Ep 9. The Politicians

The Politicians episode of Good Times season 3 is one of the more serious and contemplative episodes of the series. The episode focuses on the Evans family's involvement with a local politician running for office. The family becomes enthusiastic supporters of the candidate, until they learn that the politician is not as honest as they had believed.

Throughout the episode, the Evans family grapples with the realities of politics and the ethical compromises that come with it. They face difficult choices about whether to reveal the politician's wrongdoing to the public, or to stay silent in the hope of achieving their political goals.

The episode opens with JJ Evans (played by Jimmie Walker) painting a political poster for a local candidate, Corcoran. JJ is excited to be helping the candidate, and he has high hopes for what Corcoran can achieve if he wins the election.

JJ's mother, Florida (played by Esther Rolle), is also supportive of Corcoran, and she and the rest of the family attend a rally to hear him speak. Corcoran is an impressive speaker, and he outlines a number of policies that the Evans family agrees with.

However, despite the initial excitement, the family soon learns that there is more to Corcoran than meets the eye. They discover that he has been accepting bribes and engaging in other unethical behavior in order to secure his political position.

The episode follows the family as they grapple with what to do. Should they stay silent and continue to support Corcoran in order to achieve their political goals, or should they speak out and risk destroying their own chances of influencing local politics?

Throughout the episode, the family members engage in heated debates about the ethics of politics and weigh the pros and cons of various actions. There are tense moments as they try to decide what to do, with each family member coming down on different sides of the debate.

Ultimately, the episode raises important questions about the relationship between ethics and politics. It asks viewers to consider what role individuals and families should play in shaping the political landscape, and how much compromise is too much when it comes to achieving political goals.

Overall, The Politicians is a thought-provoking episode that raises important issues about ethics and politics. It is an excellent example of Good Times' ability to tackle serious social issues with compassion and insight, while still maintaining its trademark sense of humor and warmth.