This week, I'm writing from a hotel room in Los Angeles. I'm here on vacation, and while I've embraced a life without deadlines for the next 10 days, the reappearance of Louis Canning and Wendy Scott-Carr has forced me throw my Zen out the window. These two are shaking up just about everything on The Good Wife. Toss in Clarke Hayden and it has suddenly turned into the doomsday trifecta.
For "Boom De Ya Da," I'm looking at the four most gasp-worthy moments, all of which are still sending me through the roof. Once I get these off my chest, it's back to vacation, while humming Houaida Goulli's rendition of "I Love the Mountains."
Disease: Found in Pools and Law Offices Nation-wide
Personally, I love when The Good Wife takes things out of the courtroom. Other offices? Love them. A character's home? Can't get enough. This week, we found ourselves at a not-so-little hotel on the prairie. Deep in the Minnesota woods, Alicia and Louis Canning went head-to-head over some foreclosed property containing vacant swimming pools serving as breeding grounds for West Nile-infected mosquitos. As someone border-line terrified of contracting this insect-borne disease, I was both intrigued and horrified about this case. What I learned: Never jump a fence into a yard with a pool. Message received.
But I digress.
Alicia (clad in what can only be described as a stunning cherry red blazer) and Louis (buttoned up in a brown three-piece number), spent the majority of the episode waiting around for a client who was missing in action 90% of the time. Fortunately, with Alicia and Louis, there's never a dull moment. As creatures of habit, these two fall into old rhythms better than best friends at a reunion: Louis lies, Alicia buys in and then figures out Louis foiled her (again), at which point she turns things around and serves him a juicy slice of humble pie. It's deliciously predictable in the lease predictable way possible... if that makes sense. I mean, there's nothing Louis says that I believe, no matter how convincing. I only make one exception, and that's when he discusses his ridiculously lovely wife, Simone. He seems completely genuine about her. Everything else is a bust. The only part I never see coming when it comes to Louis is why exactly he lied and how he always seems to get away with it.
Stick with me here. Remember in "Parenting Made Easy" when he stole paperwork from Alicia's briefcase when she was dealing with Grace's disappearance? First, he pretended to care and then he blatantly stole files. Win, lose or draw, Louis Canning never fails to surprise me... or creep me out.
Of course, that's why he's amazing. And, also, apparently how he's managed to acquire ALL of Lockhart Gardner's debt. Say what?! I did not see this coming at all. I feel as though I'm more prepared for the zombie apocalypse than I am for Canning to be the firm's new creditor. Forget the "De Ya Da" - let's just go with "Boom."
Side note: Did anyone else wonder why the woodland hotel was surrounded by trees donning their brilliant autumn colors? Don't get me wrong, I love to watch leaves change, but I'm pretty sure it's winter in Minnesota. If there's one thing I learned from watching the Ingalls homestead for nine years, it's that snow falls in that state in January.
Clothes, Incidentals and Sleepovers Knock, knock.
Kalinda stands at the door with Alicia's clothes in one hand, a wine bag in the other.
Alicia: "I miss drinking red wine at three in the afternoon." Kalinda: "I miss this." Me:"Eeeeeeeeee!" <insert clapping> Kalinda: "I'm sorry." Alicia: "I know." Me: *Sigh* "We're all sorry..."
Next morning, Kalinda is on the phone to Will while Alicia puts on her coat
Me: "They just had a sleepover! They just had a SLEEPOVER!"
Best. Scene. Ever.
Okay, maybe not ever-ever, but definitely one of the best of season four. Thank you, Good Wife Writers, for giving me one relationship for Alicia I can get behind.
The Raid She's back. Wendy Scott-Carr. We knew she would be - she's too good/evil not to lurk in the wings. How she got another contract to work in Cook County is beyond me, but she's smart, resourceful and most of all, determined to end corruption in the government. Like Canning, I'm skeptical of her intentions. Her battles often go from a business objective to a personal vendetta overnight. Also, while she postures about unbiased practices, I'm pretty sure she's still after Peter (and maybe Will for that matter). As it turns out this week, she's also after Eli Gold. It was only a matter of time.
