THE GOOD WIFE Fans "Recipients" of Another Great Installment

Article originally written for Seat42F.

Thank you for your advice. All options are open to me, and I’ll make a decision within 48 hours.

That’s the repeated refrain on this week’s installment of THE GOOD WIFE on CBS, “Undisclosed Recipients.” Alicia (Julianna Margulies) has won the State’s Attorney election, but that is just the beginning of her problems. She tries to play open and honest with everyone, donors and her partners at the law firm alike, but it doesn’t work too well. It’s time for her to start being a politician, and Eli (Alan Cumming) makes that very clear to her.

As much as one roots for Alicia to stand up to influence and do the right thing, it’s easy to see why Lemond (Mike Colter) and Redmayne (Ed Asner) think they should have influence over her. They did pour a lot of support into her campaign with the expectation of getting something in return. Alicia may not have agreed to terms, but she did take the money. She could have refused or made a stink about it, but she wouldn’t have won. Perhaps THE GOOD WIFE goes too easy on politicians and the influence of money, or perhaps they are just showing that even the best person is put in a difficult position within this broken system.

Eli provides a way out, backing up the stereotype that politicians are slimy liars. He tells her to deflect and appear to appreciate advice she won’t seriously consider. This works on Redmayne, and it works on Castro (Michael Cerveris), who is looking for professional respect. A variation of this also works on Alicia’s partners, whom are trying to lowball her in buying her out of the firm. But I don’t think it will work on Bishop.

Bishop isn’t a part of that world. He isn’t a public figure in the same way the rest are, preferring to dwell in the shadows. He also uses violence to fight, not words, giving him a different set of tools. Redmayne may forget that Alicia doesn’t choose who he wants, but Bishop won’t overlook Alicia refusing to call of an investigation on him. She could wind up hurt, or worse.

Alicia needs assistance in dealing with Bishop. I think it’s time she brings Eli and Marissa (Sarah Steele) fully into the loop here. Perhaps she puts them at risk by coming clean, but both have been very valuable advisors, different sides of the same coin with varying opinions. If the brain trust of these three can’t figure a way out of this, I’m not sure no one can.

The other thing that happens in “Undisclosed Recipients” is that a hacker leaks the firm’s emails because they are representing a client suing a file sharing site. Because these people let off steam, and also because they work with people they don’t always like, there are many damaging comments made that now come to light. Cary (Matt Czuchry), Diane (Christine Baranski), David Lee (Zach Grenier), Kalinda (Archie Panjabi), Lyman (Jerry Adler), and just-returned-from-New York Julius (Michael Boatman) all succumb to infighting over this. Alicia is spared only because the released emails are from the time of her campaign.

It’s interesting to see dirty laundry brought to light in this particular environment. The type of job and the sort of people who do this work create a much more tumultuous atmosphere than in most offices. Not everything said is what the authors are really thinking, though some of it is. I think it reminds us that we all find ways to work with people we don’t agree with or like, and we can’t condemn others for being no better than ourselves. It’s quite a thought-provoking story, as much as it is a juicy, dramatic one.

That Finn (Matthew Goode) lets comments Alicia pre-emptively admits to making about him roll off his back shows that he’s a different type of person that the rest of the cast. Or he just trusts Alicia more than he would most people, her actions speaking louder than words. He would be a great ally for her to have, a reasonable, logical individual who cares about her. I hope he takes the job as her deputy. Marissa, too, shows no judgment as she reads Alicia’s messages, so she also needs to stick around, given her considered take on the world (though it’s worth noting none are about her).

I also don’t think THE GOOD WIFE has seen the last of these emails. Alicia’s are not released, but they could be, as the hacker says they have two years’ worth of stuff. Given Alicia’s new job and how much more damaging this could be to her in the high-morality role, it seems too tantalizing a bait to not toss in the water. Expect this to come back up at some point, whether it’s sooner or later.

Once more, THE GOOD WIFE gives us excellent, engaging plot with authentic, layered characters in a very real situation. It rips from the headlines, but also stays true to the individuals created. I can find no flaw with “Undisclosed Recipients,” another excellent hour from the stellar series.

