With 2013 upon us, it's time to look forward to the next 365 days and what might be in store for the year ahead. Last year I wished for a Florrick family Thanksgiving (and it came true!). With that good fortune fresh in my mind, this year, I'm throwing caution to the wind and laying everything on the line, because if there's one thing I've learned over the past year on The Good Wife, it is to expect the unexpected. Here's to 2013: A new year, with new hopes and new reasons to love The Good Wife.
Six Things We'd Love to See in 2013
More Cary
Agos – It’s what everyone’s talking about: Needing more Cary Agos. This
season has been a bit of a roller coaster for this fourth year associate – from
juggling the leather-clad nightmare, otherwise known as Nick, to seeing the
true colors behind his father, Cary has been put through the ringer, but in a
most ‘supporting actor’ kind of way. Of
course, Cary is the apple of Clarke Hayden’s eye, but that’s only good for getting
an office upgrade, not for getting a date, or a storyline. Here’s to a new year and a new beginning for
Cary Agos.
Season Five
– This almost goes without saying, but a fifth season of The Good Wife is
mandatory for making 2013 pure magic. Typically, CBS announces show renewals in
March, and with great ratings abounding, all signs point to fans having reason
to break out the celebratory Scotch. I’m
not just saying this because I’d be crushed without the promise of another
season, but, let’s face it, I would be. Season five? We've got this.
Cary and
Alicia Save the Firm – Lockhart Gardner is in trouble.Like global warming, it’s not news anymore,
but rather, something everyone has come to live with while figuring out a
solution.Years of poor management have
led the firm down the rabbit hole of debt, and as it turns out, a $60 million
deficit just doesn't disappear.While we
don’t know how things are going to unravel, we do know Wendy Scott-Carr is
going to be lurking in wings while Clarke Hayden threatens to pull the plug on
our beloved named partners: Will and Diane. 2013 is going to be turbulent which is not
made better by Julius gallivanting around Chicago, David being a loose cannon
and Howard Lyman searching for early bird breakfast specials.However, with Alicia and Cary working so closely (from
enemies to frenemies to friends), it’s not much of a long shot to wonder if
Florrick and Agos have the potential to save Lockhart Gardner from total ruin. Here’s hoping!
A Team Gardner
Reunion – Okay, I don’t think it will happen in season four, but half of 2013 will (yes WILL) boast season
five, so I’m pulling out all the stops with this wish list. The thought of a Team Gardner reunion is
impossible to resist. Also, it has been
over a year since these two shared anything more than a ‘thank you’ ear whisper. We've had a few great moments of friendship –
and for those I’m grateful – but as a diehard fan of Will and Alicia, I can’t
help but long for a glimmer of hope for these soul mates. I’m tired of bad timing… let’s get these two
together already!
The Return
of Julius Cane – As perhaps the most level-headed Equity Partner at Lockhart
Gardner, Julius Cane (Michael Boatman) is quickly going the way of Justice,
Diane’s beloved four-legged friend: Extinct.
We haven’t heard a word from Julius yet in season four and with the firm
in dire financial straits, it doesn't make any sense. Sure, I've imagined a variety of situations
where his disappearance would be acceptable (my favourite options being a)
Julius sneaking out under the cover of darkness to join Louis Canning or b)
Julius taking a sabbatical in the Cayman Islands and writing a personal manifesto
focused exclusively on undermining David Lee), but at the end of the day, we've been left to believe he’s working quietly in the background. With Michael Boatman now staring on Anger
Management, the most we can hope for are some strategic guest spots in 2013.
Diane
Lockhart Playing the Field – Whether she’s sharing wine with Jack the Process
Server or agreeing to disagree with Kurt the wilderness-loving Ballistics
Expert, there’s no denying Diane is a hot commodity when it comes to
after-hours get togethers. Two words for 2013: More dates.
Of course, my list of hopes could go on and on (Peter's election going sideways, the return of Elsbeth Tascioni, Justin from legal aid making three a crowd in Alicia's office...), but I'll save sharing more of my wishes for the upcoming year. Now I turn it over to you. What are you most looking forward to for The Good Wife in 2013? Can't wait Wendy Scott-Carr to show up or for Eli's past to surface? Me either! Sound off in the comments below.
