Josh Charles

I think a lot about my time in Portland, that blissful week after STEP1. I've always hated vacations and weekends because of all the empty time that I have to ruminate and obsess over things that irritate me. I need distractions, like every day all the time, just to stay sane. 

But then I end up over indulging in all of these superfluous engagements only to find that I'm behind on nearly every assignment, and I haven't done laundry in waay too long, and my car is slowly disintegrating as I type.

But that post-STEP week in Portland was perhaps the best vacation I've had in a really really long time. My aunt and uncle live in this gorgeous hilly neighborhood of North Portland, with a really pretty lake and like five different trails. And there's a shuttle that makes about 5-7 trips to downtown and back. But besides all of that, being with people who love you is kind of a big deal. I think we take family for granted, because for 90% of the time that we are with each other, we bicker about our differences and are constantly either judging each other or worrying about being judged. The nice thing about a family vacation where you see your family for like 3-4 hours a day is that, well...you see each other for 3-4 hours a day. The ideal family vacation in my opinion, is when you're the only one on vacation and everyone else is still working for most of the day. That way you have your whole morning to be the careless tourist that you are, and your whole evening to come tell people about your escapades.

So one evening I'm telling my uncle about this Maz Jobrani book I got at Powell's (the freaking most amazing bookstore in the world), and he insists that we all hang out and watch a Maz routine together. My aunt complains in that sweet loving way about wanting to watch something called "the good fight." And she mentions it a few times...so I'm thinking it's like a WWE thing or some MMA roundup review. And then I'm like secretly impressed...I mean I can't even understand a game of softball, so for my actual aunt to be a martial arts fan, is pretty cool.

The Maz Jobrani segment is funny, as usual (even though I secretly like Dean Abdallah a lot more), but as soon as it's over my aunt grabs the remote and starts her Good Fight episode. At this point I'm ready to say goodbye, since my family time quota is nearing its close. But the opening soundtrack sets in, and scenes of the ever elegant Christianne Baranski hold me captive. Before I know it I'm taking in the closing credits, mouth hanging wide open.

The Good Fight, a spin off of The Good Wife, is brilliantly written and executed, and gracefully balances drama with anti-Trumpian ideals and the allure of crisp corporate aesthetic. I was so so enamoured, that I binge watched Seasons 1 and 2 at my uncle and aunts' and then came back to binge watch The Good Wife here in my humble Birmingham abode.

In every episode I obsess over a particular character, and right now I'm in the middle of Season 5, going crazy over Josh Charles, who plays name partner Will Gardner. Will is the quintessential tall, handsome, rich and successful male lead--but I didn't start liking him until he was almost disbarred for judicial bribery and was betrayed by his secret lover and protégé Alicia. When his world started crumbling down, and his temper just kept shrinking and shrinking to compensate---that's when I just fell head over heels. Perfection is not attractive, and I think writers and directors know this--it's the fatal flaws that keep the audience hooked.

And Josh Charles plays both confident Will and crumbling Will with such dexterity. His two Emmy nominations are not sufficient in my opinion--but then again I love everyone else on that show too. Just a week ago I was obsessed with Matt Czuchry. And before that, Archana Panjabi. 

As a side note, Zach Woods plays an NSA worker in a few of the episodes on Season 5, and I have decided to get a poster of his face for my room---he's maybe one of the most beautiful men on the planet. Besides Gael Garcia Bernal of course.

Will, Alicia, Diane and Cary have become a part of my daily routine, and I could not be more thankful. So just for kicks, here is real Will's Sunday routine:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/14/nyregion/josh-charles-sunday-routine.html

Sadly there is no mention of me. It's an unrequited love, for now. 

I forgot to mention by the way, The Good Fight is most certainly not about the martial arts. Its about the equally mesmerizing art of judicial warfare, and the opulent drama of politics, sex, and the law. and most definitely not order, there is never any order