THE GOOD WIFE airs Sundays on CBS.

Land At China Beach

Article first published as DVD Review: China Beach: The Complete Series on Blogcritics.

There are some shows that fans wait years and years for, desperately hoping they will eventually be released on DVD so their favorite episodes can be relived, but are consistently disappointed. One such beloved, critically-acclaimed series is China Beach, the four-season Vietnam War drama that broke new ground by approaching the conflict from a perspective other than male-domination, and is one of the most-requested shows. Finally, China Beach arrives, the complete series being released by Time Life.

China Beach is set at an Evacuation Hospital in Vietnam, and follows the adventures of the women serving our armed forces, as well as those on the civilian side of things. This isn't a softer tact, per se, but it does give us something other than what we are used to seeing from a war drama, meaning feelings are allowed to be explored, as well as the mental and emotional scarring that can occur from such locals and experiences, often ignored when the focus is on violence and bloodshed.

Portraying women is not the only way that China Beach sets itself apart. It really gets into the characters' heads, even following them home from time to time. Animated sequences allow the viewers to better understand the people and what they are thinking, and real interviews with real veterans keep the show grounded in gritty reality, even as it tells a compelling fictional story. China Beach is a bit like an intentionally less-funny version of M*A*S*H, with a comparable originality and risk-taking approach, but containing more depth.

The heroine of the piece is First Lieutenant Colleen McMurphy (Dana Delany, Body of Proof), who not only stands strong, but also faces her own limitations and emotional wounds. She's a very striking woman, hailing from Kansas, who puts others first. Delany brilliantly and boldly tackles the role with gusto and talent, winning two well-deserved Emmys during the series' run.

Among the familiar faces co-starring are: Michael Boatman (Spin City) as Samuel Beckett, an unpopular Graves Registration man; Marg Helgenberger (CSI) as K.C., the fortune-hungry prostitute; Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager) as Dr. Dick Richard, surgeon, womanizer, and occasional purveyor of wisdom; Concetta Tomei (Providence) as Major Lila Garreau, the commanding officer; Jeff Kober (Sons of Anarchy) as Dodger, the quiet warrior of the jungle; Brian Wimmer (Flipper) as Boonie the lifeguard; and Troy Evans (ER) as Bob Pepper, motor pool manager, among others.

Many of these names will sound familiar, and if not, then their faces will likely be recognizable. These are performers who are mostly at the beginning of their careers in China Beach but have continued to thrive in the industry. What this means is that the show is stocked with a solid cast that is excellent at making you care for their complex characters and root for their survival.

Not everyone stays around for the duration of the show, despite its short run, and cast members enter and exit with some frequency, in both guest parts and recurring capacities. However, that only adds to the realism of the series, as in a war-time environment, this is a part of life.

All sixty-two episodes are included on this twenty-one disc set. Relive the helicopter crash, suicide bomber, romance, drug abuse, prom night, leopard cub, race relations, kidnapping, parasite, betrayal, reporters, rogue Santa, a mixed-race baby, pirate radio, deaths, stand-up comedy, PTSD, a trip to the Vietnam Wall, and so much more. For those who already love the show, it's a pleasurable stroll down memory lane, and a chance to possibly fill in some gaps, since it aired in the days before DVR. For new fans, such as myself, it's a wonderful complete saga primed to dive into and fall in love with.

One of the hallmarks of China Beach is its fantastic music, pivotal to the way the stories are told. It is because of the problems in securing home video release rights of all of these songs that China Beach has proven so difficult to get released on DVD before now. However, the press materials report 268 songs have been cleared, an average of more than 4 per episode, so the soundtrack will be mostly intact in this release.

Not only that, but Time Life has given us a wealth of extras to complement the run, around ten hours in all. There are featurettes, interviews, deleted scenes, commentaries for the premiere and finale, and a gag reel, all spread across the four seasons, each packaged separately within the larger set. There are also two discs dedicated solely to bonus features, with a focus on last December's 25th Anniversary reunion of the cast.

