QUICK REVIEW: Criminal Minds, Castle, Revenge, The Good Wife, Blue Bloods

Criminal Minds

This is not a show that needs recapping every week but every once in a while, an episode or string of episodes happen that warrant discussion.  Last week’s episode broke my heart.  In the early days of Criminal Minds, I rooted for JJ and Reid to get together.  A big part of me, still does.  But I’ve moved on from the idea of those two getting together.  As a result, I was 100% on board with this romance between Maeve and Spencer.  And before you start referencing Manti Te’o asking how can you have a relationship with someone you’ve never met, this show handled it very well to the point I totally believed it.  Matthew Gray Gubler and Beth Riesgraf did a fantastic job selling this relationship that up until this episode, only existed via cryptic phone conversations.  The reason for this, she had a stalker.  So she was in hiding until the stalker was caught. Unfortunately, the stalker found her and kidnapped her and as a result, Reid, who is a very private person, needed to out his relationship to the team and ask for their help in finding her.  Turns out it was someone applying for a PhD and Maeve denied her application and therefore Diane (Michelle Trachtenberg) flipped out and murdered her ex-fiance and ultimately murdered herself and Maeve with a bullet to the head.  It was such a sad scene for so many reasons.  First, Spencer had never seen her face.  Even when Garcia had her picture, Reid refused to see it because he wanted the first time to be face to face.  He also wanted to tell her that he loved her because the last time they spoke, she said she loved him and he didn’t respond.  When he finally saw her, it was with her strapped to a chair with Diane pointing a gun at Reid’s head and Reid pretending to love Diane and not her so he could get her free.  Instead of telling her that he loved her, he had to tell her that he didn’t love her so he could protect her.  Unfortunately, Diane saw through all this and while holding Maeve against her, put a gun to her own head and pulled the trigger, killing both of them.  I told my husband I was afraid she was going to die but then I thought, there’s no way CM would do that to Reid.  Yep, well, wrong again!   Maeve is dead and Reid is crushed.  It was brutal to watch and I’m really curious to see how this will impact him moving forward.  Reid is so private and doesn’t open his heart to many people.  And for him to be ready to make a committment to this girl, only to have her murdered in front of him, will completely damage his already fragile psyche.

Castle

Still one of my favorite shows on TV and I’m loving this season.  The last two episodes were great.  Seeing Meredith (Darby Stanchfield) around making things tricky for Castle and Beckett was priceless.  But it was also a nice change of pace to see Meredith and Beckett go to dinner together and really get along.  Unfortunately before she left, when Kate asked why they didn’t work, Meredith told her the truth.   Castle knew everything about her but she really didn’t know much about Castle.  He’s fun and romantic and sweet, but he never let her in, especially when it came to his dad.  And she couldn’t handle being in the dark.  It really resonated with Kate because she’s in the same situation…to some degree.  Castle knows everything about her darkest time…her mother’s death.  But Beckett knows nothing about, what appears to be, Castle’s darkest period…his father.  And I know there were people who thought Meredith did that maliciously, I don’t agree.  I think she was honestly answering Kate’s question without trying to sabotage anything.  I also think that Kate’s relationship with Rick is VERY different from Meredith’s.  Yes, she is just in the dark about Castle’s history with his father as Meredith is, but she has seen so many different layers to Castle that I’m pretty sure no one else has.   They have been through so much together and she has been around some very vulnerable sides to Rick, that she can’t compare her relationship with Castle to his relationship with anyone else.   She has seen a deeper side to him.  But I think this issue regarding his father, could be a driving wedge between them.  I hope it isn’t but I think it’s inevitable.

I just quickly wanted to mention how much I enjoyed last week’s episode which focused on Esposito. I like when the show puts focus on another character (especially Ryan and Esposito) because I care about them just as much as Castle and Beckett.  Ok maybe not AS much, but it’s close.  Esposito is such a great guy.  I love seeing a hard-nosed, tough guy get hit in his heart (figuratively) because he has no chance to avoid showing his soft side.  I hope the show brings Joey back.  I know cop shows always have those episodes where the cop gives the troubled kid his card where the cop says to call anytime and the cop promises to keep tabs on the kid.  Well I would like to see that.  Not all the time, but I think twice a year wouldn’t be out of the question.