While Diane tried to scare WSC, it backfired like a car making a getaway in a dirty alley. Wendy saw the threat and raised her by filing a warrant to seize all of Eli's files from the firm. Now Eli's looking for a new lawyer and Lockhart Gardner is tangled in what's sure to be another scandal, as though Clarke Hayden needed another reason to hate the whole lot of them...
Cary Agos: Tutor
Okay, hate might be a strong word. He doesn't hate Cary. Or, he didn't, until Cary told Will, Diane and the faux-judge with the gavel, he was tutoring Clarke for 10 hours a week for the Bar exam. Once again, color me surprised. Clarke looked immeasurably hurt when he found out Cary felt he had to tutor Clarke for the security of his job, not out of the genuine friendship he thought they had forged.
I felt terrible for both Clarke and Cary. First off, Cary is always placed in these situations where he has to testify for someone at Lockhart Gardner. It's a good thing he's honest and loyal. For Clarke "you use illogical passion for winning at all costs" Hayden, he was under the impression he and Cary were building a serious friendship. The truth is, I kind of thought that, too. While what happened was unfortunate, I worry Clarke won't be able to forgive Cary.
Now the firm has five short weeks to figure out their finances and rid themselves of pesky Clarke forever. It's just too bad the new creditor is Canning... and that their landlord is Maddie Hayward. Who thinks these two are going to give Lockhart Gardner a break? It looks to me this business just got personal.
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.
News of Cary Ago’s imminent return to Lockhart Gardner is swirling in the air like the sweet smell of cookies on a summer afternoon. I, for one, couldn’t be more excited, as Cary is one of The Good Wife’s many treasures. He’s always up to something interesting, whether trying to keep one step ahead of Kalinda, undermining the opposition or finally understanding the kind of power Peter wields. Moving back to Lockhart Gardner also means more air time for this character, something fans have been wanting since he moved to the State’s Attorney’s Office. Did I mention he’s not terrible to look at, either? Yes, that too. With much love and admiration, I say: Cary Agos, welcome home.
10 Reasons Cary Belongs Back at Lockhart Gardner
(Number one is my favourite... but how could I stop there?)
10) He has grown up – Cary’s first job out of college was with Lockhart Gardner. His ego complimented his eagerness to tackle any project and, when he played his hand right, he came out ahead of Alicia. He was a junior associate on fire, until the economic situation (and Alicia’s political acumen) forced him out of Lockhart Gardner and onto other opportunities. Glen Childs found Cary at a bar and Peter kept him on after the election. The rest, as they say, is history. Having been gone for two years, Cary has grown into a mature, shrewd and up-standing lawyer. Now is his time to shine.
9) He has seen some things – The situation at the State’s Attorney’s Office is, as Cary has stated, “getting murkier by the day.” There’s no mistaking who runs the show in Cook County – it’s Peter Florrick. Of course, that’s the way it should be, but with Peter hiring friends, firing ASAs and making decisions that could be reflecting racial bias, there’s no telling how far up (or down) the totem pole Cary will land. One day he has a monogrammed door, the next day he’s lurking in a cubicle, using old newspaper as a note pad.
8) Now he can date anyone he wants in the SA’s Office – Dana Lodge is gone (though by no fault of Cary’s… she was the one who happily hopped aboard the Wendy Scott-Carr bandwagon and was subsequently trampled by it when it went off course) and Geneva Pine wants his head on a platter after her forced “relocation” imposed by Cary but ordered by Peter. For now, that clears off anyone Cary *might* want to date at the SA’s Office, or at least anyone we’ve met. Cary’s probably safest chatting up Matan Brody anyways.
7) He knows secrets… and those things are best kept in-house – Let’s not forget: Cary is the only person, aside from Alicia who knows a) That Kalinda slept with Peter and b) That Alicia and Will had a relationship. Other people have half the story, some people have only speculation. Cary has it all.
6) He is like a Joni Mitchell song – Cary has “seen the world from both sides now” and he knows the pros and cons of each side of the fence. When you think about it, in some ways, he’s the “new Kalinda” when it comes to the inner workings of the SA’s office. Okay, no one can ever BE Kalinda, but he can try. Also, people don’t suspect him of treachery as they do Kalinda, so it could work out in Lockhart Gardner’s favor to have him well connected.
