A Look Back at the Most Memorable Moments
Summer 2012 Hiatus | Post Date: June 16, 2012
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With season
three of The Good Wife officially in the record books, it only seems fitting we
pause to celebrate the best (and worst) of those 22 glorious episodes. It was a year that saw fans shrieking with joy
(Team Gardner, we got this!) and moments later, covering their faces while
repeating, ‘did that just happen? No
really. Did THAT just happen?!’ Okay, maybe those were *my* reactions, but I like
to think I’m not totally alone. Honesty,
did anyone see the whole Wendy Scott-Carr situation ultimately being about
Peter? Who would have predicted the end of Alicia and Will would be as simple as a ringtone? To that end, whose heart didn't get torn into
a million pieces during their breakup? And last, but certainly not least, who would
have thought Kalinda’s husband (ex-husband? Who really knows?) would be the start of her potential undoing? While K waits at her door, gun close at hand, let's kick back and enjoy some of season three's most memorable moments.
Best Guest Star - Carrie Preston as Elsbeth
Tascioni
“Whew! Look at all this paper.” It’s a phrase fans of The Good Wife (I swear,
it’s not just me!) have incorporated into everyday conversation, all because of
the brilliantly whimsical and stunningly clever Elsbeth Tascioni. She was hired by Will on Alicia’s
recommendation and outsmarted Wendy Scott-Carr in court and outside a play about
dancing bears. All I can say is: ‘Someone,
please get this woman an invite to the Lockhart Gardner Christmas Party!’ –
just imagine the hilarity that would ensue!
Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni is dynamic and charming… and
strangely makes me yearn for more legal debauchery so she can grace our screens
again. I can’t help but think: Elsbeth
having to defend Kalinda would be outrageously entertaining. “Whew!
Look at all these uncashed cheques and stacks of money…”
Worst Story – The Florrick Homestead in
Highland Park
The truth
be told, I had to toss a coin to decide this one. Heads was Alicia on the teeter-totter of her
old Highland Park home; tails was Grace getting fauxnapped by Internet
Jesus. Oh how I long for the days of
season one when Zach and Grace were channeling their PI skills and doing
something useful. *Sigh* Heads won, so
it was decided: The back and forth on the Highland Park house was enough to
make even Eli want to scream (which is saying something, since he specializes
in mitigating disasters). The house
continues to provide an interesting device for a story arc as we head into
season four and Peter makes a run for Governor.
With Jackie’s money tied to the house and Peter committed to doing yard
work when he’s not trying to take out Mike Krevesta (Matthew Perry) at the
knees, the idea of ‘can you ever go home?’ seems to be a theme the writers
desperately want us to conquer.
Best Random Resurfacing Character (Single
Episode) – Tammy
Okay,
okay. I know what you’re thinking.
“Tammy?! Really?!” Oh yes, I’m not kidding. Anyone who can elicit such dramatic
expressions from Alicia deserves an honorable mention. Not only that, she rocks journalist chic in
an epic way. While it’s no secret I’m a
Team Gardner fan, for reasons I cannot explain, I have always found myself to
be intrigued by Tammy’s character and how she fits into the bigger picture.
Best Judge – Linda Emond as Leora Kuhn
Colonel
Leora Kuhn, aka, Will’s arch nemesis in the land of military justice. Her demeanor is dry but her wit is sharp and
if there’s one thing she’s serious about, it’s making Will uncomfortable. In many cases Will is able to charm and
persuade not just Judges, but everyone (let’s not forget, he IS one of Chicago’s
most eligible bachelors). With Leora
Kuhn, the opposite is true and it makes for deliciously awkward and hysterical
scenes. Season three’s “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” prominently featured Kuhn and, for those of you keeping score,
Lockhart Gardner didn’t win the case that went before her, despite a
well-fought argument (and the beloved Captain Terrance Hicks). Let’s hope the military gets roped into
something next year. Double points if
Elsbeth and Will have to team up and go before Kuhn together.
Most frustrating character – Eli Gold
Now, don’t
get me wrong. In general, I love
Eli. He’s a public relations mastermind
and his snappy dressing is second to none.
Unfortunately, this season posed a challenge for his character. With no active campaigns, Eli was left
floundering between crisis management and the brink of his own insanity. Take, for example, the fact he spent the last
quarter of the season trying to undermine his former ally, Diane. We were never really given the full story as
to why Eli wanted to oust Diane from named partnership, but the best thing to
come from that story line was seeing him butt-heads with David Lee. With the exception of Eli’s gig at the Dairy
Association, his bed-side visit to Jackie and a smattering of brilliant one-liners,
Eli Gold was a mere shell of his former self.
I can’t wait for his season four redemption, back in campaign mode and
not crying over spilled milk.