Some of my favourite moments from The Good Wife happen when the characters make me laugh, clap and cover my face while shrieking. I give extra points when they do all three, especially when they do so simultaneously. Welcome to the wonderful world of meeting Will’s sisters, Aubrey and Sara. Did I clap? Oh sure. Did I proclaim my love of this new story line development? I think probably six times in less than an hour. Did I cover my face? Well, yes… didn’t you? Sure, Will is suspended for six months, but if that means we get to see him kicking back, writing the next great American legal novel, playing guitar and sipping a mid-day beer while clad in boot cut jeans and an unbuttoned button-up shirt as one of his many clothing layers, I’m game. Who said this was going to be a bad thing?
Let me cut to the chase. I would love to dedicate this entire post to Will, his sisters and his apartment (which, by the way, is completely amazing. Did we know Will had so much interior design style sense?)… but I won’t, because that wouldn’t be fair to the other outstanding developments in “After the Fall.”
In My Opinion – Episode Commentary
Will is gone, which means everyone wants a piece of what he left behind: his office, his clients, his place on the stationery. No one mentioned it, but I’m pretty sure someone wants that beloved baseball he throws around when he’s working late and trying to get to the bottom of a case. While Diane is working to balance the management re-org, she’s also fending off a group of hungry and ambitious equity partners: Julius, David and Eli. It seems to me there’s a metaphor about wildebeest, lions and a waterhole hiding somewhere within this story arc, but I’m not going there. Oh wait. In any case, as it turns out, with Will gone, everyone wants the same things from Diane but for different reasons. Let’s break it down:
Julius Cain
Julius is after the brand. He wants name recognition because he thinks Will’s character is so tarnished the firm will suffer. In point of fact, we learn that none of Will’s clients jumped ship because of the suspension, but Julius needs an angle and this seems like his best shot at getting on the stationery. As head of litigation, Julius certainly has a prestigious place in the firm and while Diane knows he’s less of a loose cannon than, say, David Lee, he’s no Will Gardner. When we look at the facts, it seems Julius is most concerned about his reputation: If the firm looks bad, he looks bad. Getting rid of Will’s name equals getting rid of the dirty laundry.
David Lee
David is after named partnership, but only until Will returns and only because he doesn’t want anyone else to have it. Let’s face it: David only gets along with a handful of people at the firm and it’s not because he can’t be friendly, it’s simply because doesn’t like to and he thinks it’s a waste of time. That is, until he needs or wants something. With Will’s recent departure David is after anything that will keep other people off of the stationery. He doesn’t want the role of named partner – that would mean dealing with messy things like salaries and middle management – but he needs the role, just to ensure no one else gets ahead. I do have more than a few reservations about his alleged commitment to getting all of the benefits of named partnership and then giving them back when Will returns. David is sly and his word is more than a little unreliable… in my opinion.
Eli Gold
Eli is after a full-time job and heightened status. With Peter’s campaign more uncertain than ever, Eli is looking for something bigger on which to hang his hat. Or, at least I think that’s what he’s after. In some ways, I think Eli just wants to get all of the equity partners together to vote on things (For example: Who should fill the vacuum Will has left behind? Who gets his parking spot? Should the office invest in flavoured coffee?). Now Eli has a few allies in the office (note: Julius) he thinks he can overthrow Diane whenever the going gets tough. I tend to think Diane has a greater band of followers than Eli could possibly have, but with everything in a state of flux, the forecast for Lockhart and Associates is uncertain.
Meanwhile, over at the State’s Attorney’s Office, Peter is getting schooled by Eli on how to make friends and influence people (a lesson, strangely, he learned from Diane who he is now trying to throw under the bus). It seems the friends Peter had during his campaign are disappointed in his lack of commitment to giving them jobs when he took office. Feeling pressure to secure the keynote address at the Democratic Convention, Peter succumbs to his former ways and hires on an old friend. Unfortunately, the task falls to Cary to tell hardworking Geneva Pine that she’s being moved around the department. This was a particularly interesting turn of events, as now Cary now sees the darker, more sinister side of Peter. When Cary asked Peter about his decision, Peter retorted by saying, “No, I don’t want any consultation, I just want you to do it.” I can’t help but think that Cary is feeling just as Alicia did in her marriage. Some very interesting parallels are being written and I have a feeling Cary will come to the same breaking point as Alicia before too long.