5) He knows how Peter operates – Like Alicia, Cary now understands how Peter operates. Having worked with Peter for a stretch of time, Cary will be able to better predict decisions and anticipate how outcomes are going to impact Peter’s campaign to become Governor. Also, Cary now “gets” Alicia – he has been manipulated by Peter, knows how it feels and understands Alicia’s motives more than ever before. This inside track will give him something to chat with Alicia about over late-night beers.
4) He knows Lockhart Gardner isn't really the dark side – Let’s not forget, Cary had to report to the purveyor of all things sinister, Wendy Scott-Carr. The thing is, WSC is likely to return during the upcoming election (remember, Will wasn’t the one she was really after, even though, looking back, that remains confusing) – this means that no matter what, Cary will always be on the wrong side of WSC’s fence. Sometimes you just can’t find greener grass… and sometimes you realize it’s the patch on which you’re standing.
3) He is used to moving – Box in, box out, what’s one more trip? I’ve never seen someone have to pack and unpack more than Cary Agos. Transferring over to Lockhart Gardner hopefully means a more permanent office space… and they might even splurge to move his ficus. I hope while they’re at it they give him a company mug.
2) He works better with Kalinda than against her – When Cary arrested Kalinda, I’ll confess that was a low-point for their relationship, but it was something he had to do. I mean, against Kalinda, Cary is virtually powerless. She takes things from his desk, sweet talks him into slipping him information and on occasion, he even offers things up (flashback to Cary tipping Kalinda off about her own grand jury investigation as well as all things “Blake”). Sure, these two always tread a fine romantic line and now they’re becoming colleagues again, that could be tricky. All things considered though, Kalinda has seen what an inappropriate ringtone can do to a relationship, so if she wants it to work, she’ll be discreet.
1) He could be part of the next legal “it” couple – Just think: Alicia and Cary could be the next Diane and Will. Pa chow! Stop the presses. Yes, I just went there. Of course, it’s too early to speculate, but I’ve thought a lot about this and it makes perfect sense. How? 1) Alicia and Cary understand each other in a way no other two people on this show do 2) They are developing a strong friendship based on mutual respect and understanding 3) They aren’t attracted to each other (and so could happily dance in the hallways of their own law firm after hours) 4) Breaking off from Lockhart Gardner will be an inevitability – I mean, the rumor around the firm starting to sink takes hold in the last episode of this season… who’s to say if (or when) the ship will go down? It's never to early to plan ahead. Also, because I’m a die-hard Team Gardner fan, this would mean Alicia and Will could finally go on a date that doesn’t involve lurking in hotel bars, and 5) Cary has shown strong management potential – he is good in difficult situations and with Alicia’s keen political savvy and increasing network of business associates, the firm of Florrick and Agos is looking better by the day.
Now, over to you. Are you excited to see Cary come back to the firm? Sound off in the comments below.
For me, the mark of a great hour of television comes when my heart rate elevates and I feel as though I haven’t taken a breath for a full 60 minutes. Heading into “Another Ham Sandwich” I knew I was going to be on the edge of my seat, if not falling completely off of it. Did I shriek? Once. Okay, maybe twice. Did I cover my face? Twice. Okay, maybe four times. Did I yell at my TV, “Did that just happen?!? I can’t believe that just happened!” Yes. In fact, I haven’t stopped… and I have witnesses.
This week, I’m excited to feature a recap of “Another Ham Sandwich” and a special section feature: “The Top Seven Breath-Taking Moments” – because if you’re anything like me, you spent most of the episode hyperventilating with paper bag in one hand and a stress ball in the other.
In My Opinion – Episode Commentary
Eyes. Pirates. Stickmen. Ferris wheels. Wait, pirates? All of these things flashed on the screen in the opening of “Another Ham Sandwich” as the impaneled jurors doodled during Wendy Scott-Carr’s opening remarks. Frankly, I was thrilled to see the grand jury portrayed as a whimsical bunch – anyone who doodles pirates is going to be a difficult sell when it comes to bribery, unless it’s on the high seas. Will Gardner, you may have just dodged a swashbuckling bullet. Maybe.
