Netflix ALTERED CARBON

Article first published as TV Review: ALTERED CARBON on Seat42F.

Netflix’s newest drama, released yesterday, is ALTERED CARBON. Set centuries in the future, it is part science fiction adventure, part murder mystery. In the ten-episode first season, Takeshi Kovacs, a violent mercenary, is woken from a 250-year slumber at Alcatraz. He is told he can either go back to prison forever, his sentence, or solve the murder of an extremely wealthy man, Laurens Bancroft. Obviously, Takeshi chooses the former, and he sets off into the world he knows little about to investigate a crime of which he knows even less.

Joel Kinnaman (The Killing, House of Cards) stars as Takeshi, which ties into a few important things. One, part of the premise is that the essence of people have been boiled down into “stacks,” basically big computer chips that can be inserted into any body, deemed “sleeves.” While Takeshi is Japanese and Eastern European, played by Will Yun Lee (Falling Water, True Blood) in flashback, he now inhabits a different ethnicity form. There is certainly an argument to be made that the series whitewashes its lead, but the cast is pretty diverse, and from a story perspective, the swap makes sense. So ALTERED CARBON tries to make up for that in other ways. (Whether it does or not, I leave for someone more qualified to decide.)

Bancroft is also a white man, played by James Purefoy (The Following, Hap and Leonard), as is the AI construct Poe (Chris Conner, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story). But others are not. The love of Takeshi’s life is Quellcrist Falconer (Renee Elise Goldsberry, The Good Wife, original cast of the Broadway musical Hamilton). Takeshia’s sister, Reileen, is played by Dichen Lachman (Dollhouse, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.). The primary cop who is interested in Takeshi is Kristin Ortega (Martha Higareda, Royal Pains). ALTERED CARBON also stars Ato Essandoh (Copper), Kristin Lehman (Motive), and Trieu Tran (The Newsroom).

The series itself is getting mixed reviews, and that’s fair. There’s certainly a large amount of exploitation of women in the dark corner of the world Takeshi is dropped into, prostitution, physically real or not, abundant, and drugs rampant. Little about the underworld isn’t a trope, and the main plot seems to be a basic murder mystery, albeit the intended victim isn’t really dead because his stack was backed up by a very expensive satellite, so all he lost as nearly two days of memories.

However, I found it an exciting romp with a complex, if a little two-dimensional, world. The visual effects are absolutely stunning, the futuristic city, including buildings that extend above the clouds, seeming very real. The rules of the world seem to be incredibly well thought-out and stuck to, though not overly explained, and there’s quite a bit of mystery surrounding Takeshi’s circumstances. Certainly this is more than just an episode of CSI stretched out. The acting is also pretty solid across the board, though I don’t yet see many similarities in personality between Lee and Kinnaman’s portrayals, so I’d like, over time, for the show to establish a more solid link.

There is also a trippy aspect to the production because Takeshi, as part of the side effects from being asleep so long, hallucinates people that aren’t there. This potentially calls into question the reality of what we’re seeing in every scene, even when he’s sober, and will have viewers looking for clues that things might not be real. That is an exciting element to toss in, especially when it’s so well integrated to the story.

Having only seen one episode so far, I can’t contradict entirely the uneasiness of other reviewers. What I can say is that as soon as I turn this in, I’m jumping right into episode two because I was left very much wanting to see more.

ALTERED CARBON season one is available now, streaming on Netflix.

SISTERS, Sisters

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'Sisters' on Blogcritics.

As of today, the film Sisters is available to own. Released in theaters late last year, the movie tells the story of two messed-up female siblings who come together one last time in their childhood home to throw a huge party and recapture what they’ve lost. With an impressive comedic cast, it’s a new twist on an old genre, the party film, with the young-at-heart instead of the young (though they certainly aren’t old, either).

The stars of Sisters are the great Tina Fey (30 Rock) and Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation). Tina is Kate, the fun-loving sister that can’t hold a job or a place to live, and has alienated her daughter, Haley (Madison Davenport, Shameless). Amy is Maura, the uptight one who can’t keep a husband. While Maura is admittedly more responsible, her issue of not knowing how to loosen up is a problem, too, and so the two must help one another, each rubbing off on the other.

That sounds like a very familiar formula, and it is. Even mixing it with a party film (most of the running time takes place at a celebration on a single night) isn’t novel. Nor is the basic love interest for Maura, James (Ike Barinholtz, The Mindy Project), whose only defining characteristic is that he’s nice to Maura because he likes her, and knows how to fix things for her.