Revenge

I would have to agree with everyone else…this season of Revenge isn’t as good as last season.  I liked the simplicity of last season with a target of the week under the umbrella plan of taking down the Graysons.  Now we have Aiden involved and his story.  Then you have the Initiative involved.  And there’s the Ryan brothers going after the Porter brothers.   It’s too much.  I don’t know why things need to go to this massive levels of story telling.   Sometimes, less is more.  I’d rather go back to last season’s methods with twists and turns complicating matters along the way.   But having said that, I still love the show.  If we can cut down on the side stories (mainly Aiden and the Initiative) I would be ok.  I’m not a fan of Aiden would rather him go away and just have Emily do her thing.  I also don’t know why we needed some major secret group being behind some the Grayson’s decisions.  I would rather have had the Grayson’s be responsible for all their own decisions without having to drag this secret society in.  But if the show can wrap those two things up and go back to business as usual with Emily driving everything and Nolan being there to help her, things will be good again.

The Good Wife

Alicia and Peter sitting in a tree.  F-U-C….whoa!!!!  I’m not going to go there.  But how about that trailer scene? AWESOME!!!   If the show continues down this path with Alicia and Peter doing their thing and Will possibly working on a relationship with Laura (Amanda Peet) I would be very happy.

The second half of the season is already cranking.  They got rid of Kalinda’s God awful husband storyline, the firm is slowly starting to pick itself back up again, the case of the Justice Department going after Eli (headed up by Wendy Scott Carr) resulting in bringing in George O’Malley is fantastic, and Louis Canning is now one of the firm’s creditors which should be an interesting wrinkle.  My biggest complaint?  Cary Agos.   Can we PLEASE find this man a storyline worthy of him?  I’m so tired of him being on the back burner.  It’s time to bring him to the big front burner and let him dominate a storyline.

Blue Bloods

I know I’m really late to the party in commenting on this but I think it’s really shitty the way Jennifer Esposito and her character were handled on the show.  If what she is saying is true, then it’s horrible.  The short version, Esposito had been diagnosed with Celiac Disease.  It went misdiagnosed for years and her form of the disease is pretty severe.  I know people with Celiac and there are varying degrees with some leaving people down right ill for weeks, especially when you don’t know what’s wrong.  Esposito was violently ill but when she finally was diagnosed properly her doctors suggested she have a reduced work load on the show to accommodate her illness.  According to Esposito, CBS didn’t grant the reduced work load nor did they release her from her contract.  She was put on medical leave without pay but because she was still under contract, she wasn’t able to seek employment with another network TV show.   She could do theater, film, or cable TV (as long as it didn’t air at 10pm) but she was pretty much stuck.   That’s the part I don’t get.  You won’t grant her request because it isn’t fair to the cast and crew, that’s fine.  But then let her go so she can find other work.   And they wouldn’t do that.   So she went on medical leave and now she’s gone for good.   I hate it because I thought she was fantastic and her chemistry with Donnie Wahlberg was amazing.  I think it’s a big loss for the show.  Having said that, I don’t think the new replacement, Megan Ketch has been bad.  I actually like her.  Not as much as Esposito of course, but Ketch is doing a good job.  It’s tough shoes to fill and I think no matter who it was to fill them, fans weren’t going to like her.  Now apparently Ketch is moving on and Megan Boone is set to replace her for 4 episodes with an option to be picked up a series regular.  Guess we’ll see how she does.

In terms of the season, as always, I love this show.  I know people can get annoyed at how the Reagan family always does the right thing and makes the right decisions.   But I don’t care.  I like the fact that they are good people trying to do the right thing.  What’s wrong with that?  They still have flaws.  They still struggle with decisions.  But if they always try to go the right way, I’m ok with that.