The case this week revolved solely around Will Gardner. The issue? Being indicted by a grand jury for felony bribery. The possible sentence? Three to seven years in prison. For Will, everything came down to who was put on the stand and fortunately, everyone from Lockhart Gardner was on the same page thanks to Elsbeth’s shrewd legal mind: If all answers led back to Peter Florrick, the grand jury could be called off. Let’s get this show on the road.
First up: Andrew Wiley. Whenever Andrew the investigator is on the scene, you know things are going to get dicey for whoever’s on the receiving end. His “always in the pursuit of justice” attitude is both admirable and annoying. Perhaps I would like him more if ever he was on the side of Lockhart Gardner? This week he revealed that three judges (Parks, Dunaway and Winter) decided favourably for cases Will argued 95% of the time. As if this wasn’t questionable enough, as it turns out, they all played basketball with Will. Now, that could be like saying, “they all drove ’57 Chevys” or “they all went to law school,” but in this case, it is unfortunately implied they all know something. Exiting stage right, Wiley quickly picked up his stroller and headed to court’s hallways, where he saw Will go into Judge Parks’ chambers, passing him an envelope. Quickly using his baby as a diversion, he took a picture of the exchange. My question? Why can’t this man ever find daycare? He knows dozens of Dad’s who stay at home with their kids – could none of them have babysat, even for an hour? A grand jury is kind of important…
Next on the stand: Diane Lockhart. It’s impossible not to love Diane in the place she draws the most strength: the courtroom. In what can only be called, “The Battle of the Beautiful Blazers” Wendy Scott-Carr (WSC) and Diane went head-to-head. How long had Diane known Will? Eight years. Did Will ever invite Diane to play basketball? Yes. Did Diane ever go to a basketball game? No. Why? She doesn’t play basketball (enter cackles from the 16 jurors, because, well, does it look like Diane plays basketball? This was a silly line of questioning coming from WSC, who is clearly also not a basketball player either. A jouster? Maybe. A ballerina with an axe to grind? Most certainly. But not a basketball player). Does Diane think Will playing basketball with judges is inappropriate? No… and she doesn’t think Peter Florrick would either, since he’s also been involved. Swoosh. WSC didn’t see that coming. Unfortunately for Diane this meant a new line of questioning coming back to the infamous “McDermott file” Kalinda planted in Dana’s hands. Did Will ask to take over the case because he knew Judge Parks, subsequently winning the argument? Yes. Oh dear.
David Lee – don’t forget to smile. Ever a loose cannon, David Lee is both the first and last person I would want testifying on my behalf. He’s sketchy but efficient, both things WSC would typically appreciate in a person, preferably on her side of the table. With a quick note from Elsbeth to “smile” while being questioned, David took to the stand and caught ASA Dana Lodge in a messy web surrounding the fair market value of doing trust work – sure David gave Judge Parks a deal… but he did the same thing for Peter. That’s another swoosh for three points. Thank you, David.
In hot seat with Judge Parks. As an audience, we haven’t seen Judge Parks since season two’s “In Sickness.” While his on-screen appearance made me yearn for a good bout of verbal sparring between Will and Patti Nyhom, the only conversation we were treated to involved Parks saying, “Upon the advice of counsel, I insist on my fifth amendment rights.” This is always a dodgy way of evading a question because guilt is somewhat assumed. Point WSC.
At the heart of the matter with Will Gardner. The moment Wendy Scott-Carr had been waiting for: getting Will on the stand with the evidence Dana secured from her “inside source.” Having been given an easy opening with the photo Wiley snapped, Will quickly admitted to meeting with Parks and passing along an envelope of money. Stunned at Will’s honesty, WSC falls off pointe and follows up with a “was there an agreement between you and Judge Parks?” as per the $2,000 sealed in the yellow “you’re being served” stationary. As it turns out, there was: Parks was to give the money to a Unicef Immunization Drive benefitting those in Uganda. The three point shot? Will had the charitable receipt in his suit jacket. Having nowhere left to go, WSC began pirouetting around questions surrounding the McDermott case, where the I’ve got your back bond of Will and Kalinda became increasingly obvious. Yes, Kalinda had given Dana the file, but as predicted, it wasn’t entirely pure. The emails in the file, believe it or not, had been tampered with: WSC had no real evidence. Who had it? Will – in his briefcase.
