Season 4, Episode 14 | Original Air Date: Sunday, February 17, 2013
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Some fascinating things happened in The Good Wife this week – and I’ll get to all of them – but not before I celebrate a little first.
Why?
Because Team
Gardner FINALLY got a reunion kiss! I've been waiting for this moment for 24 episodes.
But who’s counting? Oh wait. Me. It was like
“Heart” and “A New Day” rolled into a delicious passion-infused package… and it
was amazing. Like ‘pass me a paper bag I’m
losing my mind’ amazing.
But before
I get into my dream scene, I must first back-up, because this story’s too good
not to share.
Money in
the Bank
It was a
chilly day in February. Actually,
no. It wasn't. Well, maybe it was, but who are we to
know? All we’re given at the beginning
of this episode is a laundry list of clients who seem to be paying their bills
to Lockhart Gardner… in gold bars. Chum
Hum? That was a win. Cha-ching.
Sweeney? He and his turkey baster
secretly (or not) love Alicia, so they’re paying their invoices. Bishop?
Sure, his legit businesses are money pits, but the illegal dealings are
handsomely paying the bills. What this
means? Lockhart Gardner is out of debt. Not only that, they've got $113 million in
the bank.
I'm sorry. What? When did
this happen? I feel like I missed six
months.
Now, don’t
get me wrong, I know the Chum Hum win was big and that Sweeney and Bishop are
high-rollers (and both deliciously diabolical and definitely on my ‘must-see
again before the end of season four list’) but seriously. How could they get this far out of debt in
one episode? Yes, we had a three week
hiatus, and I’m willing to be somewhat lenient on their timelines, but being
debt-free after having an entire season built on the drama of the firm’s
survival is this side of crazy town. Now,
I love The Good Wife writers – I think they do an incredible job – but I can’t
help but wonder why they ended this arc so abruptly. Was it because things weren’t going to be fun
without Clarke lurking over Cary’s shoulder?
Or was it because everyone is a little sick of Lockhart Gardner being
unable to manage any of their finances?
Either way, nothing prepared me for David Lee unofficially assuming the
role of resident accountant. I imagine
him sitting at his desk calculating profits by moving M&Ms from one column
to another. He’s dastardly… and evil…
and I’m not sure why he hasn't been overthrown.
In any
case, all the equity partners are high-fiving and talking about all the
champagne they’re going to drink when the beloved lover of early-bird specials,
Howard Lyman, stands up and mentions all of the offers of equity partnership
they threw out in an act of desperation.
Diane, in an attempt to be loyal to those she used only days (months?
Who knows, I’m confused) earlier, says the offers should be honored. Will agrees – no takesies backsies. No one else cares though; Time to go crush
some dreams.
Challenge
Accepted
Who better
to break bad news than David Lee? All signs
point to this being his favourite time of day – the time when he shatters
people’s realities and then offers them chocolate like it makes up for anything he’s
ever said. Heading into Alicia’s office,
we knew he was going to drop the bomb: Alicia’s offer for equity partnership has
been delayed a year. Why? Well, why not? The firm needs some “time.” Great.
He didn't even bring his germ-covered candy dish to this meeting.
Now I’m
mad. This was the worst decision the
equity partners could have made, proving the firm has zero loyalty to anyone. While I found myself yelling at my TV, “this
is garbage!” I realized this is the game of The Good Wife. It’s all about how far the characters can be
pushed until they fight back.
With Cary,
Alicia and the other fourth years all out of luck, there was nothing left to do
but hold a mutiny meeting in Alicia’s living room. With Grace and Zach eavesdropping like two
pesky flies, the five associates decide to band together and take all of the
firm’s high net-worth clients out for lunch.
It’s all about business development, seeing if the clients are happy and
stirring the pot. Genius!
Florrick
Agos and Associates
Before
Alicia could hand Cary a Tupperware filled with tomorrow’s lunch (which, by the
way, I LOVED that she packed him leftovers!), Cary suggested the one thing I've been
thinking for years: They go into business together. If they pooled their equity partnership
funds, they would have money for a start-up firm. They could almost surely secure some of the
Lockhart Gardner’s top clients and in a flash they’d be the eighth biggest firm
in Chicago. Pa chow! Cary Agos, I didn't think I could like you any more… but I was wrong.
Thief
Meanwhile,
back at the office, Cary and Alicia are teamed up against Diane and Will for a
mock trail surrounding the death of a girl who drank “Thief,” a hyper-caffeinated
energy drink. With the mandate to ‘give
it your all’ and ‘come at us hard,’ Alicia and Cary put all of their energy
into winning. Of course, this meant
hiring Kalinda for $400/hour and channeling the rage from the partnership deferral
into the courtroom. The result? A resounding win for Florrick and Agos, but
not before an epic encounter between Alicia and Will…
Good Timing
Will, hot
off the heels of having his ego handed to him on a silver platter in court,
headed to the office for some late-night business. Or Scotch.
Either way, he got off the elevator (my favourite set) in a flurry and
headed down to Alicia’s office.
