THE GOOD WIFE Crosses "The Line" Of Awesomeness

Article first published as THE GOOD WIFE Review Season 6 Episode 1 The Line on Seat42F.

Last season, CBS’s THE GOOD WIFE left some hanging questions. Will Diane (Christine Baranski) be joining Florrick, Agos, & Associates? Will Alicia (Julianna Margulies) run for State’s Attorney? Plus, who will be in a relationship with whom next? To say last night’s season six premiere, “The Line,” addresses those is fair, but they are only a few elements in a large story that certainly hits the ground running.

As “The Line” begins, Cary (Matt Czuchry) is arrested for charges related to drug conspiracy. This is, of course, connected to the firm’s client, Lemond Bishop (Mike Colter), the biggest drug dealer in town. Viewers will assume Cary is innocent, of course, knowing that while he pushes boundaries sometimes, he wouldn’t knowingly commit such an illegal act as telling a kingpin how to transport illicit substances. But as Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) finds out from her law enforcement ex, Sophia (Kelli Giddish), there is a recording, and the words on it may imply that Cary is guilty, even If his speech is being misconstrued. Who eventually tries to pay his bail might actually worsen matters, rather than help them, as the judge will be reviewing the source of the money, and while it doesn’t directly come from Bishop, it is connected.

Ever since Bishop is introduced on THE GOOD WIFE, there is always the possibility of a story like this one coming to fruition. The writers have danced around it before, and it totally makes sense and feels right to go for it now. Bishop is not a good man, and while the lawyers deal with him partly because of money and partly because of fear, keeping him on the client roster comes with dangers that are just now being realized. Bishop cutting Cary in prison to test his loyalty only makes him seem even scarier.

What’s most nerve-racking for the fans watching this on their television sets is the utter frustration of anyone’s ability to help Cary. We know he doesn’t deserve what’s happening to him, and it certainly isn’t fair that his rights are being sidelined or outright ignored. We feel his frustration, and Alicia’s frustration that she can’t get him out of this. THE GOOD WIFE does an excellent job of telling the story in such a way to really help viewers emphasize with the emotional component.

It sucks further that the DA assigned to prosecute Cary is Finn (Matthew Goode). Finn and Alicia have formed a pretty close friendship recently, and this case forces them onto opposing sides. Finn deals with this by having Alicia removed as Cary’s attorney. This will allow Finn to pursue what he thinks is a perfectly legitimate case, and it may just keep him on somewhat friendly terms with Alicia, if she can keep in mind that he’s just doing his job. So far, she seems to be able to, but we’ll see if that lasts.

Cary’s arrest also makes Diane vulnerable. She is hoping to join Florrick Agos, and agrees to represent Cary when Alicia cannot. She tells Louis Canning (Michael J. Fox) and David Lee (Zach Grenier) that she’s retiring, but they’re smart enough not to believe her. They can now user her connection to Cary to try to convince her clients to turn on her, which may actually threaten her move, since the payroll Diane brings with her might be the only reason Cary will agree to bringing her on. It’s all quite a big mess.

THE GOOD WIFE is brilliant at balancing clusterf***s such as these, tying all of the various threads together in unexpected and compelling ways. What happens to Cary influences just about everything else, story lines already happening as well as new ones. It’s tightly written, fast-paced stuff with some truly terrific characters at the center of it.

There is a side story in “The Line,” less bonded to the Cary thread than most, in which Eli tries to convince Peter (Chris Noth) that Alicia should run for State’s Attorney, which will surely be affected by how Cary’s case plays out, though isn’t yet. Throughout the hour, Eli’s daughter, Marissa (Sarah Steele), sits near him and engages with her father. Marissa isn’t strictly necessary to the episode, but she’s very welcome because of the level of humor she brings to bear, and how her presence changes her father. Perhaps changes is the wrong word, as Eli (with newly dyed hair) is still the shark fans love. But she does get to play with him, and it makes for a more entertaining episode.

THE GOOD WIFE is an example the Big Four networks should aspire to copy and repeat, though not exactly, of course. It’s far better than the procedural junk that most crime and legal shows go for, and its television-style drama seems higher quality than the primetime soaps. It’s both entertaining and smart, meaning viewers don’t have to feel guilty about watching it. And six seasons in, it’s somehow gotten better, despite being really good before.