Enter Will’s Achilles heel, Alicia Florrick: Everything quickly turned from business when WSC summoned Alicia to the stand. After getting virtually nowhere with all of the previous witnesses, it was time to make Will Gardner pay for this runaround. With Cary in the background shaking his head at the audacity of WSC for turning the fishing expedition into a full-fledged circus, he had nothing left to do but stand up and question WSC on his own, urging her to stop probing Alicia for personal details. In the end, Alicia ended up having to admit she had a sexual relationship with Will but it has since ended (paper bag + stress ball = me, freaking out on my couch). Did that honestly just come out?! I’m still in disbelief, but after re-watching this scene once, twice, okay, three times, I can state for the record: that just happened. While Alicia looked horrified at WSC’s line of questioning (which seemed to equally bother Cary), the accusation that Alicia was moving up in the corporate ladder because of her relationship with Will, threw things over the edge. Getting up, Alicia walked out of the courtroom while saying, “You’re out of control.”
With the fate of Will Gardner left to the people, WSC assumed she had made her case, because as we know, grand juries will indict anything – even a ham sandwich. What WSC didn’t bank on was the fact this pirate-doodling crowd was more suspicious of the oft-mentioned “Peter Florrick” and the “fifth amendment” judge. In their minds, Florrick and Parks should have been the ones arrested (enter a coy smirk from Cary, who, on some level, also agreed). Wendy Scott-Carr, game over. Literally. Peter Florrick just had your parking validated.
What the Fish?
While Will, Diane and Alicia were busy with grand jury, Eli was off sleuthing new business over at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Chicago (GLAC). Also vying for new business was Stacie Hall, the clever campaigner who worked Eli out of his dairy job. Chicago, it would appear, is a very small city, especially for these types of gigs and in the case of Eli and Stacie, they always seem to find themselves in each other’s business… both figuratively, and as of this episode, literally. Stacie admitted she “desired” Eli and Eli reciprocated, but only after securing the GLAC account. The sting? Stacie is now representing Eli’s ex-wife, Vanessa, in her campaign for state senate.
Top Seven Breath-Taking Moments (Just be thankful I didn’t pick my top 28… because that’s where this list started)
1) The Kitchen Conflict – Time for my stress ball! Worried about Will, Alicia confronted Peter about the grand jury, asking him to back down. Accusing her of sleeping with Will, Peter yelled, “off course that’s the issue!” regarding this whole legal mess. Following up to the outburst, Alicia calmly, and honestly stated there’s nothing between she and Will… but Peter called her out on semantics, a game he knows, and plays, all too well.
2) The Friendly Phone Call – Finally, a truly great glimpse into the beautiful world of Team Gardner – Oh how I’ve been waiting for this moment! Harkening back to the I miss you phone call from “Feeding the Rat,” Alicia called Will to wish him luck and apologize for any involvement she may have had in his current situation. In what could be considered one of their most heartfelt conversations to date, their chat was a perfect blend of concern, love and respect for each other. Sigh. I think I just melted. Let’s get these two back together!
3) Will on the Stand – This scene made me pull out a paper bag and be thankful for those deep breathing techniques learned in dance class. Having Will on the stand was nail-biting enough, but when he pulled out all of the evidence to contradict what WSC was presenting? I couldn’t help but shriek. Also, it was nice to learn Will has a philanthropic spirit – giving to Unicef and supporting immunizations in Uganda is downright admirable. In fact, I’m pretty sure public knowledge of that would elevate him to at least 10th spot for Chicago’s most eligible bachelors.
4) There’s the Slap – I don’t know what Dana expected when Kalinda passed along the McDermott file, but she couldn’t possibly have though K would throw Will under the bus. Surely she’s not that naive. Oh wait. She was. As predicted, Kalinda saved both Alicia and Will in one fowl swoop, like a leather-clad hero whose main superpowers involve sheer brilliance and a knack for outwitting those who have spent eight plus years attending university. Two words: Pa chow. Admittedly, Kalinda felt kind a little bad about having to use Dana to save those she cares most about, so she offered Dana a consolation prize: “Go ahead, hit me. It will make you feel better.” Slap.
