Billy McBride (Billy Bob Thornton) returns for season two as political corruption and cartel violence replaces the corporate malfeasance of series one. And, as with that first series, Billy initially turns down the case only to see his potential client murdered – and virtually outside his Santa Monica motel rooms. In spite of his victory in the season one case and the millions of dollars payout, little has changed in McBride’s life.
Taking a similar structural template to the first season, Goliath continues an ebb and flow narrative of personal and professional (if it works, why fix it?) as Billy finds himself emotionally invested. Not only is his client, Julio Suarez, the teenage son of the murdered victim but a romantic liaison develops between Billy and Marisol Silva (Ana de la Reguera), leading mayoral candidate in the forthcoming LA elections and champion of Suarez’s innocence. But not everything is as clean as it appears in a campaign ostensibly bankrolled by successful property developer Tom Wyatt (Mark Duplass) with the shadowy presence of Gabriel Ortega (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), a powerful drug lord behind the murder conspiracy that has seen Julio Suarez locked up.
Less focussed than season one, Goliath ebbs more than it flows. Unaware of the level of corruption and conspiracy to ensure the teenager is charged for murder, McBride finds himself in deepwater south of the border with only his wits to save him. Meanwhile, back in LA, McBride’s team has their own issues to deal with. Brittany (Tania Raymonde) could be in trouble with the sexually perverse Wyatt and Patty Solis-Papagian (Nina Arianda) has attched herself to FBI agent Jeff Clayton (James Wolk) – or maybe it’s the other way round.
More investigative thriller than courtroom drama, season two is an entertaining meander with several shocking moments that create a sharp contrast to the relatively predictable storyline and wry humour of the narrative. Yet it lacks suspense, investing in a tale that further builds the characters of the team (daughter Denise McBride – Diana Hopper – has a bigger presence) yet fails to live up to the standard established in the earlier series.
Rating: 67%
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