[美劇] The Good Fight S02
[美劇] The Good Fight S01
追著這部美劇也從前身七季的The Good Wife到如今The Good Fight都到第三季完結了,不會不知道這部劇多麼喜歡諷刺共和黨。爾後川普當政,言辭粗鄙、私生活淫靡傳聞不斷,編劇更極盡調侃之能事,從推特治國、子孫跋扈、性愛光碟到妻子暗中想離婚的劇情都入戲,除了讓觀眾莞爾一笑,更是讓劇中以滔滔雄辯民主人權立命的律師群雄忍無可忍。然則民主黨難道就光明磊落?
故事的開頭,便是黑人民權領袖、律師事務所創辦人、合夥人律師Liz一生景仰的的父親Carl Reddick,竟然生前多次利用職權之便性侵身邊女子。良心與親情、黑人歷史瘡疤與律所名聲,最後律所還是妥協於現實祭出封口費。一位受害女子在接到封口費之後婉拒了,振振有詞的說了一段話 "I would never tell anyone about Mr. Reddick, ever. There are so many people who want to destroy men. Black men. I won't be a part of it. I'll never be a part of it. Not at this firm."語畢彷彿一巴掌火辣辣打在手足無措的合夥人臉上,更狠狠打下了那些豺狼虎豹臉上溫良恭儉讓的面具。
本劇明著挖苦共和黨與川普,暗諷的卻是自由派與左派。離經叛道的Roland Blum又是吸毒又是做偽證,卻在幾次交鋒後精準的掀開律所地毯,眼目所及盡是塵埃。律所合夥人各懷鬼胎,看似擁抱所謂Diversity,實則同事之間齟齬不斷。曾經在路上照顧自己黑白混血的孩子而被路人當作保母的Lucca,竟被以不夠黑、不常跟黑人同事往來為由,平添升遷路上絆腳石。Marrisa憑藉過人聰慧與乃父之風為合夥人獻策競逐大法官,竟遭無端捲入黑白薪資不公的鬥爭中,甚至被謠傳與上司有染。更不提其中一幕律所開會時,所有白人同事皆不記得警方暴力受害黑人姓名,幾乎遭到大家公審,搞到白人同事人人自危。
一向自詡正道的Diane,是律所合夥人、三代民主黨員,人生最大的意外大概就是在鼎盛中年愛上政治立場完全與自己背道而馳的Kurt。儘管如此,Kurt不同於川普商人性格,是錚錚鐵骨的共和黨硬漢、彈道專家,立場不同也是位正人君子,不會為了拉下對手不擇手段行苟且之事。Diane延續前季對於世道沉淪的憤怒,暗中加入了「反抗軍」—一個計劃在2020拉下川普的秘密組織。起初的滿腔熱血在發現創辦人其實是詐欺犯要騙錢時,Diane不是沒有質疑過自己。但是能夠聚集一方知己共謀國家大業,半生為國為民為親人打拼的Diane無法說服自己放棄,然則一切希冀卻在一次小組決定在投票機作弊以奪取大選勝利後瞬間幻滅。反抗川普不就是反抗他的霸道粗俗、反抗他視禮法人權為無物嗎?如果自己尚不能行的正,那與川普又有何差別?
其實本質上,兩黨一家親。Diane後知後覺才意識到,在權力面前,良心如螻蟻,但她不願屈服。只是作票這麼嚴重的事,牽涉其中恐怕難逃重罪,半條命已經栽入的Diane又怎能毫髮無傷的全身而退?本劇最精彩的一幕,大概就是Diane被迫為自己的反抗小組擔任辯護律師,反告對手共和黨作票。同僚擔心她心中有愧,想要代她擔綱重任,卻被她拒絕。她是民主黨鐵桿、反抗小組成員,亦是律所合夥人,法庭鏖戰數十載、半生蹉跎於法條間,怎會因一時心裡與客戶立場不同自亂陣腳?於是法官唱名答辯的時候,她說了一段辯詞。
"Your Honor, the issue here is not intellectual property and just compensation.
This is a larger issue.
One that speaks to the heart of our country.
Every vote counts.