What makes Sisters unique, though, is the exact manner in which it tackles this premise. By putting all the characters around forty-ish, it adds a new element. And while Maura and Kate may be the only party-goers with full personalities, seeing their high school chums fall back into old patterns and stereotypes and reopen old wounds is satisfying, too, like a school reunion, but in a totally wild setting. It took awhile for me to start appreciating exactly what makes Sisters special, but by the end of the two hours (yep, it’s a full two hours, not ninety minutes like most comedies), I think I finally understood it.

Helping the film’s appeal along is a stellar supporting cast, which includes many Saturday Night Live alum and cast members, joining fellow players Tina, Amy, and the movie’s scribe Paula Pell, who created some of SNL‘s most memorable late ’90s characters. Those actors are Bobby Moynihan, Kate McKinnon, John Lutz, Chris Parnell, Rachel Dratch, and the incomparable Maya Rudolph. Toss in Samantha Bee (The Daily Show), Jon Glaser (Delocated), Renee Elise Goldsberry (The Good Wife), Matt Oberg (The Onion News Network), Greta Lee (New Girl), John Leguizamo (Moulin Rogue), WWE wrestler John Cena, and Life in Pieces couple Dianne Wiest and James Brolin, and you would be hard-pressed to find a better ensemble.

I guess Sisters isn’t for everyone, and if you don’t get that bizarre take on a relatable familial chemistry that it’s going for, you may be left confused. But once you embrace the madness and just let yourself enjoy the performances, it becomes a fun way to spend a couple of hours.

As far as extras go, there are tons. Besides an unrated version of the movie itself and the expected deleted and extended scenes, there are outtakes, unused improv moments, and behind-the-scenes material to explain what the filmmakers are doing. There’s also an interview with writer Pell, commentary with her, the director, and the two leads, and and an extra on special effects. It’s quite a lot for a release such as this, and thankfully much of it is showing us more of the funny performers in their element.

As always, I recommend blu-ray over DVD. Visually, there are some bright Florida colors and the dark light show at the party that beg for good contrast. In the second half of the film, there’s a lot going on with the audio, from dialogue to music to ambiance, all mixed together. In a testament to the overall quality, I detected no flaws in any of it during my HD viewing, and I never had trouble understanding what the characters are saying. I can’t help but think a standard definition experience would be harder to stomach, needing the crispness to balance everything out appropriately.

Sisters is available now on blu-ray, DVD, and digital download.

THE GOOD WIFE Turns "Ugly"

Article originally written for Seat42F.

CBS’s THE GOOD WIFE frequently drops surprises, but I’d be hard-pressed to name one recently that rocks the show as much as the voter fraud scandal surrounding Alicia’s (Julianna Margulies) election as State’s Attorney. This week’s episode, “Winning Ugly,” begins that battle as a legendary political figure, Spencer Randolph (Ron Rifkin, Alias), takes on her case in the name of the democratic process. But Spencer may really be supporting the Democrats’ process, as he turns on Alicia when she refuses to play ball with the party.

Alicia has long struggled with getting into politics, but the events of “Winning Ugly” are likely to turn her off of them entirely, whether she ends up in the State’s Attorney’s office or not. Alicia did not cheat, but that won’t stop the party from ruining her reputation if she goes against their interests, both sides in the city being famously corrupt. These movers and shakers have built a system that works for them, and they are not about to let some idealistic woman screw it up.

Alicia’s natural ally should be Prady, but he is no longer accessible to her, and may not believe she’s innocent, anyway. Instead, she is sent lawyer Martin Parillo (Remy Aubjeronis), who battles it out with Spencer in front of Ken Boxer (Lawrence Gilliard Jr., The Walking Dead, The Wire) and the panel. Until Spencer turns on Alicia, Martin is taking a beating. But now that Martin seems to have the upper hand, there is no way he will allow Alicia to broker a deal with Prady.

So it looks like Alicia may need to try to return to the law firm, assuming she loses, but there are some complications there. First, we’d have to see if the firm would take her back. Alicia still has her office, but considering that we’ve seen the settlement talks, she may have already cashed out and hurt feelings might block her from buying back in. Second, will there even be a firm left to come back to?