 

RECAP & REVIEW: The Good Wife “Battle of the Proxies” S4 E10

I’m so mad at myself that I haven’t been as up to speed on The Good Wife as I would have liked.  But Sunday’s have been brutal.  I basically had a marathon this weekend and now I’m even more mad at myself.  I know there are some people who aren’t happy with the story lines this season but I’m not one of them.  Well, except for the Kalinda/Nick story line which has been horrible.   But it appears the writers agree and Nick is now gone so I’m not going to crush them for one bad idea over 4 seasons!

This whole thing with Nick probably wouldn’t have been so bad if it hadn’t been for the build up.  The last 3 seasons, we were led to believe that Kalinda was on the run from a really bad dude and that her life could be in jeopardy if he were to find her.  Instead, we got a kinky, sex crazed, wacko, who did nothing but make me want to FF every scene he’s in.  I mean really?   This is the guy Kalinda was so afraid of?  We all know how tough Kalinda is so I would think it would take a pretty significant person to make her squirm.  But Nick was a joke.  Hell, Scott Porter was more intimidating than Marc Warren was.  And I know Kalinda has this whole sex appeal thing going on, but does everyone in contact with her need to be about sex?  Because it’s hard for me to buy her being deathly afraid of this man is she’s constantly screwing him every chance she gets.  But he’s gone…thank God.  So the question remains, HOW is he gone.  The ending was left very vague.  And maybe if this were a more interesting storyline, we would care what happened to Nick.  Since it wasn’t, I don’t…I just want him to stay gone.

I’m loving the addition of Amanda Peet this season.  She doing a fantastic job and I hope they keep her on moving forward.  And seeing Chris Bulter made me realize how much I miss seeing Matan Brody.  He was such a good character and then he just vanished.  Big mistake.  Bring back Matan!!!   But Peet has been solid and I’m liking the chemistry she is developing with Will.  I hope that starts to go somewhere because I really like them together.

By the way, Jackie and condoms…one word…ew.

And I know this happened in A Defense of Marriage but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the last scene in the bathroom between Peter and Alicia.  Holler!!!!!!!   You all know I want those two back together.   They are amazing.  I think the key to remember in all of this is that Peter and Alicia NEVER stopped loving each other or being attracted to one another.  They may have had their issues with their spouses choices (rightfully so) but they never fell out of love.  Which is why they will always find their way back to each other.   And Stockard Channing, I love you woman but STAY OUT OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP!!!  Don’t you be telling Peter to back off.  You back off!

So what do we think is going on with Eli and this investigation?  Is this a Maddie Hayes creation?  And what a crappy position to be put in…assist us in nailing your current candidate or we’ll nail another candidate who just so happens to be your ex-wife.  Low blow man.  Those justice agents go right for the gonads don’t they?   Luckily he has Diane on his side to assist him and I’m sure they will both find a way to get Eli out of this.

And for the love of all that’s holy and good, can we PLEASE give Cary Agos a storyline.  We wasted half the season on this stupid Nick guy, now it’s time for Cary to shine.  Please?   Pretty please?  I’m begging the writing staff…do something for my guy!

How are you all liking this season?   And are you as happy as the rest of the world seems to be that Nick is gone?   Let me know!

 

SEASON FINALE REVIEW: The Good Wife “The Dream Team” S4 E22

Unbelievable!!!!  I really didn’t think this would be much of a season finale….when will I learn?  Last night’s season finale of TGW was fabulous.  I’ve mentioned several times how there is no show on TV that has done a better job with guest stars the way TGW has.  All their guest stars should win Emmys.  They are that good and that magnificent.  Martha Plimpton is absolutely brilliant as Patti Nyholm.  And really, what more can I say about MJF.  Them teaming up to take down LG is genius.  But will it be successful?

