The Good Wife: "Waiting for the Knock" aka The Case of the Illegitimate Juice Bar

"Waiting for the Knock"

Season 4, Episode 5 | Original air date: October 28, 2012

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Lemond Bishop: He’s suave, he’s sophisticated and he’s smart.  Did I mention handsome?  Well, he’s that, too.  Best of all, he’s a father who loves his son to limitless bounds – an admirable quality that would surely challenge the top spot for Chicago’s Most Eligible Bachelor list.  Of course, the reason he’s eligible is because he had his wife offed.  Oh, and he’s a drug king pin.

Fortunately for me, I can’t get enough of Lemond Bishop and his shading dealings.  That could be one of the reasons I loved this week’s episode.   The Good Wife’s now classic roaster of criminals I adore is ever-growing (and can I just say I would pay a lot of money to see Sweeney and Bishop share a jail cell?  A lot.  Like illegitimate juice bar a lot). 

“Waiting for the Knock” was one of the better character development episodes of the season so far – in my opinion – so this week my commentary will look at things from an individual perspective.  Get ready for ‘Cary Agos, Big Brother’ and ‘Will you want me to do what? Gardner.’  As always, I invite you to take to the comments section at the end and let me know your thoughts on this week’s episode!

Eli Gold – The Man Who Wants the Shirt off your Back. Literally.

Picking up right where we left off, Eli was, once again, fully ensconced in a case of reputation management.  It’s probably a good thing he didn't know Alicia was off sharing tea with a drug lord, otherwise he probably would have had a complete meltdown.  But I digress.  With Maddie hovering at the party, Jimmy V lurking behind his computer and Peter shaking hands and holding babies, Eli was bound to get caught up in more than he could handle.  We've seen Eli scramble before, but it’s a place he doesn't like to be and a place he doesn't handle particularly well.  

What I find to be interesting about Eli this season is how he is using his Lockhart Gardner connections to further Peter’s campaign.  Alicia is just an aside in this whole thing.  He is building a network of unexpected Florrick campaign allies – Kalinda investigating off the side, Will getting pulled into the crux of problem-solving – it’s something unexpected that could have some very interesting repercussions down the road.  Eli is already close to unearthing the Kalinda/Peter fiasco and the more he pulls in people close to Alicia, the more he’s building an ‘I owe you’ network.  Peter can already see this going badly – you can tell simply by his reactions every time Eli shares something good that has happened because all the things that are going right are coming from Alicia’s little corner of the world.

The fact is, Eli is paid to mitigate risk and keep up an appearance of cool, but sometimes the campaign trail isn't so kind.  Sometimes you need to take extreme measures.

 Will you want me to do what? Gardner

Having nowhere left to turn in the case of ‘Jimmy V and the blog post’ Eli called Will.  Will?  Wait.  Did that just happen?  Whipping out my ‘things I didn't see coming list,’ I put this at the very top.  Ever the professional, Will did what he could for a client (while, wearing another great semi-casual Saturday outfit *sigh*) – it’s not personal, it’s business – but unfortunately this business just got very personal.  Even though we only had the chance to look at Will’s face for a minute, his expression told a story of epic proportions.  It went something like this:

Out of everyone you know, everywhere in the world, why did you call me?  ME.  Seriously Eli, weren't you there when we all got out of the elevator in The Dream Team?  It was awkward.  And not just because Patti Nyholm's baby was running around.  I know you remember this - you pretended like it was a surprise party for Kalinda, who, by the way, also thought it was awkward.  You know Peter and I don’t really get along and that Alicia and I have shared a little love in the afternoon.  Okay, you don’t know specifics, but you intercepted my ‘I love you message’ so you know I’m not the first, second, or 45^th person you should be calling.  Glen Childs would have been a better choice – and that’s saying something.  Sure, I know I’m good at intimidating the media – I've done it before (and I think I've even had a few dates come out of it), but it’s not something I want to do to help Peter.  Also, did I mention I’m still in love with Alicia?  Right, so there’s that, too. 

Kalinda Sharma and the 100 Meter Dash

For the second week in a row Kalinda’s head has been back in the Lockhart Gardner game and in “Waiting for the Knock” she was even able to juggle Nick’s creepy shenanigans while finding a rotting body in a trunk (the latter she did while chasing a motorcycle in her 5 inch heels – not an easy feat, ladies and gentleman, not an easy feat).

While K’s ability to sniff out a corpse is second to none, what I was most impressed with this week came during her interactions with Nick.  First, her ability to keep her professional cool during the meeting about his skeezy tow truck business and second, her candor and strength when telling him she’s a different person than he once knew.  I mean, sure.  She went from Laila to Kalinda; from being married to a man to being flexible with everyone and from making omelettes to shooting tequila.  My words to Nick: You've got to get out of dodge - she’s not the same.  Also, you’re not the first person who has loved her only to have their heart broken.  Take a number.