It's great to see what the performers thought of the show, and their experiences filming it, all of these years later. Most of the principal players participate, including those who currently have busy careers. There should be plenty here to satisfy any fan.

The packaging itself is pretty cool, too. While the DVD cases are basic, they are housed in a beautiful wrap-around box, with magnetic closure. There's a thirty-six page booklet with notes and images from the show, and you even get a pair of China Beach dog tags. Not shabby at all!

A Limited Edition version is available with signed scripts and cast photos. This is not the edition I got, so I cannot speak to the value of the extra materials, but they look cool in the picture posted online!

If there's one complaint I have it's that there doesn't seem to be much effort put into restoring picture or audio quality. China Beach hails from before the days of high definition, but it isn't that old, and other aged series have been restored before release. This one has not been, or not much anyway, and the presentation is not nearly as good as it should be, though it's not the worst I've ever seen, either.

Overall, despite the visual problems, I find it easy to recommend this set. There's a lot here, both in terms of story-telling and performance, as well as bonus features. It's a compelling, dramatic series that will make you cry and think. I wish it had run longer, but I'm grateful there are as many installments as there are.

China Beach: The Complete Series is available now, exclusively online.

Romanticising Anger Management

After a great penultimate episode, in which Charlie's (Charlie Sheen) father, Martin (Martin Sheen), came to visit, the only thing certain about the FX Anger Management season finale was that it couldn't possibly be as good. But, as a series should in its finale, the focus was on the relationship between two of the characters, rather than a terrific guest star, making it actually pretty good.

Comparatively, that is. I'm not saying Anger Management is a wonderful show. It is much more watchable and enjoyable that Sheen's last sitcom, but it's hardly breaking any new barriers. The things it has going for it are a funny ensemble, humorous plots, and a fair level of heart. Charlie is a good guy, despite his screw ups, which is why "Charlie Gets Romantic" finds you rooting for someone you may have been booing off screen only a year ago. And, with such low expectations going in, it's nice to be pleasantly surprised, which is probably why I'm still watching.

In "Charlie Gets Romantic," Kate (Selma Blair) flips out when Charlie asks her to go to the movies after sex. Their physical relationship is supposed to be emotion-free, and she doesn't want Charlie screwing that up. Charlie, who realizes he does care about her, gently lets her see what no emotion between them is like, and is on board when Kate agrees to restore some feelings to the proceedings.

Does a friends with benefits situation work? Clearly not, according to Anger Management. If anyone could have this kind of thing and be successful at it, it would be these two characters. As they age, though, and realize just how much they like being around one another, they want something more, even if it's hard to admit it. This is completely understandable. Rather than set up a "will they, won't they?" situation, as most sitcoms do, this show presents a "they will in their own time" scenario, with a gradual progress that will probably take awhile longer.

Should Anger Management get it's back 90 pick up, and there aren't many reasons right now to suspect that they won't, that growth needs to continue. In ten episodes, there are some arcs for the characters. They start in one place, and they go somewhere else, even if it's not that far a journey. In the next 90 episodes, it might be tempting to set up a status quo and remain stagnant. This is not the way to go. Being given this many hours is a gift, and it should be used wisely to tell a complete tale. Hopefully, the team behind Anger Management realizes this.

My only real complaint about "Charlie Gets Romantic" is the lack of work many of the great supporting players got. Michael (Michael Boatman) and Brett (Brett Butler) receive nice moments, and since they were each only in half the episodes, it was good to see that. Jennifer (Shawnee Smith) also appears, hopefully lying the seeds for what could be a true, three-way romantic triangle with Charlie and Kate. But the therapy group (Noureen DeWulf, Michael Arden, Derek Richardson, and Barry Corbin), who deliver some of the best scenes in the series, are given hardly anything to do. They make it work, of course, but I would have liked to have seen more from them.