5) The New Subpoena: Alicia Florrick – Perhaps the most intense moment of the whole episode came when Alicia took to the stand, was forced to admit her relationship with Will and found a surprising ally in Cary who tried to diffuse the situation. Walking out in the middle of WSC’s accusations was part of the new Alicia we’ve seen grow and develop over the past three years. She’s not afraid to take a stand and she’s even less afraid of what Peter or anyone else is going to do about it. I was proud that she stuck her ground – Alicia 2.0 is someone you don’t want to cross.
6) Mulled Wine and Brandy – Eli has danced on the verge of relationships before, but we’ve never seen him take the leap… until now. Baited with mulled wine, brandy and whipped cream-covered fingers, Eli was seduced (or was he the one doing the seducing?) the unflappable Stacie Hall. Talk about a game of thrones – these two have a love/hate relationship that continues to see them working to one-up each other in the chess game that is business. I can’t wait to see these two face-off again… and with Eli’s ex in the mix, it’s likely to happen sooner rather than later.
7) Here I Go Again, On My Own – The one thing you can always count on to make an episode of The Good Wife better is a scene with Will and Diane. Spotting each other through the fishbowl boardroom glass, they met, looked at each other and began to dance to Audra Mae’s powerful version of Here I Go Again. As Will spun Diane and they looked warmly at each other, I couldn’t help but think: this is what television gold looks like… if only they had won the SAG.
Quotes of the Week:
Elsbeth: So, here’s the thing: Grand juries indict, hamburgers and all.
Will: Ham sandwiches.
Elsbeth: Yes. So, you’re going to get indicted unless… Oh, I like that pin.
Diane: Thank you
Elsbeth: Unless someone pulls the plug, someone higher...
Alicia: Will… I’m sorry.
Will: Don’t be.
Alicia: I am.
Will: Well then be sorry because it’s happening, don’t be sorry because of anything else.
Alicia. Okay. Do good.
Will: Always.
Will: That was a close one.
Diane: Yes. Let’s try to reduce the excitement level from now on, shall we?
Peter to Wendy Scott-Carr: Thank you for your service. My assistant will validate your parking… Now, get out of my office.
What’s next?
There are many things The Good Wife has taught me about law and a few things I’ve picked up on the street. In episode 15, “Live from Damascus” the culmination of book smarts and streets smarts collide when the Bar Association calls for Will, because, let’s face it: they rarely call about anything good – it’s official, you’re in trouble. It appears that Wendy Scott-Carr wasn’t joking about sending Will’s infractions to the Bar Association and the next step is having him disbarred. Unfortunately we have to wait until February 19 for this next collection of trials of tribulations, so until then, I suggest enjoying some mulled wine and brandy topped with whipped cream – things are going to get bitter sweet.
Bitcoin, it can be argued, is both a currency and a commodity. If you’re Will Gardner, it’s most easily understood as a bushel of fruit. While I prefer to think of it as pairs of shoes or pints of ice cream, I appreciate his metaphor (and also the fact bushel is a highly underused word, at least in my circles). Always eager to learn something new, I tackled “Bitcoin for Dummies” in a similar way to Alicia: I headed to the source – Google and YouTube – to get to the heart of the matter. More about that later. First, let me say this: We’re a little more than halfway through season three and my I Didn’t See That Coming list is ever-growing. For fans of Kalinda (and I think we all are), this episode was a tribute to a character who continues to be one of the most compelling on TV, surrounded by story lines that keep the viewers guessing. If ever you find yourself thinking, I Didn’t See That Coming, you’re not alone – that’s the beauty of The Good Wife and the mystery of Kalinda Sharma.
This week, I'm featuring a recap of “Bitcoin for Dummies” as well as an analysis of The Judges in Question: Winter, Dunaway and Parks. Which judge do you think is most likely to be corrupt?
In My Opinion – Episode Commentary
This week, The Good Wife opened with the empty reception area at Lockhart Gardner. Enter guest star Jason Biggs as Dylan Stack, a Digital Information Lawyer from New York. Sitting down, he is quickly followed in by two men representing the Treasury. While I’m not an expert in legal dealings, I do know that if you’re being tracked by Federal Agents from the Treasury, you’re in some kind of trouble. Alicia Florrick knows this first hand, which happens to be why Stack is in the lobby. “The rumor is you’ve had your own dealings with the Treasury” he tells Alicia when she asks why he is at Lockhart Gardner. Apparently word on the street is that Alicia got out of a tight spot unscathed so now she’s the “go-to” for these types of matters. In her mind, she’s probably thinking “shouldn’t you be in Elsbeth’s lobby?” but instead she gets Diane who is wearing what can only be described as a upholstery-inspired smoking jacket. But I digress.
