One of the great things about living in New York is being able to get out and explore the different communities within the city. When it comes to districts I like to frequent, Soho certainly tops the list. It’s full of stunning cast-iron architecture, art galleries, restaurants and, best of all, shopping. Okay, the amazing stores were the best part of Soho until The Good Wife rolled into the neighbourhood.
While I rarely need an excuse to wander through Soho (the frozen yogurt mecca, Pink Berry, is just one of many obvious draws), this past week I took the opportunity to sip a latte and stroll through the trailer-filled streets to see what was happening with The Good Wife, on-location in NYC.You see, some people love Sundays because of football, while others would hold it in high esteem as a day of rest.For me, Sundays mean one thing: The Good Wife… so any time I can spread that joy throughout my week, I’m willing to jump at the opportunity.
This was my second on-location experience and entirely different from my first (where I saw Christine Baranski shooting the lobby scene from “Alienation of Affection.”). This time, I lucked out with spotting Josh Charles and getting more than a few hints on guest stars we can expect later in the season. Without further ado, I present “The Good Wife: On Location in NYC – Take Two.”I hope you enjoy the photographic journey!
Deep in the heart of Soho, I spotted The Good Wife filming on the fourth floor of this beautiful brick building. Who and what could be inside? Predictions to follow...
Reflections from inside the building
Signage aplenty!
Just a few blocks away from the set, the beautiful "Most Precious Blood Church" opened their doors as the holding and catering area
One of my favourite images of the day: a large lighting rig with the Woolworth Building pictured in the distance
On-site catering... basically a pantry containing everything from apples to yogurt and peanut butter to Sour Patch Kids. Check out Food Inspired by The Good Wife for this week's latest recipe, created in honor of this very well-stocked table!
After a bit of waiting, Josh Charles (and who I believe to be Nadia Dajani, one of the newest additions to the cast of The Good Wife) appeared to browse treats on the catering table
Charles poses with a fan
It's official! Based on this trailer door, Will's younger sister, Audra Gardner (played by Merritt Wever) has rolled into town. Word on the street is that she is going to be whimsical and fun-loving... I can only hope she is pro-Team Gardner, like Alicia's beloved brother Owen.
This trailer door says it all: Sara Gardner (played by Nadia Dajani), Will's older sister, is also in town and rumor has it she and her sister are looking to help Will find love. Sigh. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Team Gardner, we have a problem.
The best find of the on-location shoot (except for Josh Charles, of course) is what appears to be trailer of Mr. Lou Dobbs. We last saw Dobbs, appearing as himself, in season two's "Double Jeopardy." When Bond was ousted, I assumed (perhaps inaccurately) that his business similarly walked out the door, despite Dobbs' adoration of Diane. It looks like Dobbs and his controversial ways could be lurking in the halls of Lockhart Gardner before too long.
With Lou, Sara and Audra set to hit the scene, I can't help but think we're in for an absolutely thrilling last third of season three (and dare I predict that Elsbeth gets Will off the hook with the grand jury... I mean, his sisters weren't visiting him in prison...). I'm guessing the filming I've captured above will surface around episode 17... stay tuned!
A special thank you to On Location Vacations- a great group that
shares information about television and movie shoots each and every day
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!
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)
Looking back over the last year, fans of The Good Wife have been treated to drama, romance, comedy and everything in between. I can’t count the number of times I’ve found myself clapping, shrieking, gasping and/or hiding during the last half season two and first half of season three. Good Wife Sunday has become the day I look forward to most each week. Needless to say, I’m a big fan. Correction – huge fan. Amendment - gigantic fan.
With the season three hiatus over in less than a week (six days, but who's counting?), it only seems fitting to commemorate the past 12 months and the New Year with a “Best of 2011” list. Enjoy!