Perhaps the most interesting development in Kalinda’s story line came as a result of Nick (hallelujah, he’s doing more than pulling knives and inappropriately licking ice cream) and the fact he ransacked Lana’s apartment, only to find a shrine dedicated to Kalinda.  Me + notebook = I didn't see that coming, take II.  The one photo Nick was able to snatch from the apartment was of Kalinda and Eli talking – someone was clearly lurking in the bushes, watching K’s every move.  I’ll confess to being intrigued about where this is going. Is Lana keeping these pictures because of personal or professional reasons?  She’s always really liked Kalinda, so are the images the product of an obsessive love, or are they because of Lockhart Gardner’s close ties to Lemond Bishop? 

Now the tables are turning on Kalinda.  Where she was the one using people, it appears that now people are turning around and using her.  At least she has Alicia, who is saying caring things like, ‘stay safe,’ which, while making Nick lose his mind because he thinks K is in love with Alicia (a likely observation – I mean Alicia is the only person to ever have made Kalinda cry), is also a great development of the new K & A relationship.  There’s no room for Nick in Kalinda’s life anymore.  She has Alicia.

Alicia Florrick, Belle of the Ball

When last we saw Alicia she was taking time away from sharing her office space with Cary to visiting the straw poll to show her support of Peter.  Making the rounds, we had the chance to relive Alicia’s encounter with Jackie and her roach-infested wine, only to be followed up with Jackie calling Alicia ‘the belle of the ball.’  While viewers might agree with that statement, Jackie has never been so kind.  Even Maddie, who doesn't know Jackie, thought the statement to be boldly sweet.

Before having the chance to see Jimmy V’s blog go live, Alicia was whisked off to Lemond Bishop’s Chicago mansion (which, I might add, I want to model my dream home after.  This man knows how to decorate.  Or, he knows who to pay.  Either way, I loved it).  We haven’t seen Alicia be able to use her caring, nurturing side in a case much lately, but it’s always interesting when we get to see that side of her.  She is a smart, hard-hitting lawyer, but unlike many of the other associates we encounter on the show, Alicia has a distinct sense of empathy that makes the audience relate to her.  Diane can be caring, and we've see this, but Alicia has a calming warmth and the ability to put people at ease, even during the most challenging of times.  Watching her interact with Bishop’s son, Dylan, reminded me why Alicia Florrick is one of my favourite characters on television, and why Julianna Margulies is one of the best actors around.

Cary Agos, Big Brother

With all hands on deck for Lemond Bishop’s case, Cary was pulled in with everyone else to get to the bottom of the FBI’s new-found interest in this drug king pin.  Legitimate business, illegitimate business,  tomato, tomatoe.  The one thing Cary has always been good at is working as a part of a team and this week that was taken to a whole new height when he got himself arrested just to get the FBI’s search warrant.  Oh Cary – I’m so glad to see you back in action.  I just wish we would have seen who had the opportunity to bail you out.

Meanwhile, Cary was wrapped up with all kinds of things this week when he wasn't in handcuffs.  Making the highlight reel:

1. Cary watching Kalinda and Nick interact in the elevator bank at Lockhart Gardner – he knew something was up – investigators and clients don’t usually shove and talk so close they are near kissing… but then again, it is Kalinda, so like many things involving her, Cary was willing to let it slide.
2. Cary pulling Clarke Hayden into the Bishop investigation.  As it turns out, Hayden really enjoys using his accounting skills to crack a case.  This week, that came in the form of footnotes in some unbalanced books from a juice bar in a gym.  It was like all-too-twisted Nancy Drew mystery, but Hayden loved it.  He was almost happy.  In fact, when he sat down with Cary to talk about his involvement in the case, he was downright gleeful.  For whatever reason, Hayden has taken to Cary like a moth to a flame.  It’s strange though – where one would think Hayden would be acting as a mentor to Cary, it’s actually the other way around.  Cary is the one playing the role of big brother.  Cary is inspiring Hayden to be actively involved and not just provide commentary from the sidelines; Cary is the one giving him career tips and encouraging Hayden to be more at the firm. 

What’s next?

First, a preview: "The Art of War"

Maddie Hayward has pulled her support from Peter’s campaign.  It was a good two episodes while it lasted.  I’m sure her contributions paid for the shirt Eli wrote Jimmy V’s number on and maybe Jackie’s bug-infused Malbec.  While she wants to continue being Alicia’s friend, I’m beginning to sense a new plan afoot.  With no other female candidates in the running, and Peter being dragged back into the media under the veil of another sexual indiscretion, I can’t help but think Maddie might just throw her hat in the ring.  I’m not entirely sure where that’s going to put her relationship with Alicia, but my money is on ‘strained.’ 

Also up next week: Judge Abernathy and Judge Kuhn are back in Josh Charles’ directorial debut.   Color me excited!  Judge Kuhn has previously loathed Will and Judge Abernathy has kept the bar raised when it comes to quirkiness.  The two of them together is sure to be an outrageous adventure.  Is it Sunday yet?

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