Stack has money and plenty of it.His biggest problem is that he is unable to disclose the name of his client, henceforth known as “Mr. Bitcoin.”The Treasury is after Mr. Bitcoin and Stack is, seemingly, the only one who can give up his identity.The thing is, he won’t and the Treasury is trying to imprison him over it.Fortunately for everyone, Diane is a closet techie and happens to know that Decode-A-Con, a conference of cryptographers, is in town.While I want to know why Diane is so well versed in computer coding, we’re only left to speculate as to why this event was top-of-mind.Maybe the person who sold her the smoking jacket told her?In any case, if there’s one person who can uncover a computer mystery, it’s Kalinda, so off to Decode-A-Con she goes.
Before I go any further, it’s important to understand Bitcoin, an online currency (or is it a commodity… I’m still confused on the specifics). Luckily, like Zach (who, by the way is still with Neesa), I was able to track down a video (dare I say, the same video The Good Wife writers found online and used as a model?) to learn, in just under two minutes, the intricacies associated with these new “digital coins.”
Now you’re an expert in Bitcoins, we can move on.
It wouldn’t be a matter involving the Treasury without the cupcake-loving Gordon Higgs on the case, and this week he’s in top form as he tries to take down Stack and Mr. Bitcoin. What he didn’t bargain for was Kalinda tracking Mr. Bitcoin on her own and, in fact, getting caught up in the case to the point of having her computer “ghosted” and ending up on the stand after accidently taping a conversation between herself and Mr. Higgs. You see, at the Decode-A-Con conference, Kalinda met two potential Mr. and Mrs. Bitcoins: the former, quickly fell for K and the latter, gave her just enough help to crack the code on her own. In the end, presiding judge, Dwight Sobel, had no option but to let Stack off. With Alicia and Kalinda working together, they’re nearly unstoppable. Case closed.
Tascioni & Asbestos
With the Bitcoin drama unfolding over at Lockhart Gardner, Will found himself away from client’s cases, instead spending his time with Elsbeth working on his own defense. While Elsbeth found herself busy juggling Will’s debacle, she was also trying to manage life in a construction zone. It seems asbestos was found in her office, so gone are the drop cloths and painting ladders of last week, only to be replaced with bare concrete and workmen in steel-toed boots roaming the space. The only thing that seems to be consistent is the pile of purses and bags squirreled away in the corner. Of course, this isn’t the ideal circumstance to host guests, but the element of surprise is what keeps Elsbeth top of her game, and so she welcomed Wendy Scott-Carr, Cary and Dana into her modest quarters. The meeting went, well, poorly for the State’s Attorney’s Office and rather splendidly for the team of Tascioni and Gardner. The beauty of it all was that Elsbeth was able to get Wendy to drop the names of three judges who Will is being looked into with regards to bribery: Winter, Dunaway and Parks.
The Judges in Question: Winter, Dunaway and Parks
There was nothing left for me to do but investigate the judges on my own (why should Elsbeth do all the work? She has bigger problems… like finding a desk). The facts are these:
We have seen all of these judges throughout three seasons of The Good Wife. The breakdown? Here goes:
Judge Robert Parks – He has appeared in five episodes, more than any other judge in question – Season 2 Episode 21: In Sickness, Season 2 Episode 6: Poisoned Pill, Season 1 Episode 17: Heart, Season 1 Episode 10: Lifeguard and Season 1 Episode 5: Crash. Personally, I’ve always been a fan, and not just because “Heart” was one of my favourite episodes of all time. He’s sharp, smart and never showed what I would consider to be biased judging.
Judge Harvey Winter – Judge Winter was notably absent in season two, but has still managed to preside over four cases in The Good Wife’s history: Season 3 Episode 6: State of Affairs, Season 1 Episode 14: Hi, Season 1 Episode 13: Bad and Season 1 Episode 8: Unprepared. Winter hasn’t been my favourite judge over the years, and I wouldn’t be truthful if I didn’t say he could land on my potentially into shading dealings list.