THE GOOD WIFE airs Sunday evenings on CBS. The air time varies each week, though, because of CBS’s inability to properly schedule football, even after many years of practice. If THE GOOD WIFE were a lesser show, I’d say ignore it, but because it is what it is, please just set your DVR for multiple hours because it’s worth it not to miss this gem. Then write or tweet CBS and tell them to get their act together.

"A New Day" dawns for The Good Wife

     CBS's The Good Wife faces a few major changes as season three begins with "A New Day," but most of them are not completely obvious, unlike a new hair cut on the lead character. Alicia (Julianna Margulies), confident in her new office, is tasked with defending a young client accused of a hate crime. Cary (Matt Czuchry) acts tough, as per Peter's (Chris Noth) new strategy, and tricks Alicia into setting up her client for a murder case. Alicia wins, but only because Kalinda (Archie Panjabi), working very closely with her former lover, Sophia (Kelli Giddish), manages to get a confession from the real killer.

     Cary's actions seem a little out of step with Peter's message about the way they will now be running the office. Peter wants to eliminate plea bargains for a couple of months to keep defense attorneys on their toes, and that works fine with Cary's case. But Peter also asks to keep things clean and on the up and up. Considering the brief conversation between Peter and Cary when talking of settling, it seems like Cary might be sneaking around behind Peter's back to set Alicia up. And yet, with a case such as this, where a murder charge is the real goal, how can Peter possibly not be signing off on it? If Peter is aware of the charade from the start, than that doesn't mesh with his stated philosophy. Either way you slice it, something stinks a bit in the state's attorney's office.

     It's too bad Alicia is so easily tricked. Her happy glow and new found self-esteem translate to overconfidence, allowing her to fall into Cary's trap. This does not seem like something Alicia would do fairly recently, but she is definitely distracted in "A New Day." While it is great to see Alicia truly happy for the first time in a long while, she best be careful, so as not to lose her edge in the courtroom. That would not be good for her career.

     The reason for Alicia's sudden mood change is her fling with Will (Josh Charles). Though they act distant at work to throw off Eli (Alan Cumming), lest he be reporting back to Peter, Eli isn't the only one that they fool. Diane (Christine Baranski) thinks Will is being too hard on Alicia, which could easily be the clue that allows Diane to figure them out. Diane knowing would be a problem, since she is Will's partner and Alicia's boss. Also, it's probably unethical for Will to be sleeping with one of his employees, regardless of the history they might share, or how much fans root for seeing the two of them together.

     Alicia's daughter, Grace (Makenzie Vega) notices the change in her mother's attitude, though she doesn't dig too deep, assuming it has to do with Alicia's (secret to the public) split from Peter. Plus, Grace has other things occupying her mind, such as her crazy new tutor. It's hard to know what to make of this new character, but Grace is quick to obsess, trying on new ideas and outlooks like clothing. Which means Alicia had better keep an eye on her daughter, something Alicia isn't too distracted to pick up on.

     Eli is also not able to give Alicia his full attention, despite his delight at her apparent coldness towards Will, since that means he can help Peter campaign without worrying about whether the two will get divorced. But Eli's primary focus in "A New Day" is getting fresh business, which he manages to do in spades. Eli's genius idea, one he sort of stumbles into, is to pit a pro-Arab group against his fellow Jews, forcing Michael Kahane (House's Peter Jacobson) to hire Eli, even after Eli has dropped the other client and pocketed their money. It's a brilliant bit of strategy, but one that is just another day at the office for Mr. Eli Gold.

      Lastly, it looks like Kalinda might have a full dance card. True, Alicia still isn't speaking to her in anything other than a professional capacity. But Sophia seems jealous when it appears that Kalinda is dating Cary. Whether she is or not is a moot point, and unclear, despite Kalinda's claim that they are, in fact, together. What's important here is that Kalinda is playing Sophia like a fiddle, and the white hot chemistry between them has cooled not at all. Cary and Kalinda might make a nice pairing, but Sophia and Kalinda definitely burn hotter.

     "A New Day" is a great start to the new season. Don't miss The Good Wife Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

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The Good Wife makes "Closing Arguments"

     For the second season finale of CBS's The Good Wife, the series combines an important case with a number of personal developments. Will (Josh Charles) works to clear a man of murder. The odds are against him, even though the prosecution has a shaky case. Alicia (Julianna Margulies) is forced to work with Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) to assisst Will, even though Alicia still isn't speaking with her on a personal level. Meanwhile, Eli (Alan Cumming) wants to move his consulting business into Lockhart / Gardner, a development that could mean a big promotion for Alicia. Cary feels frozen out by Kalinda, who has taken up with Sophia (Kelli Giddish), a married woman. And Owen's (Dallas Roberts) dinner out with the kids is interrupted by Jackie (Mary Beth Peil).