Anger Management ended up being a surprisingly good, not great, show. I look forward to its return soon. Assuming it gets picked up, which it probably will.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published on TheTVKing

Charlie Sheen returns in Anger Management

FX just premiered Anger Management, a sitcom loosely based on the film of the same name. The show is about a therapist named Charlie (Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men) who specializes in treating people with anger issues. This is appropriate, because Charlie also suffers from a rage affliction. He is seeking help in dealing with his own emotions from fellow therapist / best friend with benefits, Kate (Selma Blair, Kath & Kim), while trying to be a better father to daughter Sam (Daniela Bobadilla, Awake).

For all the Charlie Sheen haters out there, Anger Management is not as bad as you think it might be. One has to admit, Sheen is a talented performer, or he would not have gotten all of the projects he has done over the years, or created such a fervent following. Two and a Half Men is an absolutely horrible series with little redeeming value, with or without Sheen. Anger Management is not. That's not to say that Anger Management is great, by any means. But it's much better than his previous job.

The main problem with Anger Management is that it lacks a feeling of freshness or edge. There is an old, familiar formula in place here, of divorced dad failing to be there enough for his daughter, and regretting the past wrongs against his ex. The therapy sessions make it a little bit different, but not enough to set the show apart from its peers. This would not be a surprising effort on a network channel, but for FX, known for creative, groundbreaking comedies, Anger Management does not live up to the brand.

There are number of things Anger Management does right. It is funny. Whether Charlie is selling Kate on sex, or helping his messed up patients, somehow managing to keep from being judgmental, or chatting with bartender Brett (Brett Butler, Grace Under Fire), or being tortured by ex-wife, Jennifer (Shawnee Smith, Becker), the stories are amusing. A tongue in cheek opening to the pilot, "Charlie Goes Back to Therapy," which is a slam on Two and a Half Men, also works very well.

Thus, Sheen deserves the credit for many of the positive of the series. There is a huge, talented supporting cast, which also includes Michael Arden, Barry Corbin (One Tree Hill), Derek Richardson (Men in Trees), Michael Boatman (The Good Wife, Spin City) and Noureen DeWulf (Hawthorne). The second episode features a wonderful guest turn by Kerri Kenney-Silver (Reno 911!). But all of these other people revolve around the main man. In this role, Sheen balances likable with an authentic personality, admitting flaws, but working to be a better person. It's exactly the right message the actor needs to send at this point in his career, and this vehicle is perfect for him in this regard.

So will Anger Management be a triumph? It's hard to say. The ratings for the premiere will likely be inflated because of Sheen's much anticipated return to television. But will fans of his previous work stick by a tamer series? FX has a few short weeks to decide whether to order 90 more episodes or cancel the show. My gut says it will be the former, and, as weird as it is to say this, it might actually deserve to live on past these initial ten. I expected to hate it. That is amused and charmed me, even if not overly so, is a win.

Catch Anger Management Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on FX.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Gossip Girl says "The Wrong Goodbye"

     Like almost every season, the CW's Gossip Girl chooses to its major plots a little early so the various characters can scatter for the summer. Also like every year, a few major bombshells must be dropped before they go. In Gossip Girl's finale, "The Wrong Goodbye," Chuck (Ed Westwick) saves Blair (Leighton Meester), and they reconnect. Blair is willing to leave her fiance, Prince Louis Grimaldi (Hugo Becker), for Chuck, but in a rare moment of maturity, Chuck steps aside, giving the couple his blessing so that Blair can be happy. Dan (Penn Badgley), Serena (Blake Lively), and Vanessa (Jessica Szohr) search for Charlie (Kaylee DeFer), who isn't who she says she is. And Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg) makes yet another appearance on the Upper East Side, ready to start even more trouble.


     Season four has been a tumultuous one for Blair's love life, as she struggles to move past her long standing, destructive, animalistic attraction for Chuck, but also isn't crazy about settling for her intellectual equal Dan, who sits far below her on the social ladder. Prince Louis, returning from nowhere, seemingly to save her from that choice, and yet, Blair cannot really escape her heart. Sure, she is happy with Louis, but how much of that is because she genuinely cares for him, and how much is because of the status being with him affords her? Blair has always dreamed of being a princess, but as she has matured, especially lately, those dreams are being replaced by real feelings. Which is why she probably won't still be with Louis come next season.