Oh for the Love of Sisters
Will is lucky to have some incredible women in his life and after this week, I can’t help but think he’s so good with the opposite sex because of how he grew up: With two sisters surrounding him with love, while simultaneously being at his throat and nipping at his heels, Will’s suave nature is something that was likely born out of survival more than anything else. Enter Aubrey, Will’s younger sister who heard about his situation and arrived from who knows where, with a suitcase in her hand and a guitar on her back, to spend some quality time in Will’s impeccably stylish apartment. Before long, Alicia phoned Will to catch up on a case and from the background, Aubrey quickly called Will out on using his “sweet voice” with the woman on the other end of the phone. It’s official. Aubrey is Will’s version of Alicia's Owen. At this point, I had to exclaim, “Of course it’s his sweet voice, he’s talking to Alicia. Team Gardner!” *Sigh*
Before long, the next bombshell in Will’s personal life exploded: Sweet, good natured Aubrey called in backup with Will’s other sister, Sara. Together they are a whirlwind of hilarity and embarrassment… especially when Kalinda came over and they mistook her for Will’s girlfriend (thinking she was the one he was using his “sweet voice” on earlier). Riffling through yearbooks and the internet to track down Will’s past girlfriends, they also reorganized his kitchen and tried convincing him that in five years he won’t be so cute anymore, so he better settle down and get serious.
The insanity of Will’s sisters push him out the door (but only because Kalinda couldn’t have them arrested as Will had hoped) and so he headed to the place he’s most comfortable: the office. Diane welcomed him with open arms while Eli and Julius lurked outside watching the reunion…
Farm Girls from Michigan
Oh yes, let’s not forget this is a legal drama, so there was a case this week (though it was probably the least important part of the entire show). Nancy Crozier was back in full force, using her I’m so innocent because I’m just a farm girl from Michigan moves until Alicia “out blonded” her and put the similarly faux-innocent, Caitlin, in as a true testament to her astute reading of Judge Serena. The case had to do with a documentary film maker (played by The Ice Truck Killer from Dexter) who was being accused of romanticizing suicide and encouraging people to pitch themselves off local bridges. Lockhart and Associates set out to prove that while cameras were set up on the bridge, capturing suicides had to do with bringing awareness to a bigger issue and didn’t have anything to do with turning his film into the next Titanic. Alicia did the smartest thing she could: she put Caitlin in against Nancy in order to the play to the judge: yes, it was a battle of the blondes. Fortunately for Alicia, the plan worked beautifully and Caitlin excelled at playing fresh and naïve… unfortunately it backfired in some ways as Diane then gave Caitlin a promotion and told Alicia she had to share her assistant. Sure, Alicia earned points for being a good mentor, but with Caitlin moving up the ranks, Alicia senses trouble. I have a feeling she’s longing for the days when she was up against Cary Agos (and in many ways, with what’s happening at the State’s Attorney’s Office, I have a feeling he wishes he was simply up against Alicia, too).
Quotes of the Week:
Kalinda: "Will, when I leave, you aren’t going to curl up in a little ball and cry, are you?”
Aubrey: "Who's that? You've got your sweet voice on."
Will: "Ssshhhh. I do not."
Aubrey: "Yes you do."
Will: "Okay, I'm going to go over here and... talk to myself."
Sara: "Wait. What about a girlfriend? Why aren't you seeing someone?"
Aubrey: "He is! The woman on the phone."
Sara: "Who's she?"
Aubrey: "Some lawyer. Makes him upset when we talk about it."
Sara: "Does it Will? Who is she?"
Will: "How long are you two staying?"
Sara: "Where's your year book? There was some girls in high school, remember?"
Aubrey: "No. He likes younger women."
David Lee: “I don’t hate people… I hate some people.”
Eli: “We can out vote you.”
Diane: “We?”
Eli: “Me and my fostered relationships.”
Diane: “So you’re no longer the last kid picked for the mutiny. Congratulations.”
Diane: “You lasted a full week. I’m impressed.”
Will: “Could have lasted longer. You have my sisters to thank for that.”