     The case of the week is more than a simple affair, as the life of an innocent man hangs in the balance. Stakes are raised for the season finale. What is interesting, and is a common occurence on The Good Wife, is that the facts of the case aren't necessarily the most important element in the jury's decision. New evidence that could exonerate L/G's client surfaces, but instead of immediately halting proceedings until it is examined, the judge tells Will he needs to get his findings in before the verdict is delivered, or he's out of luck. Bureaucracy is clearly not beloved by the writers of the series.

     The defense team are the heroes here, as they valiantly try to get DNA samples and tests done as time ticks down. The District Attorney, Glenn Childs (Titus Welliver), is a lame duck and cares more for his reputation than the truth. This is completely in character for Childs, but disappointing to anyone who believes in the American justice system. Luckily, the new DA, Peter (Chris Noth), is a bit more honest, and his new right hand man, Cary (Matt Czuchry), has also shown a willingness to let justice prevail, even when it doesn't suit them. While neither Cary nor Peter are completely noble, neither are the attorneys of L/G, so what results is a murky, yet realistic, system, that gets it right as often as it can.

     Complicating matters further is the most obtuse character, Kalinda, who has friends on each side, and who can be a wild card. In "Closing Arguments," Kalinda calls upon an old friend to assist L/G with the tests that need to be done. Sophia helps, but more out of an interest in getting Kalinda into bed than helping the client. Once Sophia accomplishes this goal, Kalinda realizes Sophia is married, something that doesn't cross her mind earlier, and she feels a profound sense of guilt. Kalinda isn't good at vocalizing these things, but Panjabi is an expert physical actor, able to show a lot with just a facial expression.

     Guilt is not an emotion often associated with Kalinda, and it seems to have come about only after Kalinda betrays her best friend, Alicia. It doesn't matter that Kalinda didn't know Alizia when she slept with Alicia's husband, Peter, because Kalinda keeps the secret these several years until it comes out on its own. Clearly, the nearly unflappable Kalinda has been deeply shaken by losing her friendship with Alicia, and an act that she once may not have thought twice about suddenly takes on whole new meaning. With Kalinda's judgment and moral compass changing, it's hard to tell how that will impact her future work, which frequently crosses a line into illegal territory.

     The love triangle between Alicia, Will, and Peter has only been danced around until "Closing Arguments," but is now erupting into full blown drama. With the Kalinda revelation, Alicia kicks Peter out. When Will wins the trial, Alicia goes with him to celebrate. Old feelings from their involvement in college resurface, mixing with alcohol consumption, and the pair decide to act on them, seeking out a hotel room. While timing has never been their strong suit, they decide that now is the right moment, and go for it with gusto.

     Some people listen to signs from the universe, and some do not. Will and Alicia fall firmly in the "not" category, at least in this episode. Everything that can delay them in getting upstairs and stripping their clothes off does occur. From a lack of rooms, to a full elevator, to all the buttons being pushed so their elevator makes frequent stops, to trouble with a door key, everything seems to point to their hookup being a bad idea. But hormones do not listen to such things, and they keep perservering until they make it into the room. The two want it to happen so badly, it must happen.

     Poor Peter, though. Sure, he has done some horrible things, and deeply hurt his marriage to Alicia. But he has also been working very hard to repair their relationship, and has shown no signs of straying recently. His help with the case, sending L/G much needed evidence, happens anonymously, and Alicia doesn't realize what Peter has done for her. Just when Peter starts to be worthy of Alicia, she moves on. His timing is terrible. However, the fact that Peter is trying so hard signals that Peter and Alicia's story as a couple may not yet be over.

     Is Will really any more worthy for Alicia's affection? After all, he is involved with Tammy (Elizabeth Reaser), and they have gotten quite serious. Will assumes Tammy has left him for a job in London because he has been too wrapped up in his case to stop her, but that is an unconfirmed theory. Will should check with Tammy before acting on anything with Alicia. Chances are, Tammy could have chosen Will over her career, and may be wondering where he is as he has sex with another woman. In this scenario, Alicia suddenly is the interloper.