The Dream Team vs. LG

LG has just won another class action suit.  One they believed they had no chance of winning.  Since they realize this will be tied up in appeals for years, LG tries to go for an immediate settlement to get the money to the client faster.  Seems reasonable.   But Canning isn’t budging.   In fact, he’s delaying the discussion because he is waiting for his attorney…one supermom, Patti Nyholm.  Then the bomb drops…they are suing LG for $50 million for fraud.  Basically the case should have been a $1 million settlement or jury trial.  Instead LG insisted it be a bench trial and they were awarded $25 million.  Canning and Nyholm are accusing LG of judicial tampering since the judge was someone Will played basketball with and mostly likely bribed for the favorable judgement.  We know it isn’t true but with Will’s history and his issues with the bar association now public knowledge, that’s what they are playing off of.   Not to get too off topic, but how can this not be an issue for the firm moving forward?  In real life, they would have to cut Will loose for this exact reason…they can’t have every judgement that goes their way result in a countersuit for fraud.  So regardless of whether or not Will is guilty (and he is) a struggling firm can’t have that liability around.  Especially a firm that is in the financial straits (which learn later on) that LG is in.  Diane will always have Will’s back and therefore will do anything for him.  If Will were a bigger person, he would step down from the firm so they wouldn’t be vulnerable to these types of actions.  But, since Josh Charles is a major character, he isn’t going anywhere.

As this is all playing out, Canning and Nyholm have made one thing very clear to LG….they are there to destroy them.  Now here’s my question.   Is this a personal attack or a professional one?  It’s one thing to go after a firm for your clients.  It’s another to take someone down because of your personal feelings.  What would be the motive for Patti and Louis here?  Patti has lost to them but Louis has beaten them more than he’s lost.  So what’s with all the venom?  Why go after them so fervently?  In the end, everything really spins on its heels.  Just when LG has gotten the upper hand on the Dream Team and destroyed their countersuit and therefore declared victory, the Dream Team had one more shoe to drop…..this wasn’t their end game.  This was all a distraction for a bigger picture move.   Patrick Edelstein, LG’s largest client, isn’t happy with them and the Dream Team was able to snatch him from their client list while this “case” was going on.  This whole thing was a rouse to steal their top client.  So while the intent to destroy them is still going strong, the action by which they are doing it was slightly different from what was originally perceived.  Ouch.  Diane and Will realize that they have been cut at the knees and are in trouble.

Kalinda

I am about to say something very unpopular so whatever you choose to throw at me, please have it be soft.  Kalinda is starting to annoy me.  (DUCK! for throwing objects!!)   I know Kalinda is a very private person.  I respect that.  But she lost the only girlfriend she ever had because of secrets.  Alicia has extended an olive branch to her but it comes with a price…Kalinda has to be more forthcoming and honest with her.  Alicia has been helping Kalinda with a tax case.  She finds an old check and reaches out to the company who issued it to see if they would be willing to reissue the check.  The man on the other line is very serious and cryptic and Alicia senses that something is off with him.  She hangs up and tells him she’ll get back in touch.  She doesn’t, but he gets in touch with her…twice.  Once on her cell and once at her home.  Both times, Alicia tells Kalinda about it and it wasn’t until Kalinda heard that he called her at home and called her by name that she brings her in the loop on who this is….her husband.  Kalinda also keeps all of this from Will when she asks him for money so she can run.