     Which leaves Blair a choice: Chuck or Dan? That decision is made as Blair and Chuck reconnect after he saves her from Russell (Michael Boatman). There have been signs for weeks that the two aren't finished, with Chuck mourning deeply every piece of news he gets about Blair and Louis. But Blair isn't done with Dan, either, as evidenced by the fact that they talk movie queues just before she takes off to spend the summer with Louis. Both men are a part of her life, and neither is going anywhere. Both are able to step aside for Blair's happiness, but that only makes them more worthy for her.

     Of course, while Chuck has eyes only for Blair, Dan has other options. Serena admits that she never made a choice between Dan and Nate (Chace Crawford), and while she still is not ready to think about that decision as she heads off for a season abroad with her grandmother, it is also clear by its mention that she hasn't forgotten either. Serena has to learn about herself before she is ready to be with someone else in a serious fashion, something she never really manages to do. But rest assured, the day will come when Serena will chose either Dan or Nate, likely right when one of them is ready to move on with someone else.

     Poor Nate has no prospectives on the horizon. With the departure of Raina (Tika Sumpter) after her evil, homicidal dad is sent to prison for twenty years, Nate is alone once more. While he never manages to stay by himself for very long, Nate is the most comfortable character with being alone. Perhaps that is what attracts women to him. Well, that and good lucks, genuine sweetness, and money. Nate, more than any other character, embraces who he is. Despite all the drama going on in "The Wrong Goodbye," Nate still shows real friendship to both Chuck and Dan, marking him as a good person. Whoever Nate ends up with had better deserve him.

     Many questions remain about Charlie. She came to town as Serena's long-lost cousin, but viewers now know, even if none of the characters do, that it is merely a plot so that Lily's (Kelly Rutherford) sister, Carol (Sheila Kelley), can get her hands on the real Charlie's trust fund. While Carol despises all of the scheming and drama that comes with life on the Upper East Side, she shows she can resort to some of her own to get money she thinks she deserves. However, does that mean that the real Charlie will inevitably show up on Gossip Girl?

     And what of Ivy, the girl who went by the name Charlie these past months? She obviously really enjoys the life she pretends to have, and armed with Georgina's phone number, it seems like only a matter of time before the devious faux cousin makes her return back into the lives of the popular characters. Will any of them be able to accept her, or will they treat her like a crazy girl? Were Ivy's feelings for Dan the slightest bit real, or all part of the act? It almost feels like when Ivy asks Dan to call her Serena while intimate that that moment is authentic Ivy, and she would do anything to get Serena's life. If so, there will be one wild ride.

     The last big cliffhanger is Vanessa turning in Dan's satirical look at life for the Upper East Side to a publisher. It's a goodbye present of sorts, as Vanessa is moving to Spain, and Szohr (along with Taylor Momsen) will not be returning to the cast next season. Dan's book contains scathing tear downs of many people he considers friends and family, which is why he wants it hidden away. However, enough people are close to Dan that surely his writing will be recognized, even when put out anonymously. Dan has managed to stay in everyone's good graces, more or less, over the years. It looks like it's finally time for him to experience life on the outside.

     All that, and a brief cameo by Gossip Girl book series author Cecily von Ziegesar!

     With so many hanging threads, the fifth season of Gossip Girl promises to maintain the high level of melodrama and juicy guilty pleasure that has made it must-see for the past four seasons. Hearts will be broken, relationships will end and start, and above all, people will scheme, scheme, and keep scheming until no one will be able to forgive anyone anymore. Which is the destiny of anyone who lives like the characters on Gossip Girl do. Should be exciting!


     Gossip Girl has been renewed, and will return to the CW next fall.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     To buy Gossip Girl DVDs, books, and streaming episodes, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: Gossip Girl - "The Wrong Goodbye" on Blogcritics.