Judge Peter Dunaway – Judge Dunaway is the biggest wildcard of the pack, having only been presided over one case, Season 3 Episode 11: "What Went Wrong". He’s a bit quirky but that’s what makes him fun. In “What Went Wrong” we saw him fall strongly on the side of the defense (Lockhart Gardner), but he made them work for their win. Was it because of a past relationship with Will or was it because the original verdict was unjust?
In the end, the only judge that may matter at all is Parks – my favourite of the three. A verdict from a 2009 file went the way of Stern, Lockhart & Gardner to the tune of $8 million and because it was a bench trial, things look a little suspicious. What is inside the file is a mystery to us, but we know the following: 1) incriminating evidence can be found within the manila walls of the accordion folder and 2) Will didn’t ask Kalinda to “get rid of the file” – he can’t, that would be tampering with evidence – but with one look, the file was gone. Thank you, Kalinda.
Who is under the bus now?
Between attending Decode-A-Con, having her computer hacked and meeting with Will in a parking garage, Kalinda still had time to get together for drinks with the predominantly evil ASA, Dana Lodge. Unfortunately, Dana is trying to use Kalinda to further the Florrick-under-the-guise-of-Gardner investigation. Waiting for the ball to drop, Dana presented K with a shocking piece of paper: the forged document from “Alienation of Affection” – the one David Lee had Alicia sign. I didn’t see that coming… and neither did Kalinda. As Dana presented the situation, the evidence is “highly actionable” unless Kalinda points the State’s Attorney’s Office to one of Will’s cases that makes him vulnerable. At this point, I may or may not have yelled at my TV, “That did NOT just happen.” Gasp. Fortunately, if there’s one thing Kalinda is willing to protect more than herself, it’s Alicia Florrick.
While I’m left questioning how Dana is going to prove the document is a forgery (the analysis alone costs $30,000 and we know Wendy Scott-Carr’s budget is being closely monitored by Peter, who, let’s face it, isn’t going to spend the money only to have his wife disbarred), Kalinda has no choice but to protect those near and dear to her.Who is under the bus now?Will.Maybe.Kalinda handed over the Judge Parks file from Will’s office in order to protect Alicia.Of course, one never knows what Kalinda did to the file before passing it along. Could evidence be missing?Absolutely. Is K clever enough to outsmart Dana to save both Alicia and Will?Is the sky blue?Of course.She’s brilliant. There’s no way Kalinda is going to let Will (or Alicia) go to jail, at least not without a fight (and if one of them does end up there, my money is on Kalinda to be the first one to make a pie with escape materials baked into the crust).
Quotes of the Week:
Judge Sobel: Do you guys in Treasury get a lot of dates?
Mr. Higgs: Yes we do… (pause) thank you for asking.
Will: You’ll visit me in prison?
Diane: Every Friday.
Kalinda to Dana: “I like Will. I go back and forth on you.”
Wendy Scott-Carr: “That was a sham.”
Cary: “She played you”
Wendy: “Yes, thank you, Cary.”
Team Gardner, we have a problem… as if we didn’t already
(formerly entitled, “What’s Next?”)
After months of waiting, the grand jury story line finally reveals itself in an episode that’s bound to be overrun with courtroom drama: “Another Ham Sandwich.” Avid viewers will remember the original, “Ham Sandwich” from season two when Kalinda gets hauled into her own grand jury. This time around, Alicia gets called to testify with questions surrounding her relationship with Will. While previews aren’t always what they seem, it can’t be denied that we’re in for a real treat: Alicia if forced to dodge questions about sleeping with Will (is it wrong that I want her to state for the record “it was worth it!”… no, right?) and that she walks out of the courtroom proclaiming, “then arrest me.”
The episode also promises to be engaging on an entirely different level when Amy Sedaris reprises her role as Stacie Stahl. Could Eli be back in the cheese business? Perhaps he’s simply taking Diane’s advice, “we’ll sit and talk, we’ll hatch a plan, and Stacie Stahl is going to rue the day, and that’s a fact?” Oh for the love of a bushel of fruit (and dairy), I can’t wait!