Ok.  I don’t know if Will knows her background.  My assumption is no because I think he would have asked if her running and asking for money had anything to do with her husband.  He didn’t.  In fact, he tells her that he thought she was happy here and couldn’t understand why she’d want to leave.  So I don’t think he knows.  Alicia doesn’t know.  No one knows.   Safe to say, this is a dangerous man.  Why else would Kalinda be so evasive (and have all that ammunition in her dry wall?)  We already know she had another name and life but we weren’t sure why or the story behind it.  I guess this was an abusive relationship that she escaped.  But here is where I start to get annoyed with her.  I get that you don’t want your private past aired out for all to know and discuss.  I get that whatever happened probably screwed you up so badly you don’t know if you like men or women.  I get that whatever happened has you so guarded, you don’t want to let that guard down for anyone.  But you know what, you did let your guard down for two people you thought you could trust….Will and Alicia.  Therefore, they deserve the truth.  Tell them what is going on.  They have proven themselves to the point that you know they won’t tell anyone and keep your confidence.  If this guy is that dangerous to the point where he now knows Alicia’s name and where she lives, you need to do something.  Running away isn’t the answer (which thankfully she changed her mind and is sticking around.)  So ask them for help.  Let them in on what is going on.  Don’t pull this “don’t worry about it I can handle it” crap again.  She is putting other people at risk by withholding information.   I don’t want Kalinda’s inherent character to change because it’s what I love about her. But there has to be some growth.  And this is an area she could grow by keeping Alicia in the loop and having her help her (as well as do what she need to do to protect her family.)  At this point, Alicia deserves to know what she is dealing with so she can protect her family.  Hopefully, Kalinda will give her that chance.  Or blow the guys brains out so no one has to deal with him ever again!   That would work too!

Alicia and Peter

Talk about a dream team.  This is why they belong together….her heart keeps pulling her back to him.  Her heart isn’t pulling her towards Will.  Her vajay-jay might be but not her heart.  It was clear in this year’s elevator scene (which I liked much better than last year’s) that while they don’t regret what they did, it’s over.  It was a moment (or ten) but it wasn’t love.  Will knows it.  Alicia knows it.  You can see it on Alicia’s face and Will’s face as he walks out of the elevator.  You can see it on Alicia’s face as she stands outside her old home.  She wants so desperately to be inside with her family.  But her heart has been shattered so many times, can she really put herself through it again.  I think she can.  I said it when it came out last year that while she was brutally hurt, and rightfully so, that hurt will eventually pass because she will realize that he did it when he was being an ass.  Not after they reconciled and were falling in love again.  Big difference.  It will certainly take time but I really believe that it’s not a matter of if, but when, they are back together as a family!

Another phenomenal season of TGW has come to a close.  What did you think of the finale?  It sets up for terrific 2012/2013 season and I am already looking forward to September!!!!

 

SEASON FINALE TONIGHT: The Good Wife!!!!

Tonight is the season finale of The Good Wife.  I’m not sure if it will be quite as insane as last year’s but this show never disappoints me so I have a feeling it will be as brilliant as always.  Plus we have the incomparable Martha Plimpton and Michael J. Fox in the season finale teaming up to bring LG down.  Love it!!!

I’m not sure if I’m going to be live tweeting or not.  I usually like to watch Game of Thrones live (no commercials) and then watch TGW right after (to fast forward the commercials!)  Plus, when you live tweet, sometimes you miss things and I hate that.  But I do love watching it live with my peeps.  So I will let you know.

No matter what, make sure you check out the blog sometime on Monday for a full recap and review of tonight’s finale.  And as always, I want to hear what you think as well!

 

RECAP & REVIEW: The Good Wife “The Penalty Box” S3 E21

There were some very eyebrow raising moments in tonight’s TGW.  Some confused me and some intrigued me.  The only thing I wasn’t confused about was seeing Lemond Bishop again.  Wow is that man just beautiful to look at!!  But more on him a little later.  Let’s break down “The Penalty Box”

Alicia and Diane’s Case

Judge Cuesta (who will always be Leon Kodak to me, played by the fabulous David Paymer) is being asked to step aside from the bench because he is being accused of prosecutorial misconduct stemming from a case in which an innocent man went to prison for 20 years for the murder of his wife.  (DNA later exonerated the man.) This has to be difficult when a lawyer has to defend a judge.  The judge is used to putting these lawyers in their place and having the power that when they speak their directives are followed, most of the time without question.  Likewise lawyers are used to biting their tongues most of the time out of respect for the men and women wearing the robes behind the bench.  But when a judge needs a lawyer, those rules are thrown out the window.  It’s hard for both sides but if the best case is to be put forward, all egos have to be pushed back to do what’s in the best interest of the client.