The Good Wife at the "Great Firewall"

     CBS's The Good Wife is having a stellar season. While their arcs play out slower than many other shows, they do it with such talent and intensity, that anyone who tries the same method may likely be put to shame. The show still does some case-of-the-week stories, but much of the concentration is on larger, unfolding arcs.

     Last week, the series tackled religion, teenage rebellion, introduced Natalie (America Ferrera, Ugly Betty, who will be doing several episodes), and brought back guest star great Gary Cole as Kurt McVeigh. A memorable effort. This week's episode, "Great Firewall," which will be the last for a few weeks, was also an excellent example of their best qualities. It provided a capper to one major plot, while developing a few others.

     At first glance, it appears that the case Lockhart / Gardner and Bond are trying is a stand alone story. They represent a dissident suing an Internet company for giving his IP address over to the Chinese government, resulting in his arrest and torture. Ken Leung (of Lost fame) shows wonderful range in the part of the dissident. Then Alicia (Julianna Margulies) discovers that her bosses really take the case at the behest of Edelstein (Jack Carpenter), a Mark Zuckerberg-inspired type who wants to move his own business into China and hopes that the case will hurt or force out his competition. While things are often not spelled out on this series, it appears that Edelstein gets his wish.

     For Alicia, things suddenly get more complicated. She is invested in the case because of the human rights abuse, and is turned off upon learning there are other motivations. Will (Josh Charles) points out to her that this is often the way things work. It's a gripping tale as Alicia goes on with the case, but begins to have doubts about what she's doing. It's also the way the world is. I am a little surprised this hasn't been a major plot point before, but applaud the show for the grace with which it was handled.

     The question raised here is, do the ends justify the means? One company suffers from not paying attention to human rights, but another company is just going to move in and do the same thing. Their case does nothing to address a systemic failure, so in the end, they do not really win, in my opinion. But the episode succeeds because it brings to light yet another problem with that planet that needs fixed. If it gets people talking about the issue, it is well worth it. Which it already is.

     But that is not all that is going on at the firm this week. Will, Diane (Christine Baranski), David Lee (Zach Grenier), and Julius (Michael Boatman) try to get the votes they need to oust Derrick (Michael Ealy) before he can make a move against them. Brilliant editing of the trailer for this episode, shown last week, as well as the way certain scenes play out, have viewers believing Julius has turned coat to Bond's side. Which makes the ending even sweeter when Bond is voted out and he realizes Julius was just playing him to get a better position at the firm, as well as to get rid of one of Bond's men.

     The entire fight with Bond shows expert writing. The twists have kept coming over the past months, including when Will teams up with Diane, betraying his previous deal with Bond. Each flows seamlessly and realistically. Never once did I feel there was a cop out or deus ex machina at play. Every choice each character makes gels with what we know about them, and their motivations do not change throughout. Flawless.

     Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) doesn't share in the elation of victory. Her future looks more and more precarious all the time, as a grand jury is now being built against her. I currently do not see how Kalinda has a chance of staying in her current position. Unlike the battle for control of the firm, there have not been positive signs for the good guy. I feel like Peter (Chris Noth) winning the election and calling off the investigation is the only chance she has. Which would also provide a number of headaches for Peter, and the appearance of favoritism and corruption. Saving Kalinda could send Peter right back to jail.

     On a personal front, Kalinda is becoming warmer. She recently moved, and gives both Alicia and Cary (Matt Czuchry) change of address cards. Neither had been given her old address. Kalinda is allowing herself to open up to people, or at least two of them. She has made fast friends. They are people that she trusts. And rightly so, as Cary is the one who warns her about the grand jury. While Kalinda maintains that era of mystery that makes her character so intriguing, she is showing a softer side, too. It is welcome.

 

     Now that the fate of Lockhart / Gardner is settled, does that mean Cary will soon be returning to the fold? While I would like to see Cary back among his old co-workers, I am less certain now than ever it is the path the writers will pursue. And I am seeing the wisdom of leaving him where he is. Cary isn't happy working for Childs (Titus Welliver). It is likely Alicia can convince Peter to keep Cary on if Peter wins the election. Plus, that would give Cary scenes with Peter and Eli (Alan Cumming) as he moves into their circle, a new combination that could provide fresh material, as well as more screen time for Czuchry, who deserves it. I think I am now in favor of Cary staying with the DA.