Best Storylines
Bond Getting Ousted – First it was Stern, Lockhart and Gardner. Then it was Lockart Gardner. Next up: Lockhart, Gardner and Bond. When Derek Bond came on the scene he instantly gave off a strange vibe and he began pitting Diane and Will against each other. When it came to light he had tracing software installed on certain employee’s computers (Alicia included), the battle lines were drawn. In season two’s “Great Firewall,” equity partners were pulled and the votes were cast: Bond messed with one too many people and crossed a few too many lines. Diane and Will might not have a perfect marriage, but they’re certainly better without Bond. Lockhart Gardner, take two.
Welcome to Lockhart Gardner, Eli Gold – Bringing Eli into the Lockhart Gardner fold at the end of season two meant the personal/professional/legal/political web was going to end up more tangled than a string of Christmas lights. The facts are these: Eli had business connections but things have quickly started going south, which has meant Eli has needed to befriend other people in the firm, besides Alicia. As fate would have it, Eli needs the firm now more than the firm needs him. With that, Eli is now forced to make nice with key partners like Will (a relationship that is somewhat counterintuitive, considering Eli technically still works for Peter). The more Eli is around, the more he becomes a big part of what makes this show tick. Time for a flow chart, just to keep things straight:
Will and Alicia, Take One – Love them or hate them, Team Gardner finally had their moment in the sun and I, for one, couldn’t be happier. This relationship was years in the making (flash back to season one’s “Heart” with their first on screen kiss) and let’s be honest, things were good while they lasted. Team Gardner was sneaky at being smitten and sultry while being sexy. I loved every juicy moment of their relationship and I continue to be more than a little heartbroken things are over. Still, I’m grateful for all of the memorable moments Will and Alicia “together” brought to the screen. Flashback to these classics: “Mom, pick up the phone, Mom pick up the phone,” Will meeting Zack for the first time, Alicia: “Well, I can dress up” and Will’s confrontation of Peter on the steps of the court. Now, I’ll sit, eagerly awaiting the next chapter of this storyline, even if it takes a few more years, because no one makes an elevator look as good at Alicia Florrick and Will Gardner.
Best Scenes – Those seconds and minutes we want to watch on repeat
A New Side of Kalinda Sharma – Let’s face it: Kalinda can take a bat to someone’s car (knees or ribs), let loose and sip a nightcap while admitting nothing interesting happened that day. She appears effortlessly emotionless and can get virtually anything she wants by a)flirting and b)knowing how to work a leather jacket, tight skirt and tall leather boots and c)keeping her eyes and ears open at all times. Alicia, in some ways is quite similar. She’s all business, ever stoic and able to maintain her composure even in the most challenging of circumstances. All of that went out the window when Alicia confronted Kalinda about sleeping with Peter after Andrew Wiley dropped the name ‘Leela,’ into conversation. We knew Alicia and Kalinda’s relationship would never be the same. Enter one of my favourite cinematic devises: the melt down. Alicia, shaking, wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, while Kalinda, for the first time, entered the elevator and had a breakdown. This scene was epic for the character and monumental for the show. Will these two ever toast with a shot of tequila again? They say time heals all wounds, and in this case, I hope that’s true. In the meantime, I’m secretly wishing Kalinda gets called into the Wendy Scott-Carr vs. Peter Florrick grand jury debacle so we can finally find out what went down when K was Leela from Toronto and Peter was someone who could get away with… everything.
What if we were to suddenly have good timing? Two years in the making, the will-they/won’t-they tension of Alicia and Will finally came to a head in “Closing Arguments” the season finale of season two last May. I probably watched the now infamous elevator scene (okay, and also the tequila scene and the I’ll take the hotel room for $7,800 scene) at least 25 times… and that’s likely a staggering under-exaggeration. Mika’s “Any Other World” song is at the top of my playlist now and if ever I need a healthy dose of Team Gardner, this is the scene to which I turn.
The Midwest Bar Association Mixer – Taking the cake for one of the most awkward and yet entertaining scenes to date, the encounter between Will, Peter and Celeste at the Midwest Bar Association mixer in Season Three’s “Feeding the Rat” is memorable for being so good and so bad all at the same time.
Celeste: So, Alicia Florrick, huh? Well, she works with Will, she’s married to you. It must be quite an arrangement. Discuss.
Peter: (Pausing) It is quite an arrangement, yes.
