Michael and Olivia defend the young founders of a prediction market site, one of whom has been arrested while the other flees on his private jet with Christy in tow after a night out together. Meanwhile, Natalia and Nichole spend quality time together at the firm.
A lot of fun ideas are presented here. The trouble comes from trying to stitch them all together. An effort is being made to expand the supporting cast. More time needs to be spent with Christy, Natalia and Nichole. They are deserving of just as much attention as Michael and Olivia get. The narrative doesn't have to lean on its leads for every development that occurs. It doesn't strive to either. The focus still largely remains on them. That makes it awkward when Michael and Olivia split off to represent different clients. It seems far too early in their partnership to force them to go head-to-head. It's whimsical in a way. That somewhat undercuts the seriousness of the charges. Olivia isn't an expert in criminal law. She took the required classes in law school. Michael advises her. She's game for just about anything. That's impressive. It also highlights how her evolution is meant to be a significant aspect of the world. She's being corrupted by this environment. It's forcing her to branch out and do things she normally wouldn't do. That's not altogether bad. A little encouragement is necessary for her to have more fun. It doesn't have to go against her beliefs. She's willing to fight for what she thinks is right. She also doesn't want to be perceived as sweet all the time. Michael finds it endearing. He knows it's a tactic that can work to their benefit from time to time. Olivia wants so much more. That's within her capacity as well. She wants to showcase it.
Christy is kidnapped. It's played off as a joke. She's attracted to A.J. They met at a bar. She didn't want to go home with a tech bro. She did precisely that. He lied. He's fleeing the country. He's trying to evade arrest. He brings Christy along because she's fun. It's as simple as that. It forces her out of her element to an extent. She's still trusted to assist what Michael and Olivia are doing. She's not an expert in the law. She's good with people. She knows how to get them to trust her. She knows Michael and Olivia are the best. If they say A.J. has a good case, he should listen. Of course, the narrative never settles into what it wants to say about prediction markets. A.J. and Buddy's company is targeted for political interference. The District Attorney points that out repeatedly. She will do anything to obtain the evidence she seeks. She has approval from a judge to search Buddy's computer. He's forced into compliance. Olivia gets injured in the process. Everyone is concerned about her cheek. When she starts bleeding through her bandage, everyone stops to make sure she's okay. That's strikingly different from when she was in the interrogation room. That may highlight the complexity of people. The District Attorney learns she has to work with the defense attorneys instead of against them. She's more preoccupied with her re-election campaign though.
The criminal justice systems isn't depicted as competent. It's just a bunch of people flexing how much power and authority they have. That's true in far too many instances. Many are abused all the time. It's up to Michael and Olivia to speak up in defense of their clients. A.J. and Buddy don't make it easy. The judge tells the prosecutor what he needs to say in order to rule in his favor. Michael doesn't need the assistance. He's prepared for this moment even though he's evasive about A.J.'s current location. It's better to be cynical. That way no one can ever be surprised by how corrupt these people in power can be. A.J. and Buddy are certain they are being targeted because they don't have the same connections as their biggest competitor. Michael presents a good argument over selective prosecution. The show never finds time to explain the difference. The District Attorney proclaims election interference. She has the wagers that set the narrative for who should be the perceived frontrunners for elected office. It's unlikely A.J. and Buddy have the only site that is doing that. She was outraged about betting over political assassinations. She sees that as encouraging the violence. She may have a point in that regard. It's not articulated well. Michael and Olivia don't get the charges dropped either. The District Attorney just happens to be on the receiving end of the latest election interference. Buddy remains the target of her investigation. He uses his influence to get her out of office. Hopefully, her successor will view the cases differently.
Meanwhile, Natalia and Nichole are stuck at the office waiting for someone to show up. Natalia is bored. She brings in certain luxuries. She also amends Michael and Olivia's contract to assert her own financial interest in the firm's success. That means she can be served with the cease and desist letter Nichole brings. She wanted to deliver it to Michael. Natalia offers a meaningful distraction. Nichole has her own rage she needed to let out. These two understand that the threat of litigation shapes industries. It's not about winning or settling. It's all intimidation. It's about forcing the competition to blink first. And so, Natalia becomes aware of Bo. Nichole represents ColtAI. They want Michael and Olivia to stop interfering with their intellectual property. Bo needs to be deleted. It's impossible to do so because of the firm's arrangement. This is the problem that is going to keep popping up as the season develops. It will have many twists and turns. It already has. It has forced a conversation about artificial general intelligence. It still needs to be in service of character. It's fun seeing Natalia and Nichole hang out. They aren't meant to be kept in the loop. They have agency in this story. That's obvious. So much still gets lost because the narrative can't focus on one of these topics. It does a lot without offering enough satisfaction to resolve any particular thread.