Diane: “I’ll send flowers.”
What’s next?
Things are heating up next week, and I, for one, can’t wait. Colin Sweeney returns (which must make Alicia want to lose her mind) and he is being accused of fathering a former employee’s child. It’s a case of sexual misconduct and it could impact Sweeney’s plans to secure control of his company once more. As a simple observation, I have to say that Colin Sweeney gets more time in the courtroom than most lawyers do. He can’t stay out of trouble. It’s a good thing there is a rule about Double Jeopardy, otherwise Sweeney would have a case to set up a Murphy bed in the janitor’s closet for a quick commute every morning. Bebe Neuwirth also guest stars as a new judge.
After a one-month hiatus, I couldn’t have been more thrilled to have a new episode of The Good Wife to kick off 2012. Let’s be honest – I spent most of my day keeping busy so as to pass the time more quickly before that elusive hour of 9 pm (okay, 9:17 pm, because I live on the east coast, home of the football/CBS/The Good Wife/hot mess). Lucky for me, the four week and 17 minute wait was absolutely worth it – this episode exceeded my exceptionally high expectations on every level: dialogue, story line, humor and fashion. To say it was a drama-filled, madcap adventure would be an understatement.
Typically I write a full episode recap and leave it at that, but this week I thought I would spice things up with an overview of "Alienation of Affection" and finish things off with my top 10 favourite moments of the episode. Look out – you’re being served.
In My Opinion – Episode Commentary
Despite being very confused by what day this episode was supposed to be starting on (Diane was at an art gallery, Alicia was at a busy school, Will was at a wedding and David Lee was backstage at a Gilbert and Sullivan production), everyone had one thing in common: getting served. The Good Wife production staff must have placed a special order for office supplies just to keep enough yellow envelopes on hand. The problem? A 2010 divorce gone awry. As it would happen, David Lee, and therefore Lockhart Gardner, was being sued for $44 million dollars – the value of a company that was sold in said divorce. The crux of the problem was actually the tort Alienation of Affection – did Lockhart Gardner try to further their business interests (and therefore make a tidy sum) by ensuring the successful breakup of April and Jake Hundley? With the hard-hitting Burl Preston (played by F. Murray Abraham) in from LA, the heart of the matter came down to what information could be collected in depositions.
First up: David Lee. Always good for sarcasm and banter, David can’t pass up the opportunity to, as Will would say, “poke the bear.” Does David run his legal dealings above board? If I were to be called to the stand, I would have to confess to having some reservations about his ethical conduct. What I do know is: a) he likes to tread a fine line around semantics and b) he could be cast in a production of H.M.S. Pinafore quicker than most. While we don’t know much about David, we have the keen suspicion he is rather smart. In “Alienation of Affection” we see this shine when he proclaims he didn’t hire a stripper to sleep with his client’s husband. No, he had Kalinda do it – but Preston didn’t ask, so that little tidbit was astutely left out of the discussion. Was it perjury? No. Is Diane going to be giving David sidelong glances for the rest of the season? Hopefully… but not just because she’s seen him in tassels.
Second in the hot seat: Alicia Florrick. I’ve never seen anyone give a stare-down quite like her and let me just say, it’s intimidating. If there’s one thing I’ve come to respect and admire about Julianna Margulies’ character, it’s that she is always in pursuit of justice. Certainly the path isn’t without its meanders and proverbial potholes, but that doesn’t change the fact Alicia always tries to land on the right side of the fence. This week, Alicia seemed even more direct and determined when it came to depositions – She’s done with being raked over the coals, personally and professionally. While it provided a point of frustration for Buro Preston, I think in the end Diane was a little proud.
Buro: “You told her [April Hundley] you had also dealt with an unfaithful spouse?”
Alicia: “We commiserated over similarities in our personal lives.”
Buro: “Did you express what a relief it was to be away from a cheating husband, saying “You can’t imagine the relief you feel that first night, just being alone, having a glass of wine”
Diane: “Objection Mr. Preston. Are we really delving into the private life of Mrs. Florrick?”
