Having established Michael J. Fox’s lawyer Louis Canning in an earlier episode as a wily, cynical man, The Good Wife this week did what it does best: It added complexity, ambiguity, and new details to make a character richly surprising.
Oh, and Derrick Bond tried to confound, enrich, and screw over the Lockhart, Gardner firm, and emerged as a full-fledged villain… or is he? With The Good Wife, ya never know.
The Alicia vs. Fox/Canning case involved a pesticide company accused of negligence. It was nice to see Alicia in a different setting — going door to door in a housing development, trying to get people to sign on to a class-action suit involving women who’d been left barren as a result of exposure to the company’s chemicals. While we now know enough about the ways of The Good Wife to immediately suspect why Alicia needed the assistance of a woman we haven’t seen in getting those signatures (and indeed, she proved to be “the mole”), it in no way spoiled the pleasure of watching Alicia trying to work her charm. One of the character flaws that makes Alicia interesting is that she truly is a career woman as well as a wife and a mom, and when she’s on the clock she maintains a frosty reserve that in this case could have worked to her disadvantage in trying to sweet-talk the class-action suit.
And, of course, the contrast to Alicia was Canning, who completely charmed and guilted the not-so-desperate housewives he was counter-courting. As he did when he was first introduced on the show, Canning used his neurological disorder for both sympathy and laughs. This time out, the series added an extra layer to his character: We met his charming wife and children, and the novel notion that Canning might be using his wiles for good, not merely money, was introduced. Fox turned in another marvelous performance, turning his usually charming, expressive face into a mask of inscrutability. (And I add a shout-out to Denis O’Hare, returning as the fussily precise, unpredictable Judge Abernathy.)
Fox was not the week’s only guest star: Method Man turned up as a prison buddy of Peter’s. This was an example of the way Chris Noth’s Law & Order roots showed, to good effect — Peter’s a guy’s-guy, it was believable that he would have become friendly-with-legal-advice with Method Man’s ex-con. And using a jail connection as a campaign tool? Again, totally believable in The Good Wife universe, where Peter’s suddenly-broke campaign needs to use every trick it can.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the use of campaign enthusiast Neil Howard Sloan-Jacob — bonus points for giving a minor character such a long name — and his grassroots-gonzo, internet-viral ads for Peter, as well as the smooth was Eli co-opted the shrewd naif for the Florrick cause. (Anyone besides me wondering whether Sloan-Jacob will prove to be a “trojan horse” — to use the phrase employed to describe Canning this week — in a subsequent episode?)
As for Derrick Bond — I’m finding him an enigma wrapped in corruption shrouded in a riddle of obliviousness. Last week, he was bringing in a drug lord, this week a “super-PAC” worth $125 million for the firm? He’s a super-achiever with boundary issues, which were neatly exposed when the script so adroitly tied his deviousness to the Alicia/Canning case.
Oh, and about Will and his girlfriend Tammy: At first I was irritated by her “I’m going to date a soccer player”/”There was no soccer player” coyness, feeling that Elizabeth Reaser was coming close to being used as a ditzy pawn in The Good Wife chess game. But then I realized that this was precisely the kind of game a person like Tammy would play with her boyfriend. It’s just that Tammy is misjudging how much game-playing a gruff guy like Will is going to put up with. (That’s why he’s always drawn back to Alicia: No game-playing there, baby — it’s all-in for nothing when it comes to our gal.)
And finally: Alicia and Peter in bed! Giggling! That door Alicia left open last week was surely closed this week, lest the kids overhear them…
Twitter: @kentucker
saw the preview for the next episode and quite honestly it made me sad to see Alicia going the Will way. Im dissapointed that the writers feel that by giving the Peter loyalists a little they can take the will/alicia storyline further. Its a bit patronising to the viewer and off putting.
i wouldn’t worry
the way this shows’ pacing goes
alicia might tell will she loves him, then it’ll take will another 10 episodes to respond
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I am not sure what you mean? It seems realistic to me that she wants to know what has happened; to be honest with you I am disappointed when people think infidelity is not a big problem; to me it is a sign of abusive behavior and I don’t think anyone should put up with it.
I’m not on board with the Will-Alicia storyline because I frankly just don’t get the (supposed) chemistry between them.
My oh my do I get the chemistry between them. I appreciate how much room this show allows for the complexity of these relationships and the positions the characters are in. Alicia always feels like a very real, intelligent, mature person trying to grapple with obligation and desire. I totally buy her struggle, which is extremely rare for me when it comes to “will they/won’t they?”s and love triangles on tv. Kudos, Good Wife. Rock on.
Word.
Alicia/Peter in bed laughing, how cute was that! <3
I just love Julianna Margulies’ wide open, face-swallowing smile! Everytime I see it, I hope that when TGW has run it’s course, she’ll make a sitcom. I’d watch it just to see her smile once a week!