     That opinion is only made possible by the likely outlook that Peter will win back his former office. After Childs drops out this week, Peter is finally looking good in the polls. I feel like it has always been a foregone conclusion that Peter will rise back to his former heights. After all, why hire Eli as a full-time character this year if Peter, who isn't full-time, wasn't going to be around? There isn't any other plot to keep Eli moving. But now the arc backs that idea up.

   Last night, the victory became closer than ever as Zach (Graham Phillips) and Becca (Dreama Walker) uncover a harmful secret of Childs's. While Becca remains manipulative and untrustworthy, thus unlikeable, getting Zach involved in the politics is a good move. Zach has already shown an interest in his father's work, and I think it very nice that Zach deals the death blow to Peter's rival. True, Eli really had a lot to do with it, but it wouldn't have happened without Zach. This sets up a nice father-son dynamic that I hope will be featured more in future episodes.

       When the show returns in the spring, there are still plenty of questions to be addressed. What will Peter's win mean to his family? Will Alicia finally make a move with Will? How will Cary clash with Peter and Eli, should that be the route taken, as he will certainly not just fall in line with them? Will Kalinda salvage her job? How will Eli get with Natalie? Can we please have more Kurt? And David Lee? And Viola (Rita Wilson)? Will Grace (Makenzie Vega) abandon religion? OK, the last one looks like a pretty predictable 'yes', but there may be bumps along the road to that, as there are usually are on this series.

     The Good Wife airs Tuesday nights 10 p.m. ET on CBS.

Article first published as TV Review: The Good Wife - "Great Firewall" on Blogcritics.

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Gossip Girl Begins Beautiful Friendship

     Everyone is frequently switching romantic partners on a show like the CW's Gossip Girl. Serena (Blake Lively) has dated at least half a dozen guys alone. So it should come as no surprise that Dan (Penn Badgley) and Blair (Leighton Meester) are suddenly getting chummy. In fact, their intense animosity for each other since day one would have made them the predictable couple in a romantic comedy. Yet, their hatred was so intense, no flirting undertones were ever in sight, that I was super surprised at this season's development. They aren't anywhere close to being love interests... yet. But in the last few episodes, they have began a very sweet friendship.

     It was born out of necessity and mutual caring for Serena. Pitted together on a road trip just before the show took a winter break, fans were surprised at the chemistry these two had, as they'd never had more than a few moments to show it before. What came out of that story was surprising and fun, something very fresh in a four year old show, which admittedly, had already been having a stellar season. I think it might have been a one-shot episode if it hadn't been so magical. But it continued last night, as Blair and Dan reluctantly headed to the movies together. How reluctantly? It did feel like their protestations were only show, but it wasn't a date. I am extremely interested in how this will develop, more so than any other recent plot on Gossip Girl.

     I am sad to see the apparent end of Dan and Serena's will they or won't they, at least for now. As much as I love this new path with Dan and Blair, I was always a Dan and Serena fan, and I really enjoyed their renewed attraction lately. Last night, they said they'd only get one more chance, but they weren't ready to take it. It's really making the two of them echo their parents, who had a long, broken courtship, including whole years out of each others' lives, before ending up married. But if Dan and Blair get serious, and I hope that they do, that will likely make a Dan - Serena reunion near-impossible. As I am rooting for a new couple, it is with bittersweetness that I watch Dan and Serena end, perhaps for the last time. Unfortunately, I'm fairly certain it's not the last time, but this is really the perfect place to end it. Serena turning more and more into her mother won't do the two any favors.