     Should The Good Wife pursue this line, it may be enough for Alicia to begin to forgive Kalinda. After all, when faced with a situation of infidelity, Alicia is choosing wrong. Perhaps she can start to see things from Kalinda's point of view, instead of judging her so harshly.

     For awhile, it looks like Cary might return to the Lockhart / Gardner fold, but that is not how this season ends. Instead, Cary cannot bring himself to work with Alicia instead of having her work for him, a bit of personal bitterness that is now hurting his career, and Cary makes himself invaluable to Peter instead. This may be a sign that the DA stories are not going anywhere, since Cary remains a main character, the only one outside of L/G. Cary's continued stay with the DA office also opens up the door for more scenes for Peter, keeping him firmly in the series, even if his name remains out of the opening credits. The Good Wife likes to shake up who interacts with who from time to time, and Cary staying put introduces a new relationship that might prove quite interesting. Either Peter and Cary will bond over an anger towards Alicia, or Cary's feelings could stunt his job goals even beyond L/G.

     Eli, on the other hand, is going deeper into L/G, moving his main occupation to their offices. This is a welcome development, especially if Alicia accepts the liason position, because Margulies and Cumming have impecable chemistry. She brings out the best in him, and their interplay during Peter's campaign provides some of the best moments of the series. Alicia resists Eli and what he represents over and over, but that only makes him more determined to prove himself worthy in her eyes. Long term, might Eli be a serious love interest for Alicia? It would certainly be a development worth pursuing.

     Most confusing is Jackie's continued presence on the show. She seems to be at an end to any real arcs when Alicia asks her not to be Grace (Makenzie Vega) and Zach's (Graham Phillips) primary caregiver any more. Alicia doesn't cut Jackie off from her grandchildren, but does reduce her role in their lives. Jackie's determination to stay involved comes with a ferocity that is surprising. Inviting herself along to their dinner out, one which Alicia misses so she can get it on with Will, only further strengthens Jackie's ties to the kids, while weakening Alicia's. What is shaping up is a very interesting battle for hearts, if not custody. Jackie is poised to create some major waves in Alicia's home life.

     It is disappointing there is no big reason to talk about Diane (Christine Baranski) in a review of "Closing Arguments." Diane is one of the best written characters on the show, but rarely gets strong, independent stories. She has had one love interest, but her firm political games involve Will and others, and she argues fewer cases than the other primary attorneys. Hopefully, going forward, The Good Wife will find more reasons to feature Diane. Baranski is proving formidable all over again, a career renaissance, and deserves good material.


     The Good Wife will get a third season, returning to CBS this coming fall.

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Article first published as TV Review: The Good Wife - "Closing Arguments" on Blogcritics.

Past Life already past its shelf life

     Fox added a new show to their lineup last night called Past Life.  Taking Fringe's normal Thursday 9pm time slot for now, aside from last night's 'special preview episode', it is clear that the network is hoping to cash in on viewers already accepting of the strange and supernatural.  That idea would be sound, if this show were any good at all.

     Following a long-used formula, two partners attempt to solve crimes.  The believer is Dr. Kate McGinn (Kelli Giddish, All My Children), who has recently hired ex-police detective Price Whatley (Nicholas Bishop, Home and Away) to assist her.  Of course, Price is skeptical, but Kate says that is fine, as long as he uses his skills.  By the end of the preview episode, he is starting to believe.  A lot too quickly.  Combine that with his natural superstitiousness, and none of it even feels genuine.  Both characters are flat, predictable, and too ill defined, as well as poorly acted.  Their chemistry is not great, even though surely that is what is supposed to hook viewers enough to tune in week after week.

     They are joined on the team by Dr. Malachi Talmadge (Richard Schiff, The West Wing) and Dr. Rishi Karna (Ravi Patel, Easy Money), the grumpy boss and the token Indian, respectively.  And who came up with the character names on this series?  Anyway, considering the premise, that they are investigating people who remember past lives, and were victims of an unsolved crime in said past life, you'd imagine the client list is small, no?  Yet, they can budget four professionals, three of them with doctorates, in an office?  I don't believe it.  I have a hard time believing they can find a dozen or two clients a year in the entire country, let alone this.

     The script was weak, the acting hokey.  Schiff can act, but he's wasted here.  I recommend not tuning in.  However, if you are so inclined, it will be airing on Fox Thursdays at 9pm.