The second major plot in “Winning Ugly” finds Diane (Christine Baranski) learning about Kalinda’s (Archie Panjabi) forgery. To Diane’s credit, the first thing she does is not protect herself so much as clear Detective Prima’s (John Ventimiglia) name. Prima is a jerk, but he doesn’t deserve to lose his job over something he didn’t to. After that, though, Diane discusses strategy with Finn (Matthew Goode), David Lee (Zach Grenier), and Cary (Matt Czuchry), and it doesn’t look good.

I’m surprised Diane doesn’t immediately fire Kalinda. I don’t care that Kalinda has done a lot for the firm; she crossed a line with faking evidence, even if she didn’t intend Diane to use it. Panjabi will be leaving THE GOOD WIFE at the end of the season anyway, but this is the hour in which she should have been terminated from her job.

I also hope this doesn’t blow back on Cary. There is other evidence to clear his name, but it will be much harder to convince people he is innocent after this fiasco.

The current State’s Attorney isn’t focused on destroying the law firm, though, so much as he wants to go after drug kingpin Lemond Bishop (Mike Colter). Geneva Pine (Renee Elise Goldsberry) says as much, offering to drop all charges against Diane if Diane will just testify against Bishop. The problem is, every viewer and main character knows that going up against Bishop is a death sentence, so Diane doesn’t want to risk it.

For a minute in “Winning Ugly,” it looks like Kalinda might step up. She is closest to Bishop and can get him jailed. This would also go a long way towards making up for her wrong doings. And who knows? She might survive. But it’s Cary that goes to Geneva and says that if Kalinda makes the offer to speak in court, he will do it in her place. Cary loves Kalinda, despite her flaws, and that’s truly a noble sacrifice he is willing to make.

Since Kalinda didn’t go to Geneva, though, where did she go? Did she flee and abandon those taking the fall for her mistakes? Or is she going to kill Bishop, hoping that will end the fight. I don’t know that I actually want to see Kalinda murder anyone, but there’s no way she can convince him to confess to wrong doings, no matter what she has on him. Whatever Kalinda is doing, she’s playing a dangerous game.

In both of these stories, I just don’t see how it can end well. There is no clear way out, and only a scant few hours left to tell the story this year. THE GOOD WIFE has not been renewed yet, either, and those at CBS would be awful, awful monsters if they didn’t let the tale conclude satisfactorily. We’ll see how it plays out.

THE GOOD WIFE airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

THE GOOD WIFE Goes to "Trial"

Article first published as THE GOOD WIFE Review Season 6 Episode 10 The Trial on Seat42F.

It’s finally the day of “The Trial” for Cary (Matt Czuchry) on CBS’s THE GOOD WIFE. Unfortunately for him, trials do not happen in a vacuum, and there are a number of exterior factors that affect various parties involved. Meanwhile, a joke note that Alicia (Julianna Margulies) writes ends up in the wrong hands, becoming a problem for her campaign. Will she compromise her morals to save it?

We all realize that judge, juries, and lawyers have lives outside of court, but rarely does a television show ever present those stories. THE GOOD WIFE chooses to do so here when the stakes are high. Judge Richard Cuesta (David Paymer) is trying to score Neil Diamond tickets for his anniversary. One juror (Zak Orth, Revolution), perhaps the one most sympathetic to Cary, has to read lips to understand what is being said. The prosecutor, Geneva Pine (Renee Elise Goldsberry), is watching her marriage fall apart because of an affair. None of these things should influence the trial, but they do.

It’s this level of authenticity and whole-world outlook that sets THE GOOD WIFE apart. Sure, Cary’s trial may not be the most convenient time for this to happen, but the truth is, it’s a factor in every single case. People are only human, and humans have messy lives with separate areas that bleed into one another. That’s no stopping that, so it’s nice to see it illustrated so nicely.

Interestingly, though, none of the elements mentioned above actually affect the outcome of the case. They all have the potential to do so, but they don’t, at least not in any meaningful way. The trial stands on the evidence presented, some factual, much circumstantial. But it’s what’s laid out for the jury to consider that matters most. So maybe THE GOOD WIFE is trying to show us that, even in a distracting world, justice can still be served.

Of course, Cary going back to jail is not justice. Viewers know this, Cary knows this, Cary’s friends know this. The judge and jury do not. The case against Cary is awful, and even when Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) finds a way to force the one witness who can help Cary, Dante (Mark Green), onto the stand, said witness is intimidated to lie, torpedoing Cary’s chances of being acquitted. It’s frustrating, but the jury could be completely forgiven for finding Cary guilty based solely on what is presented to them in court.