What I loved most about this scene is not that Alicia stood her ground and didn’t crack one iota under the pressure, but that Diane was in the room to hear Alicia’s quote about her personal life.Diane only knows Alicia to be someone who draws a strong line in the sand between her home and work spheres.Yes, there was the relationship with Will (sigh…), but that didn’t impact the quality of her work. In hearing those very intimate feelings Alicia had shared with the client, Diane can now appreciate what Alicia has be juggling for the past three years.It may never be brought up again, but I think the level of respect Diane has for Alicia, has further elevated.Also, I’m pretty sure if the circumstances were different, she would be rooting for the Team Gardner relationship.
Third time’s the charm: Cary Agos. With all questions going somewhat unanswered, Buro had no option but to call in Cary to the deposition process. You see, a rider went missing with the original divorce filing… unfortunately it happened on Alicia’s watch. Believe it or not (emphasis on “or not”) the document was found in Cary’s old files. Happenstance? Unlikely. David Lee definitely planted a fresh copy and passed it off as the 2010 document, but there’s no way to prove it. Well, there is. A $30,000 ink analysis could confirm its legitimacy, but who was going to conduct that analysis with the divorce being back on? Oh yes, in an unpredictable series of events, the man responsible for serving everyone with those treasured yellow envelopes, Jack Copeland, was the one to break the news to Diane – the husband in the divorce was still cheating on this wife. Case closed.
Alienation of Affection – Top 10 Favourite Moments
(because 11 seemed like too many and nine seemed like too few)
1) On Exhibit– The episode opens with Diane standing alone at a Harry Borgman art exhibit(robust piano music plays in the background). Personally, I was thrilled with this scene as we got a glimpse into the world of Diane after hours (she wears flats and likes art - now we're getting somewhere). Enter a rather handsome older man with an Australian accent. They strike up a slightly flirtatious conversation and all signs point to Diane having plans for a dinner date later in the week until… she gets served. The man? Jack Copeland. Well, at least he was nice.
2) “I am the Captain of the Pinafore”– Having also been served, David Lee shows up to work wearing his costume from the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, H.M.S. Pinafore. I may or may not have clapped when I saw him dressed in such theatrical garb – moments like these make The Good Wife stand apart from other network dramas. Diane, Alicia and Will all did their best not to laugh and/or cry at David’s expense. I tried to do the same. There’s nothing more I can say, except, perhaps, “Ahoy!”
3) Fisticuffs– There’s nothing I like more than a good bout of verbal sparring and this week was full of moments on which the writers can proudly hang their hats. The fact there is no love lost between David and basically everyone at the firm was officially settled. Julius almost punched David in the face and Eli began quickly crafting a coup to oust Lee from his high horse... or ship deck, whichever the case may be. It’s just a good thing Eli didn’t see David dressed up.
4) “I’m going to write that down as a yes”–For the first time since season two, Kalinda and Alicia were finally on semi-casual speaking terms. In fact, the thawing ice between these two was a welcome addition to “Alienation of Affection” especially because Alicia was responsible for the missing rider. Kalinda had to bring up the error and you could tell she was willing to do just about anything to get Alicia out of the sticky situation. While Alicia became confused about what could have happened to the document, Kalinda once again proved she has Alicia’s back. On the trust report card, I think Alicia would move K back up to a solid C+.
5) "Are you looking for a lawyer?"– Let me open with this: Did anyone predict the whole “grand jury” situation coming out to Alicia so, well, plainly? Just one more thing to add to myI didn’t see that cominglist I suppose. Will just blurted out “Wendy Scott-Carr” and “grand jury” over the speaker phone and that was it: Can of worms, you’ve been released. That surprise aside, I was thrilled to see Alicia and Will have a somewhat normal conversation. It was sweet, genuine and a little mysterious. It made me long for the days of “Feeding the Rat” with the proclamation of love, but, in a strange way, Will being able to approach Alicia for Elsbeth Tascioni’s business card sent a message:I’m around, I love you, I’m not mad and I could be in trouble.