Celeste: Any awkward moments?
Peter: You mean besides this one?
Everything about this scene was pure magic, and sure, while I’ll admit to loving a good Team Gardner/Team Florrick show down, the whole episode was made even better by Will’s “I love you” slip to Alicia just minutes after this uncomfortable exchange.Instant replay, take 15.
Characters we Most Love to Hate
Jackie Florrick – Also the winner of “the worst mother-in-law in the world” award, Jackie Florrick is the character we love to hate. I don’t think I’m alone in saying that whenever she comes on screen I want to see her turn right back around. Quite frankly, every time she mentions how much she knows about what goes on in the Florrick apartment re: the kids, I want to take her plate of lemon muffins and throw them out the door. That’s the beauty of Mary Beth Peil and her great acting – she makes Jackie Florrick the conniving conservative who can, admittedly, pull off pearls and a headband better than anyone else and simultaneously manipulate everyone in her life all while clad in cashmere.
Wendy Scott-Carr – She may have lost the battle to become the State’s Attorney in season two, but that doesn’t mean she has lost the race altogether. In fact, now that we’ve hit the mid-point of season three we see her lurking in the shadows: She’s out for blood and she’s willing to use anything and anyone she can to get back at Peter Florrick. Dressed to kill and with the attitude to match, Wendy Scott-Carr is proving to be one of The Good Wife’s most formidable villains.
Best Guest Stars
Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni – It’s true: she has glitter decals on her computer, she runs around Chicago with a Vera Bradley quilted laptop bag, she thinks cupcakes are too pretty to eat and she can’t use a speaker phone. Scatterbrained and brilliant, Elsbeth Tascioni never fails to impress when she crosses paths with anyone on The Good Wife. If she’s met a case she can’t win, we haven’t seen it. In “Executive Order 13224” she was able to get Alicia out of a tight spot, something Will Gardner is hoping for when the grand jury comes calling. Every scene she’s in is gold, always making my highlight reel. Whew – look at all this paper!
Dallas Roberts as Owen Cavanaugh – Whenever Owen shows up we know good things are going to happen. He’s full of pizazz, humor and personality and he isn’t afraid to probe Alicia to spill personal details about her life. Owen truly is the brother everyone wishes they had and whether they are on a road trip from Oregon to Chicago or sipping wine on Alicia’s couch, Owen proves time and time again he’s got Alicia’s back no matter what… and even Will can’t say that because of his loyalty to the firm. Also, let’s not forget, one of his favourite pastimes is getting under Jackie’s skin, a trait which endures him to the audience even more.
Michael J. Fox as Louis Canning – He’s cunning, he’s bright and he wants Alicia at his firm. For all of 2011, Louis Canning has been vying for Alicia to come to his side of the fence in lieu of the Lockhart Garnder rat race. Sure, he may steal things from Alicia’s briefcase and, yes, he uses his condition to woo any jury he can, but somehow we still buy into the fact Canning might just be the next best thing.
Gary Cole as Kurt McVeigh – Sure, we only saw Kurt McVeigh once in 2011, but he deserves an honorable mention nonetheless. As Diane’s only love interest since the show started, McVeigh, the squeaky clean ballistics expert, has been the only character who could throw Diane even a little off her game. Inviting her to go away with him, McVeigh was turned down and with that, exited stage right. They have left the door open for his return at some point in the future, and I think I speak for the masses when I say he would be a welcomed back with open arms.
Best New Cast Addition of Season Three
Romany Malco – The revolving door of guest stars on The Good Wife continues to impress and that’s certainly true with Romany Malco on the scene as Justin, the newest addition to the offices of Lockhart Gardner. As the head of legal aid, Malco’s character is smart, quick, adaptable and friendly. He breathes new life into the firm and is whole heartedly committed to truth and justice. Bringing Justin in-house was Diane’s best decision of season three… well, next to her wardrobe selections.
Here’s to another great year of The Good Wife! Thank you for all of the support of lockhartgardner.blogspot.com over the last few months – it’s so appreciated. Happy New Year, friends and fans!