     I am heartened by the return of Penelope (Amanda Setton) as one of Blair's minions. I admit, I did miss her snide looks. But I'm not sure she's a good fit for Blair anymore, and I feel her time back may be limited. Blair has grown so much, showing real maturity at times, even if she sometimes resorts to her scheming ways. In last night's episode, Blair's sneakiness got her into trouble with her mother (Margaret Colin, who should be a main character already!), but her new attitude allowed her to apologize and share a very, very cool scene later with mom. It was the best demonstration of the new Blair we could ask for, and I hope we see more of it.

     Lily (Kelly Rutherford) has been treated far less kindly. Once my favorite character, she was pretty much demonized when it came out that she sent an innocent man to prison, and intended to see her stepson Chuck's (Ed Westwick) company. In last night's episode, she backpedaled madly, as the writers tried to give her good excuses to do the things she had done, and attempted to right any wrongs. She only partially succeeded, and that's from a viewer satisfaction standpoint as much as a character arc one.

     It's hard to root for someone who has done some pretty horrible things, and Lily has. Even if she was just trying to protect Serena, getting Ben (David Call) locked up for all these years, and the very negative affect we saw it had this fall on his family, was really, really terrible. Lily has come back from having done bad things several times. I feel like, for once, several of the other characters are more willing to forgive her than I am, and that's weak writing. If they wanted to villanize Lily, then do it something more than halfway. They could pull her back from that brink eventually, but as quickly as they've tried to just isn't working.

     Related to that, what has put Rufus (Matthew Settle) in such a forgiving mood? Lily's husband has been much angrier with her for far less. It seems completely weird that he would stick by her so faithfully when she ruined a man's life. I just don't buy it. It seems like he's a whole other man; a whipped puppy. That's not Rufus. Compassionate and (eventually) forgiving, sure, but never castrated.

     Luckily, Lily's is the only questionable story right now. Last season was a little rocky as the show adjusted to many of its characters being high school graduates, but this year has been as strong as ever. I hate to say it, but a character not being present may be as responsible as the elements that are there. Jenny's (Taylor Momsen) extended, and now indefinite, absence actually helped the series, which is a shame, because once upon a time I really liked her. Momsen's behind the scenes drama got her benched, but her on screen tantrums made Jenny hard to like, too. I'm not anxious to get her back.

   Perhaps the most matured character is Nate (Chace Crawford), who has taken in his just-paroled father (Sam Robards). Nate has often had his own things going on apart from the other central characters, and sometimes it feels a stretch to tie him back in. However, this arc has been fantastic, showing a son's struggle to forgive his father for wrongs, see a role model as humanly flawed, and be a caregiver to a parent. What's more, last night's brilliant little move of linking the Captain to the man determined to ruin the Bass family name will entrench the two of them into other plots, keeping the show tightly written instead of sprawling as the rest of the season plays out. Nice move.

     Who are these new villains the Captain is getting involved with? Well, there's a new love interest for Chuck, appropriately, since his pairing with Blair, while amazing for a long time, seems done. And a familiar face in the form of Michael Boatman (Spin City, The Good Wife). We haven't learned hardly anything about him, except that he was screwed over by Chuck's father, but Boatman introduced the guy with such smoothness, charm, and a hint of vindictiveness, that he seems a well cast baddie for the second half of the season. The fact that his daughter, Raina (Tika Sumpter, One Life to Live) has taken a shine to Chuck, is delicious.

     If I could change one thing about this season of Gossip Girl, other than the small critiques above, because, as I said, it's been a truly awesome season, best since the first, it would be upgrading Eric (Connor Paolo) to a main cast member. He has been at the fringes of the show since the beginning, frequently there, but never getting much story of his own. With Jenny gone, there's room for him. Please give him the promotion.

     In a like vein, Dorota (Zuzanna Szadkowski) is irreplaceable, and always, always shines when she gets any story at all. She can take a small bit and really make it memorable. A larger Dorota presence would not be unwelcome.

     More than a guilty pleasure show, the series has great acting, writing, directing, and other elements. I can't recommend it enough. Gossip Girl's fourth season continues on the CW Monday nights at 9 p.m.


Article first published as TV Review: Gossip Girl Begins Beautiful Friendship on Blogcritics.

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