I like how TGW is so adept at drawing out its storylines. The partnership battle at Lockhart Gardner has gone on for so long, and the writers keep delaying the resolution of that storyline, yet they still manage to create a feeling of plot progression and keep things interesting.
I’ve seen lesser dramas where many episodes feel like “filler” meant to fulfil the quota for the season. Thankfully, all of TGW’s episodes since returning from the break have felt substantial and interesting.
anyone else have trouble with the sound on this great show? It is particularly hard to understand Colinda, my fave character, can the studio not do something about this? Cutting out the annoying background music might help.
Her character’s name is Kalinda.
SO agree…especially with Kalinda. I found myself rewinding repeatedly last nigt to catch what she was saying. I never did get what she said in response to how Canning knew about the partnership turmoil….sheesh!
She said, “There’s a mole.”
But I had to rewind twice myself. At first I thought she said “There’s a rumor.” Which would make sense too…
But I don’t think it’s the sound or the music in the show, I think it’s Archie Panjabi.
I think she’s wonderful as Kalinda – and well deserving of her Emmy, but she speaks very quietly at times for effect. I don’t mind that much, it’s just proof of how much I’m paying attention when I’m watching this show!
They kept playing that scene in the promo, and I never understood what she was saying, until I finally saw it in context, and realized it was “there is a mole.”
Use your closed caption option.
shes Indian. background music or not, shes the lady who ‘answers’ ur tech support questions.
So good! I am really enjoying the intrigue between the partners. In fact, when I found out about Bond putting the keystroke reading software on the computers, I actually said out loud to no one “Ooh! Intrigue!” hee hee
i gasped!
Bond is not the mole. Its the other lawyer. He told Bond about the $85 million and swore him to secrecy. Bond is too smart to go directly to Will with this info knowing they would know he could have only gotten from the tap.
Interesting thought! I hope there are more twists and turns.
Nice to see L/G get a win this week. They were on a boring losing streak lately. Guess it’s okay for them to win as long as Cary isn’t on the show.
The MJF character is okay, but his “ethics” in pretending to be for the victims while actually working for the victimizers? At best, iffy. He may not have done something illegal, but it was deeply unethical. The problem isn’t that he’s cynical. The problem is that he lies and cheats people he claims to befriend. Alicia missed the main point when she confronts him in the end. And exactly how much is an unborn child worth? How much was his own unborn child worth? THESE are moral and philosophical dilemmas worth discussing, not whether or not he is “cynical.”
Loved Will and Eli in this episode. Eli was a hoot when he reacted like Pavlov’s dogs to the word “fund-raiser.” Will’s face when he realized Bond was the spy was riveting.
But bored with Tammy. Pee or get off the pot, woman. And I’d like to see Kalinda back on her game, please.
I too was dissatisfied with the final conversation between Alicia and Canning. When Canning said that he thought companies were being asked to pay too much, I wish Alicia had asked him how much would be enough if HE was the one whose body had been permanently damaged by the company’s negligence. Canning can empathize with his wife’s miscarriage, but it’s not the same as when it affects you personally. Since Canning has his own health issues, I’m surprised he seemed so unable or unwilling to consider the victims’ perspective.
I was also surprised that Canning’s actions – secretly helping the company limit its damages at the expense of his own clients’ needs and wishes – wouldn’t be considered a conflict of interest that could get him sanctioned or even disbarred. He certainly wasn’t representing the plaintiffs to the best of his ability, and I’m convinced there would have been a payment to him from the chemical company afterwards, for his efforts in getting the plaintiffs to accept such a small amount.
I loved it! I love it every week! The show just seems to get better with every episode!
Excellent episode of one of the best shows on TV. The only part I find incongruous is the idea that there would be so much interest – youth vote or otherwise – in Peter’s run for State’s Attorney. I find it heard to believe that college students would have so much interest in viral videos connected to a campaign for a political office of that level. Other than that, stellar show
This was the hardest-to-follow ep they have ever done. I still don’t understand exactly what Fox did with the hedge fund that caused his disqualification. Nor do I understand what Derrick Bond did. And the “Grey’s Anatomy” end of episode music has gotta go. More Alicia. And more Calinda.
Canning borrowed money from the hedge fund. He’s not working for a big firm anymore, just himself, and to put together a class action suit by himself with no firm behind him is expensive. He sent a copy of the settlement offer from the pesticide company to someone at the hedge fund as proof that there would be a payout. Bond put a software on Alicia’s computer that would allow him to see what was written back and forth between Alicia and other people, more specifically Diane.
Bond probably put the spyware on Alicia’s computer to see what she was communicating with Will. And the reason that Canning was booted was that the document demonstrated that he was happily setting up a low-ball offer that would have left the housewives with very little. With that evidence, Lockhart Gardner could show that they would be more effective advocates for the women against the pesticide company, and Canning got bounced.