Best Scene – “It’s a surprise party for you”
This
category was almost impossible, but I had to challenge myself to come up with a
single moment in time that I loved above all others. Here goes:
Location:
The elevator (because, let's face it, that's where all the best things happen) followed by the reception area on the 28th floor at
Lockhart Gardner
Scene: Will and Peter end up on the same elevator
and engaged in awkward conversation. When the doors open, Alicia is there to
greet them both. Enter Eli who doesn’t
know what to say to the Florrick/Gardner/Florrick team when Cary comes into the scene balancing a banker’s box on one knee while trying to shake
Peter’s hand. Through the group rolls
Patti Nyholm’s baby who Will calls ‘their new associate’ and then, *ding* the
elevator doors open to reveal Kalinda.
Why this
scene was so great: It was a collision of, at minimum, five storylines at one
time. It was brilliantly scripted and
exquisitely filmed. Beyond that, this
scene boiled so much of the show down to one key theme: Nothing is ever simple
– we live in shades of grey. It’s
something Alicia mentioned at the beginning of season one and it’s a quote that
continues to permeate the stories on The Good Wife each week.
Best Overall Performance - Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart
There is little I can say that will do any justice to Baranski's excellence this year. The character of Diane Lockhart has been strong since day one, but season three was the year for Baranski to shine. Not only was she the glue that held Lockhart Gardner together, she defended Will's professional integrity, brought a legal aid organization into the firm and dated two men... at the same time. She's like superwoman but in Stuart Weitzman heels. If ever there was a time to honor this actress with an Emmy, this would be the year.
Top Six Episodes - The Season's Best... In My Opinion
According to a recent article, The Good Wife has submitted 10 episodes for Emmy consideration. That's 45% of their total shows this season. Now, let's be honest. I'm not great at narrowing things down and readers of this blog can all attest that brevity isn't my forte. Noting this, how was I able to boil things down when the writers and producers couldn't? It's simple. I used a formula. I don't want to get into specifics, but it involved a precise calculation of moments that made me laugh, clap, cry and cover my face while shrieking. I gave bonus points for scenes and episodes that did all four, especially when they did so simultaneously. It's very scientific.
- Feeding the Rat - While Alicia is tackling a complicated pro-bono case, Will, Peter and Celeste are all busy attending a local conference. The result? An outrageous charade. Also, Will drops an 'I love you' into conversation with Alicia. Needless to say, I adore everything about this episode.
- Executive Order 13224 - Alicia lands in hot water with the Treasury Secretary Monitor (the cupcake loving Mr. Higgs) and she hires Elsbeth Tascioni to help her from winding up in prison.
- Alienation of Affection - "You've been served." Three little words that haunt everyone at Lockhart Gardner as Diane's soon-to-be love interest, Jack Copeland, shows up around Chicago delivering ominous manila envelopes.
- Another Ham Sandwich - Two words: Grand Jury.
- After the Fall - Will's suspension is official and his sisters arrive to comfort him during his time of need. Hilarity ensues. Rewatch count: Probably shouldn't admit.
- Blue Ribbon Panel - Alicia and Kalinda finally begin to connect about the mysterious tax file, but before long, Alicia gets pulled onto a Blue Ribbon Panel and finds herself looking for justice while defending herself from sociopath, Mike Kresteva.
Season Three Honourable Mentions - Most Memorable Moments
What can I say? There are a few things I can't help but mention again...
- Alicia and Will at his apartment in the season premiere. Should they go to his room? No. The cabinet at the front door works just as well. This was quite possibly the steamiest scene of season three (that is, depending on how you felt about Kalinda getting "flexible" with Lana...)
- Alicia’s
infamous “Mom pick up the phone” ringtone exposing her relationship with Will.
(Urgh. Will I ever be over this?
Unlikely. I’m holding out hope
for a season five Team Gardner reunion. Who's with me?)
- David Lee
coming to work in his HMS Pinafore costume
- Cary and Kalinda
sharing a kiss
- Will saying, "I love you" to Alicia
- Diane confronting
Will about his relationship with Alicia in the ‘we’re ousting Bond’ rooftop
courtyard
- Alicia
walking out of the courtroom during the grand jury showdown versus Wendy
Scott-Carr
- Will’s
sisters come to town and make every moment with their brother on-screen magic
- Kalinda
getting arrested
- Will and Diane dancing around Lockhart Gardner to Audra Mae's 'Here I Go Again'
- Peter deciding to run for Governor
- Alicia
returning to Highland Park and remembering her former life
- Kalinda and
Alicia finally sharing a drink
together <insert jazz hands and tequila shots>
- Kalinda sledge hammering her bedroom wall/pulling up a chair to await her husband's impending visit, gun close at hand
A Note of Thanks
I’m
particularly fond of season three because my love for all things The Good Wife
came together in the form of this blog.
It brought some wonderful new friends into my life and helped me
reconnect with those with whom I’d lost
touch. A special thanks to everyone who has supported my (occasionally) irrational love of Team Gardner... and to those of you who have celebrated Good Wife Sundays and Mondays with me every step along the way. Here's to season four - here's to a new day!
