretty sure that advice was never in our security training. Probably should’ve been at this rate.
- “This isn’t funny, Ms. Gold.” “No shit.” Literally, The Jews™ take antisemitic threats far more seriously than any goyische law enforcement dudes in suits. Promise!
- It’s Preston’s squeal about Diane and Baranski’s shriek of joy for me.
- “I suggest we use a time-honored legal tactic. We stall.” Ri’Chard lane watched Suits and took notes.
- Another great reaction to Elsbeth? Carmen’s. Just 100% “is this lady for real” accuracy from Bingwa.
- “Are you going up or…going down?” “That…depends on the day.” Deep Thoughts with Tascioni.
- The technical aspects of The Good Fight 6×05 are so on point. Elsbeth is so bright compared to everyone else. As she should be! Same goes for the super bright doctor’s office versus everything else. But you can still see in the darkness…unlike on some shows.
- And don’t get me started on geeking out over the prism effect with Diane looking through her blown-glass paperweight, which she…predicted was Elsbeth’s special hobby before she saw a single one. Brilliant.
- “There is very little in this world that I don’t find ridiculous.”
- LOVE HER MISSED HER LOVE HER FOREVER
- “You look weird, Mom.” “Well, it’s because I am weird.” The weirdest part here is…that was Liz, not Elsbeth.
- Marissa’s gagging reaction is literally me with gun bros. Great touch with it being all white people there, with Jay the only exception, and the utterly vile shit coming out of some of their mouths — with zero consequences — too.
- Definitely felt that deep, nervous breath from Sarah Steele after that Civil War video, too.
- “If you’re asking why I have issues with Ginni Thomas, it’s because she pressured the White House to overturn the election.” But they like the same show, so it’s ok???
- That eyeroll when this bitch said the election was stolen. More of that, please.
- “White supremacists and antisemites: they never go out of style.”
- “Let’s sue the fetus.”
- “…however appropriate it is to be offended.” It’s not.
- Liz, or really anyone, coming to Diane for advice gives me nostalgia for the “old” Diane from The Good Wife. Anyone else?
- Elsbeth’s sarcastic “yay” is everything. Like. Congrats. You won…by letting this trash judge insert her pro “life” (it’s not about life) nonsense here.
- “God, I need a shower.” Same, Diane. Same.
Thoughts on The Good Fight 6×05 “The End of Ginni”? Drop us a comment!
The Good Fight season 6 is now streaming on Paramount+, with new episodes available on Thursdays.