OK, some of this is questionable. Why would Kalinda use her own name when approaching the home of Canning as a “reporter”? Didn’t she think he would already have all the names of people associated with the firm? Also, is Canning really married? WHy wouldnt Calinda be looking into the health records of the wife to see if said miscarriage actually happened. Seemed like a little bit of setup for her. Also those two kids running through the shot, are they really Canning’s?
Next is the Bond connection, they should assume that all of their offices have recording devices and start meeting about the partnership outside the office.
And Will’s girlfriend? Really? Not a serious relationship, just a sex hookup for both of them. Will needs to get on the straight and narrow road and stop being a “Player”. Why would will keep asking Bond how he knew about the $ figure? It was kind of a dead giveaway that Will knew! Why didnt Bond pick up on that fact?
I thought Will’s $ question to Bonds was legitimate and not a giveaway. They’re supposed to be on the same team, colluding against Diane. And if a colleague brought some inside information to you, it’s not unreasonable to ask “how do you know? where did you get your intel?”
I think they were meeting outside the office, it looked like someone’s house (Diane?) when she, Will and the family law partner met. Will’s girlfriend has gotten needy, I mean did she really expect someone as successful as he is at his age to slow down and work less to be with her?
Tammy is constantly annoying – she’s the dramatic equivalent of a hair ball. I love every second that Eli is onscreen.
word and word
Ditoo. I really wish they would write out Tammy.
I agree, now Tammy can go away.
She’s horrible. And I don’t want to bash her looks in any way, since she’s gorgeous, but does her face sometimes seem “crooked?”
I dislike this character very much. This may cause a stir, but I have to get this out anyway… Elizabeth Reaser’s (sp?) forehead is larger than life. Can they not do something different with her hair?
hahaha! I have been saying that to my friends who watch the show. She’s got a “FIVE”head, not a forehead. Seriously: BANGS please
I told my husband the same thing!! But when he finally paid attention she had it covered with the hat! But yeah…she has to go. Not for the huge forhead, but for being annoying.
The forehead was very prominent last night.It’s not that she’s unattractive, there is just something so consistently unlikeable about her. I rarely want to slap an actress, but…
LOL
I wonder why Elizabeth Reaser annoys me so much — I’m sure she’s a lovely person. I couldn’t stand her on Grey’s Anatomy either. There’s too much going on in this show to waste time on Will’s little trophy.
So far, every little sub-plot they’ve introduced becomes an important point down the line. I’m betting that Tammy is not who or what she seems to be, and the reveal will be another game-changer. I LOVE the complexity of this show and I trust where they are taking it.
I’m actually liking Elizabeth Reaser’s performance a lot more than I keep expecting to. I still generally resent her presence as I’m shallow and probably immoral and can’t help but want Will and Alicia to spontaneously rip each others clothes off, but she’s doing a pretty good job considering.
And yeah, that’s a damn big forehead girl. I can empathize and everything, but you might want to invest in some bangs. Or at least a side part.
Yes, I like Tammy more than Giada.Giada can kill me and I want to kill TGW. So sad.
Elli, I totally agree with you!
I didn’t realize how much I’ve come to dislike Tammy until last night: when Kalinda said “We’ve got a mole” my first thought was “I hope it’s Tammy (after all, it’s not inconceivable that she could have heard enough through Will to figure out what’s going on).” And my only reason for hoping this was so that Will would throw her out of his life – and off our TV screens.
I loved the true blood references with Denis O’Hare’s character, I thought that was so clever of them. Just another reason why i love this show.
Indeed – it’s a hoot when folks from TB guest star on my other fave shows (Chris Bauer, Carrie Preston, Denis O’Hare on TGW; Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Valerie Cruz on “Dexter”).
@caroline – i thought i was paying very close attention, but i’m gonna have to re-watch for these references of which you speak, so thanks for your post. (love the layers of this show – every episode is so rich!)
No mention of the ingenious way Kalinda and crew used the key logger program Bond installed on their computers against him? I thought the whole story about the key logger program was amazing, first Canning and then Bond. Guess I’m just a geek but I truly LOVE this program. It just keeps getting better and better with every episode!
…that was my favorite part, actually.
Arrgghhh! I must have dozed off for a minute or two. Who was the mole?
I think this is it: Kalinda found a program on Alicia’s computer. Will told Alicia to have a fake conversation with Diane and you later find out that it was installed by Bond because Bond was quoting from their emails.
Thank you, “K.” I’m loving all these twists and turns!
the mole was actually the “facilitator” Alicia was going to homes with. Though we never found out what her motivation was.
oh my gosh that teaser for next week! i don’t think i can wait!!!