At the end of “The Trial,” Cary pleads guilty. We don’t see any further than that, and we’re left to assume Cary is going to prison for at least two years. I don’t think that’s what is happening, though, because THE GOOD WIFE can’t send away one of its best characters for such an extended period of time. What I am hoping is that Cary is taking the other deal, pleading guilty with time served in exchange for testifying against Lemond Bishop (Mike Colter). Cary is terrified of Bishop, and turning against him would not only endanger Cary’s life, but go against his ethical code as a lawyer.

The reason Cary might take the deal is for Kalinda. If no one stops Bishop, she is dead. Kalinda goes into Bishop’s home and threatens to have his son taken away. Kalinda is still alive because she took steps to protect herself in that moment. But Bishop didn’t give in to the blackmail and will come after her. Jailing Bishop is the only way to save Kalinda, and even that might not work because his reach is long.

It’s time for THE GOOD WIFE to have all of its characters turn against Bishop. Kalinda and Alicia need to step up and testify, too, supporting Cary. They need a strong enough case to put Bishop away for a long time. These characters uniting would be a grand, triumphant moment, reaffirming how much they care about each other, which we do see in several excellent moments in “The Trial,” and stopping a very bad man once and for all. It has to happen. Doesn’t it?

Alicia’s subplot is another example of the ridiculousness of politics. Alicia’s quote from a TV show, written down to make her daughter, Grace (Makenzie Vega), laugh, is accidentally shown to the wrong person and taken out of context. Then, a conniving teacher and principal leverage it to gain political favor. When they can’t get that from Alicia, they get it from Peter instead, which Alicia doesn’t like any better. This is a dirty, ugly business, and like the trial, it is just not fair.

The benefit of this plot, though, is that it gives us more wonderful scenes with Eli (Alan Cumming) and Johnny (Steven Pasquale), who make a terrific combo. From the moment they find out this is a real crisis, through how they handle it, they deliver the humor that THE GOOD WIFE wisely uses in combination with its dark drama, making for a very well-put-together episode overall.

It also provides yet another scene in which we can’t tell if Prady (David Hyde Pierce) is a jerk or not. He may not have intentionally attacked Alicia, but he refuses to walk comments back, which says something. He could offer to negate his words about school violence as they pertain to Alicia if Alicia denounces the homosexual rumors surrounding him. He doesn’t. I still don’t know if he genuinely wants the campaign to be clean, but he’s not giving it his all to keep it that way.

“The Trial” also has some good Alicia / Finn (Matthew Goode) stuff as they try to avoid getting romantic, and end up in a romantic cliché. Their being a couple is another thing that “has to happen,” and while the writers are finding authentic ways to delay the inevitable, fate seems determined to see them together.

This week’s installment is yet another example of how excellent THE GOOD WIFE can be, combining a plethora of great characters with brilliantly interweaving story. The plot is carefully constructed to keep things tense and allow surprises, and the story is very engaging. Well done.

THE GOOD WIFE airs Sundays at 9 p.m.-ish ET on CBS.

"Everything Is Ending" Or Just Getting Started for THE GOOD WIFE

Article first published as "Everything Is Ending" Or Just Getting Started for THE GOOD WIFE on TheTVKing.

CBS's The Good Wife, arguably the best drama on that network, returns tonight with "Everything Is Ending." The pressure mounts for the fourth years to tell the partners they are leaving the firm and striking out on their own. Alicia (Julianna Margulies) is caught in the middle of the two worlds, and tries to appease both sides, while still keeping her secrets. A case involving an inmate on death row gives her pause about her own decision.

Alicia likes working for Will (Josh Charles) and Diane (Christine Baranski), and who can blame her? They've been good to her, promoting her when appropriate, giving her opportunities, and assigning her to cases she feels passionate about, such as the pro bono work in "Everything Is Ending," saving a man named Eddie (Malik Yoba, Alphas) from execution. She is comfortable there.

Yet, she has given her word to Cary (Matt Czuchry) that she will help him start a new firm. Part of that decision might have been prompted by wanting to get away from Will, avoiding old feelings, but her word has been given. It's too late to back out. Or is it?

It's a real conundrum for Alicia. She has already made plans with Cary, and further digs her grave by lying to the partners when questioned about what she knows. Even if she wanted to stay, the only way to be forgiven would be to rat out her co-conspirators, but then Diane and Will still probably wouldn't trust her. And if she does the right thing, coming clean to the partners, she would not be welcome at the new firm, her co-workers feeling betrayed. Whatever she does now, after the lie, someone will feel like she stabbed them in the back. There is no good way out.