And therefore every vote must be counted.
If the people cannot trust that their votes will be counted, how can they trust the rights that flow from those votes? If our votes are subverted or discarded or even ignored, why have faith in our democratic institutions? Why respect a president any president even one from our own party? Why not choose violent overthrow if our votes are not counted? Ms. Sukonick is correct.
This is about a constitutional right, but it is not a secondary one, it is the primary one.
It is about who we are.
That is why we need this discovery, Your Honor."
那段話是說給法官聽的,聽來擲地有聲,實則觀眾及在場的原告都知道,那段話是Diane痛心疾首,想要說給使下作手段的黨羽聽的。
這也帶出了本劇始終在探討的主題:程序正義。哪怕理由多麼正當,就能黑箱作業、就能以暴制暴?百年前開國元勳奉行的民主精神、程序正義看似無效率又糊塗,卻是以保國家社稷能長治久安之道。如果今天能夠為了拉下川普作票,明天是不是就能為了拉下川普殺人?川普最多也不過八年,以後哪怕真的出了個好總統,對手是不是也能栽贓抹黑作票拉下?
然則,無論心中多麼理智,人都是有情緒的。面對魔鬼如納粹仍然西裝畢挺的振振有詞,利用程序正義為自己的厥詞搭舞台,實則暗渡極權歧視思想,作為一介好民,我們該忍嗎?Jay的一段話道出了所有血性之人的掙扎:
"Is it all right to hit a Nazi unprovoked? I was always taught to never throw the first punch.
Never instigate.
Defend, but don't attack.
But then I saw a video of the white nationalist Richard Spencer being punched in the face during an interview, and I realized Spencer was in a pressed suit, wearing a tie, being interviewed like his opinion mattered, like he should be considered part of the conversation, like Neo-Nazism was just one political point of view.
And then I realized there's no better way to show some speech is not equal.
Some speech requires a more visceral response.
It's like Overton's window.
That's the term for which ideas are tolerated in public discourse.
Well, Overton's window doesn't mean shit unless it comes with some enforcement.
So, yeah, this is enforcement.
It's time to punch a few Nazis."
另一個本季我很喜歡的主題,其實是編劇反覆探討職場倫理與個人信念的疆界。初入職場幾年,慢慢體會到公私劃分的艱難,卻也明白公私不分的後果。成熟鍊達如Diane,即使內心交戰,在職場上仍能秉持律師初衷,哪怕再不認同,也能為客戶爭取最大利益。不問立場,只問專業,才是律師生存的根本之道。也因此,哪怕接到疑似第一夫人的離婚重大消息,她不會犧牲客戶權益拿來換取個人政治利益。
反之,公司存在便是以營利為目的。不管外商多麼喜歡強調family,哪怕再想在職場成功,都不應該做出踰矩之事,因為一旦出事,公司開除人只是一張紙、一道命令,而不會像家庭或朋友那樣縱著我們。
本劇最先出事的是Maia。她突襲Blum,為公司立下大功,卻因為中了Blum圈套吸毒,而葬送前程。離開後的她無處可去,從風光的新科律師屢勝新案到落魄的法律諮詢處天天接刁民電話,以前同事卻無人照應她。一句她與前同事說"We were work friends."道盡世態炎涼。而曾經與Maia相交相惜的Marrisa,則因一次酒後與Maia吐真言,竟將律所骯髒齷齪的不堪往事交到對手手中,而Marrisa除了懊悔,更多的是被「朋友」背叛的吃痛。
回歸Diane與政局主題,我特別喜歡編劇安排最後竟是Diane的共和黨丈夫Kurt將她解救出作票疑雲之中,利用的還是Diane最不屑的共和黨人脈,狠狠再度刮了自由派與左派一個耳光。"If it is (dangerous), I will overlook politics to help."到最後,會守護自己的,不是那些反抗軍同志、不是同事亦不是公司,而是家人、愛人。因為有愛,才能超越立場、超越算計與政治利益。也因為有愛,哪怕再不屑川普,Diane也能展現錦繡文采,為Kurt寫出一偏拍足川普馬屁的好文章。
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