Ep 2. Happiness From The Ground Up

Happiness From The Ground Up is the second episode of the third season of the legal drama series Goliath. The show follows the life of Billy McBride, a former successful lawyer who loses his job and starts his own law firm to fight against corporate giants. In this episode, we see Billy's struggle to keep his new business afloat while also dealing with personal issues.

The episode opens with a scene where Billy is enjoying the morning sun on the beach. He is then interrupted by his partner, Patty Solis-Papagian, who informs him about a new case they have taken on. The case involves a small business owner, who is being harassed by a large corporation trying to force them to sell their land. Billy and Patty are skeptical about taking on this case, as they don't have enough resources to go up against the corporation, but they decide to take it up anyway.

As they start working on the case, tensions rise in the law firm. Billy's sister, Diana Blackwood, who is also an attorney, is working on a different case and doesn't like the fact that Billy is taking on another case without consulting her. Things get even more complicated when Diana's client, a high school principal accused of sexual assault, also becomes a target of the same corporation trying to buy off land in the school district.

Meanwhile, Billy is struggling with issues in his personal life. He is trying to get over his ex-girlfriend, Denise McBride, who he still has feelings for. He also has to deal with his daughter, Denise's son, who is angry and bitter about his mother's disappearance. Billy tries to connect with his grandson, but it only leads to an argument between Denise and him.

As the episode progresses, Billy and Patty delve deeper into the case of the small business owner, J.T. Bullitt. They find out that the corporation is using illegal means to force J.T. to sell his land, which is also a wildlife habitat. The corporation is planning to turn the land into a large parking lot for a stadium they are building. Billy and Patty present their case in court, and despite some initial setbacks, they manage to get a favorable verdict for J.T.

The episode ends with Billy and Patty celebrating their victory, but there is a sense of foreboding as they both know that this case is just the beginning. They also know that they have to be careful, as the corporation they are up against is extremely powerful and will stop at nothing to get what they want.

Overall, Happiness From The Ground Up is a well-paced and intriguing episode that deals with complex and multi-layered themes. It explores the themes of personal struggle, family dynamics, corporate greed, and environmental protection. The episode stands out for its excellent writing, which keeps the audience engaged and invested in the storyline. The performances by the cast are also noteworthy, with Billy Bob Thornton delivering yet another masterful performance as the complicated and flawed protagonist, Billy McBride.