The problem may have been who Alicia got into bed with. It's one thing for her to want to work with Cary. They have a relationship, and similar sensibilities. He can be reasoned with. It's another to go with a democratic rule with a bunch of rash, greedy people, who don't want to leave Lockhart Gardner until after they get their bonuses. It's a short-sighted move on their part, and Alicia may end up being the one to pay the price for it. It's too bad she and Cary aren't really the new Will and Diane, as Cary is fond of calling them, because wise leadership is needed to right the course.

I do wonder if Alicia might change her mind. She seems to waver because, if she goes to a start up firm, she won't be able to help people like Eddie for quite some time. It seems Alicia didn't fully think out her choice, and now it contributes to her being stuck. But I don't want her to stay at Lockhart Gardner because Cary has felt screwed over enough and it took awhile to rebuild their trust the last time. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what she decides.

Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) may pay the price, too, also trying to cover for the associates when David Lee (Zach Grenier) starts digging. She tries to put him off, and even denies knowledge that she possesses. This is clearly done out of loyalty to Cary, and maybe Alicia. It's noble, to be sure, but when everything goes down, David Lee will surely bring Kalinda's evasiveness to the senior partners' attention.

Peter (Chris Noth) may be getting himself into much the same circumstances as Alicia in "Everything Is Ending," not thinking things through completely. To protect his image, at the behest of Eli (Alan Cumming), he promotes Marilyn (Melissa George, Alias) out of his office. Eli is correct in saying that pictures taken of Peter and Marilyn might spark bad rumors. But Marilyn is smart enough to know exactly what Peter is doing, and doesn't seem happy about it. Will she return to cause trouble, making Peter regret his decision?

It is touching when Peter suggests that Eli be his chief of staff. Eli and Peter have been through a lot together, and it's a little surprising the idea hasn't been floated before. Eli, for all his ego, actually seems surprised to be considered, and certainly appreciates the offer. While it's not completely clear Eli will accept, that's the assumption I've made, and I'm glad to solidify their partnership on the show, hopefully seeing Eli in new roles now.

Grace (Makenzie Vega) is cast in a new role, as a sex symbol. Zach's (Graham Phillips) buddies alert him to the website objectifying his sister, and he isn't pleased, though he soon realizes there's nothing he can do about it. Given Grace's religion and personality, it's unlikely she'll take advantage of the situation, and it will likely cause her more embarrassment than pride. I wonder where The Good Wife intends to go with this thread.

"Everything Is Ending" is a fantastic episode. Besides the various plots covered above, we get Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development) as a judge, a classic Lockhart Gardner Hail Mary, and see a softer side of Geneva Pine (Renée Elise Goldsberry). The tension is high, the pacing is fast, and the show still takes time for character development. If only other CBS shows, stuck in the procedural formulas, could take some notes, the network would quickly rise in quality.

The Good Wife airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

The Good Wife takes the 'Long Way Home'

In last night's installment of CBS's The Good Wife, "Long Way Home," Alicia (Julianna Margulies) must once again represent Colin Sweeney (Dylan Baker), this time as he faces the outcome of a sexual harassment suit. Unfortunately, Colin is keeping her guessing as to whether he is committing perjury or not, making her job more difficult. And, of course, she has plenty else going on, too, learning that she will soon need to find a new place to live, and also having difficulty with her mentee, Caitlin (Anna Camp).

Baker's Sweeney is always a pleasure. He's a manipulative, borderline psychotic troublemaker, so it's not like he's a nice character. But Baker plays hm with such talent and grace, constantly keeping viewers guessing what Sweeney's real motivations are. It's a prime part for the actor, and one that he excels at. "Long Way Home" is no exception to that recurring performance.

In "Long Way Home," Sweeney is trying to wrest control of his company back from his rival. This power play is interrupted when a young woman named Isobel (Morena Baccarin, V, Homeland, Firefly) steps forward with a child that she says is Sweeney's, and accuses him of improper conduct. He denies it all. The rush for Alicia, Caitlin, and the firm is on to prove that Sweeney's competition is behind the stunt. Except, Sweeney begins lying under oath. Then so does Isobel, to the dismay of her own attorney, Victoria Adler (Kate Burton). And then Sweeney and Isobel come to an amiable agreement, raising the child, who is, indeed, his, together. What's going on?