Will: You got a problem, you bring it to me, you don’t take it to court.
Alicia: What? I’m a lawyer. You asked us!
Will: We asked you to take this seriously.
Alicia: I am taking this seriously!
Will: You’re losing us a client.
Alicia: That’s not my fault!
Will: It damn well is your fault.
Alicia: Well then take us off of it! Fire us! Get rid of us!
Will: Oh, is that what you want, huh? That’s what these meetings with clients – is that what this is about?!
Alicia: Oh my god. Listen to yourself Will. You are not the injured party here.
Will: Oh what, and you are?
Alicia: I AM. YES!
<Silence>
Will looked at Alicia looking at him and he couldn't help but kiss her, because a) it’s the
best decision he will have made all day b) he loves her c) he feels bad about
the equity partner schmaz-fest and d) it’s been 24 freaking episodes and Team
Gardner fans deserve a little love, too!
Oh yes, and
is if Will leaning in wasn't good enough, Alicia 100% kissed him back. Take that
“Mom pick up the phone” ringtone. Take
that.
That
Awkward Moment When...
So, Alicia
ran out of her office and somehow made it home without grabbing her purse or
keys. Meh – the details aren’t important
here because we should all still be reeling from the gloriousness of that kiss
and the face we’re (I’m) still hyperventilating… and also that we've (I've)
watched that scene six (or more) times already.
Let’s flash forward. The verdict
in the mock case was unanimous: “Thief” didn't have a leg to stand on and was off to settle for $12 million. That left Will and Alicia with some time to
talk.
Alicia: What are we going to do?
Will: I don't know. It was a weak [but amazing] moment.
Their official verdict? They shouldn't be alone in the same room
together and Alicia is sorry… for basically everything in life. Will, with his sad, but understanding eyes, knowingly
agreed that this was just another example of bad timing.
While we aren't left with a proclamation of love, we have been given a renewed sense of
hope. The elephant is back in the room
and that’s all we need.
Congratulations,
Alicia Florrick
The next
day, David strolled into Alicia’s office with a new offer: Of the five
fourth-year associates, she was the one they were picking to take the single
new equity partner spot. Alicia
accepted. Cary congratulated her and
said it was the right move. Alicia, now
strong allies with Cary (and not just because he has her Tupperware) made the
bold move of saying now they can get what they want – she can work to sway the
other partners. Could Alicia be working
to further her own interests with Cary while taking Lockhart Gardner along for
the ride? It’s what they've done with
her… and I for one am definitely open to her playing the game.
Elsbeth and
Eli, Sitting in a Tree
In other
news, Elsbeth and Eli are busy fighting with the FBI over wire taps, dirty
calls and cutting a few political deals.
New on the scene is Josh Perrotti (the ever-handsome Kyle MacLachlan),
whose character is strangely matched by Elsbeth’s whimsical brilliance. In the minefield of bizarre, these two dance
around like nimble woodland creatures in search of the next song to sing or
petticoat to fluff. It’s an intoxicating
match-up as they both one-up each other’s last move. Even the offer of biscotti won’t sway
Elsbeth, which was good news for Eli as he strapped on a wire and pretended to
lure Jordan into a trap. Instead, Eli
ended up at David LaGuardia’s office (Remember him? The accordion-playing agent
who raided Eli’s office after they met in a diner and shared a bottle of hot
sauce?). The result: A confession that
Josh had forged documents to get Eli’s phone tapped… which means the taps they
have are inadmissible. Poor Josh. All he wanted was a dinner date, but instead,
he was Tascionied.
Predictions to Ponder
While we
have another hiatus for the Academy Awards, March is looking to be fully
stacked with four new episodes. Of course,
this means there’s plenty of opportunity to ponder and predict how this season
is going to play out. Here are a few
things that have crossed my mind:
1) The window
of romance for Will and Alicia has once again been opened. Word on the street is we’re going to get some
flashbacks to their relationship from season three, which is sure to please any
Team Gardner fan. I am, however, doubly intrigued
by Will’s comment about not being allowed to end up alone in the same
room. Prediction: A case will throw
these two together in an unexpected way.
I don’t know when and I don’t know how, but with chemistry like this,
Team Gardner could be back in business.
2) David Lee
was all about dropping names in “Red Team Blue Team” which always provides a
meaningful nudge to the audience as a way of saying, ‘don’t forget!’… as if we
could ever erase the image of Sweeney’s smarmy smile from our minds. I've read that both he and Bishop will make
the rounds in the last half of season four – I can’t even imagine what Sweeney
will have done… and as for Bishop, here’s hoping they spring from prison.
3) Alicia and
Cary will continue to grow as friends and colleagues (working late nights on
the floor, exchanging addresses… it’s almost like Cary is Alicia’s second
Kalinda, no?) and her loyalty will now secretly defer to him rather than Diane
and Will.
Now, over
to you! What did you think of “Red Team Blue Team?” Do you think Alicia was right to accept the
offer of equity partnership? What do you
think of the Team Gardner reunion?
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this post:
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