6) "Don’t judge by first impressions"– Will quickly headed to Elsbeth Tascioni for help after a few botched interviews with other lawyers (who unwittingly would have him inside of a prison cell faster than Kalinda can take a bat to a car). As it turns out, Elsbeth’s office was under construction so off the top, the meeting was a bit unorthodox. First, Elsbeth had to double check the chair she gave Will because the contractors were practical jokers. Well, sure. Second, it seemed that while she had no desk, she also had no phone. Correction. She had a phone (maybe two) and all were hidden under drop cloths. Kicking at the floor, she tried to dislodge them to stop the ringing. Third, for whatever reason the only thing exposed in her office, aside from two chairs, was a pile of purses. I’m going to keep active notes on this in the future, but do we think she ever carries the same bag twice? Despite all of this, Will trusted Elsbeth with his grand jury turmoil because unlike the other lawyers he talked to, Elsbeth began to immediately tackle the idea of innocence.
7) “I like anything with bears”– You just never know where or when Elsbeth is going to show up when she’s on a case, but surprising Wendy Scott-Carr at a children’s play was a brilliant move. Also, she probably bought a ticket and thoroughly enjoyed the show with dancing stuffed bears, elephants and lions. No judgment here – I think she’s a superb blend of clever and zany swirled together with comedic genius and dramatic flair. Even better? As predicted, Wendy Scott-Carr has no idea what to do with her! Oh yes, and Elsbeth leaked Wendy’s back-room dealings to the press and therefore three of Cook County’s most honest judges. Point Tascioni.
8) The questioning of Cary Agos– This scene was brief but telling. Cary truly loves being a lawyer and he’s not in it to throw anyone under the bus. In fact, out of anyone on the show, he may have the most altruistic goals of all. He’s willing to work hard, he appreciates a job well done and if circumstances had been different, I truly believe he and Alicia would be friends. As Cary stated: “I have absolutely no reason to believe that document is a forgery. I knew Mrs. Florrick and Mr. Lee to be outstanding, competent and ethical lawyers at the firm.” Maybe this is the new leaf that needed to be turned, after all, the last time Alicia and Cary spoke was because Kalinda had been arrested. It’s just too bad Cary is being pulled into Wendy Scott-Carr’s hornet’s nest.
9) For the love of children– Diane never had children, and I think at this point, she’s grateful. Quite frankly, with Eli and David going head-to-head trying to fight each other to the death, she is playing both mother and boss. The best part? She’s tough and she wins. Both men are strong-willed, but no one is more capable of sending two people to their corners to make them think about what they’ve done than Diane Lockhart. There’s a reason she’s the master of the eye-roll. That’s a time-out, men.
10) The pillar push– Finally! The scene I’ve been waiting since November for – the lobby altercation! This is the scene I saw filmed live (see The Good Wife: On Location in NYC for details) and I couldn’t have been happier to see it finally air. What’s even better is that we now have context for that story line – Jack Copeland, welcome to the show.
Quotes of the Week:
Diane: “We’re not throwing anyone under the bus.”
Eli: “Last time I looked we were all under the bus.”
Will to Alicia (about the grand jury): “I just don’t want to make life more complicated”
Will: “It’s probably too early to drink…”
Diane: “Another two hours”
Jack: "Where am I looking?" (when searching for the artist's autograph in a painting)
Diane: "The inside top of the right thigh... That wasn't a pick up line, I did think you wanted the spot."
Jack: "I know, I just like your voice. I wanted to hear it again."
What’s Next?
Next week we’re in for a real treat when guest star Jason Biggs joins the cast as a computer programmer turned client who is “arrested by the government for not revealing the name of an anonymous client” and it all ties back to a new online currency (Clarissa, TV Over Mind). Stay tuned, it’s going to get juicy.
Also, Elsbeth will be back for round two, where it’s likely her run-ins with Wendy Scott-Carr are only going to increase in number. Will we finally learn how legitimate this case against Will really is (or isn't, as it may turn out)?
To top things off, Bob Balaban will return as Gordon Higgs (remember, the man from the Department of Treasury who just loves his red velvet cupcakes?). I can only hope there will be a happy reunion between Tascioni, Higgs, Florrick and Gardner over coffee in a break room.
Related to this Post:
Preview: Episode 13 - "Bitcoin for Dummies"
Love Diane's ballet flats from the opening scene? Check out "Behind the Scenes" to learn more about the designer and how you can have the same look!
Food Inspired by The Good Wife – Avocado Egg Salad (can you say, “egg on your face?” This episode was fraught with missteps, so a spicy egg salad seems only fitting)