Well, it's pretty clear that Sweeney has once more gamed the system. If a connection between Isobel and Sweeney's foe can be established, which is what appears to happen during the machinations, then Judge Friend (Bebe Neuwirth, Cheers) must rule in Sweeney's favor, removing the competition from the game. So there is plenty of motivation for Sweeney here to stage such a connection for his own benefit. Add to that, Isobel is a softcore porn actress, meaning, she can fake things decently, and how comfortable Sweeney is with his son, it looks like Sweeney used Lockhart / Gardner all over again.

Which is fine. After all, Lockhart / Gardner gets a big payday. Being oblivious to Sweeney's plans, they are not culpable in the illegal activities. And other than a suspicion, the lawyers can prove nothing. Nor do they have any desire to do so, as it would simply lose them money and get them into trouble. Not to mention, if they turn on him, Sweeney would go to someone else next time, costing them even more. And with a devious, intelligent mind like his, there is sure to be a next time.

All told, "Long Way Home" is a fantastic return for one of The Good Wife's best recurring characters.

Too bad Caitlin won't stick around to enjoy the spoils of the victory. She chooses to give up the legal life to be a stay-at-home mom, a decision that baffles Alicia, perhaps because Alicia sort of regrets having done so herself. Alicia tries to convince Caitlin to stay, to no avail. It might be a good thing for Alicia that Caitlin is leaving, considering a rivalry seems to be building between them. But The Good Wife fans will definitely miss Camp's terrific presence.

Hopefully Caitlin's uncle, David Lee (Zach Grenier), won't continue to blame Alicia for running Caitlin off, as he begins to this week, as it is very clear that Alicia has nothing to do with the resignation.

Adding to the office chaos, Will (Josh Charles) is treading carefully, now that he's back at work. He still cannot have any involvement in the legal proceedings of the firm, and Lionel Deerfield (Edward Herrmann, Gilmore Girls, The Practice) is on hand to make sure that Will doesn't cross a line. Will's return calms the power vacuum, but will he be able to keep his nose clean for six whole months, resisting the career that is his calling?

In "Long Way Home," Alicia learns that she must find somewhere else to live, as her rental unit will soon be sold. She can't really afford to buy the place herself. Peter (Chris Noth) suggests impropriety is afoot, in that they are not giving her enough notice. This is something Alicia may end up fighting in court, but she is still likely to have to move eventually, and so, not wasting any time, she begins looking.

One possibility is buying back her old house. Grace (Makenzie Vega) and Zach (Graham Phillips) are all for this plan, as it is back on the market, but Alicia isn't so enthusiastic. She claims it would be a financial hardship for her, which may be partially true. But then Alicia asks Diane (Christine Baranski) for a raise, so the money thing might not be an issue, long-term. No, there's more to it than that.

Alicia' visit to the house reveals a vulnerability, as she is overcome emotionally with memories of her time there. At first, those memories are happy, as she recalls her children. But when Peter's image is evoked, they turn upsetting. It may very well be that Alicia doesn't want to remember her marriage any more than she has to, now that it has fallen apart. This is reason enough not to return to the home. Alicia has moved on and built a new life for herself, and getting back her old dwelling is a step backwards, not forwards.

While no reconciliation seems imminent, Peter has his own troubles in "Long Way Home." He orders Cary (Matt Czuchry) to investigate reports that two co-workers had relations on Peter's office couch. When Cary comes forward with the guilty party, Peter fires them. But then Cary confesses his own indiscretion. Peter wants to slip it under the rug, but Cary tells him this is not possible, especially because others in the office know. What to do now?

Would Cary have come forward if Geneva (Renee Goldsberry, One Life to Live) hadn't pressured him to? It's hard to know. Geneva wasn't going to turn him in, so Cary could have escaped consequences, other than the damage to his reputation. But Cary is a stand up guy, and so one would like to think that he eventually would have confessed anyway. Cary understands that one must admit their mistakes and suffer the consequences, and that's what he does. Now he can move forward proudly, rather than hide this shame.

Peter has the tougher choice, and that's deciding what to do with Cary. Peter can't stand to loose his right-hand man, but neither can he let Cary continue on, unpunished. How much discipline is needed to satisfy the rest of the staff, but not damage Cary's standing too much? It's a fine balance, to be sure.


Next week's episode features the return of Tammy (Elizabeth Reaser), and so , like most installments, it's one not to miss! Catch The Good Wife Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! To buy The Good Wife DVDs, please click here. Article first published as TV Review: The Good Wife - "Long Way Home" on Blogcritics.