This case was my first eyebrow raising moment.  It appeared as though Cuesta was bending over backwards to protect his ADA.   First there was evidence that was left in the community smoking area where the jury was able to see it.  This was also evidence that was inadmissible due to the inflammatory detail that could cause prejudicial bias towards the defendant.   Then, there were banking receipts that would have proved the defendant didn’t commit the crime, that were withheld from the defense.  On both counts, Cuesta went over and above to protect ADA Lloyd.   Why?  I understand protecting your people and not being a snitch to save your own skin.  I can respect that.  I can also respect protecting a good person who made a simple mistake and you don’t want their career ruined over an honest mistake.  But Lloyd is out of the practice of law (he’s now in real estate.)  Plus, at what point is protecting someone making you just as culpable as the person who made the mistake?  This is a man who went to prison for 20 years for something he didn’t do.  This is also something that will destroy your career.  It’s obvious this ADA was a bad seed.  Making a mistake is one thing.  But choosing several despicable methods to win your case, shows a pattern of egregious behavior, not a green lawyer making one mistake.   So why was Cuesta so willing to destroy his career for a kid who couldn’t care less about him?  If Lloyd cared about Cuesta as much as Cuesta seemed to want to protect him, he would have owned up to his decisions and not let Cuesta take the heat.  And the other thing I couldn’t get over is that this guy is out of law!!!  He’s not a practicing attorney any longer!  He’s in real estate!  What are you protecting?  At some point, it’s gets to be stupid rather than honorable.   I didn’t get it.  Once you realize there were so many things Lloyd did to send an innocent man to prison, the quest to protect him should have ceased because it proved he could have cared less about protecting you.

Cary vs. Callie 

LG needs a new litigator and ASAP.  Diane wants Cary, Will doesn’t, and Howard just wants to know who Cary will take with him on a desert island.  Which cracked me up when he asked Diane and Will if he was gay considering he mentioned two men and not one woman.  Ha!  Diane also interviews Callie (played by Julianne Nicholson.)  Will didn’t know about this so when she tells him he lets her know that he is sleeping with her.  To which Diane replies “can’t you keep your pants on?”   I love her!   Ultimately Callie takes a job with another firm and Cary is offered the job at LG to which he is welcomed back with open arms…except Will.  His arms are only slightly opened and is very cautious with having Cary back on board.

Eyebrow raising moments #2 and #3.  The #2 moment was Will’s reaction to bringing Cary back into the fold.  Why was he so hesitant?  I know Cary was one of the ASAs prosecuting Will but as he explained to him, it wasn’t his choice.  He was given the case and it was his job to pursue it.  While Will might be upset about that, he has to understand that it wasn’t personal between him and Cary.  He had a job to do and he did it.  So other than the target was you, what’s your beef?  He also has to know that most of the dirty tactics being used were Wendy Scott Carr.  Will’s been around the block long enough to know who was driving the train on that inquiry.

Having said all that, could Will have another reason to not trust bringing Cary back to LG?  Which brings me to moment #3: the end of the episode where Peter calls Cary.  Is this all a set up?  My conspiracy theory mind is going crazy trying to put all these pieces together.  Let’s go back to last season’s season finale.  The final scene is Cary going into Peter’s office to discuss getting his job back.  Peter realizes that he used to work with Alicia and LG.  So all indications were that Peter was going to use Cary to go after LG, Will, and possibly Alicia.  My guess was that Peter wasn’t going to go after Alicia because he still loved her and eventually wanted her back.  But if he can take down LG or Will, then ok.  That seemed to go by the waste side this year though.  I thought that final scene was going to set up a massive showdown with Cary in the middle.  While it did happen (sort of), it didn’t in the way I thought.  Yes Peter wanted to go after Will but when he put Wendy Scott Carr on it and she took it down paths Peter didn’t want it to go, he nipped her and her agenda in the bud.  But Cary was put in the middle of that.   I think since Peter realized that going after Will meant, by extension, going after Alicia, he pulled back.  But maybe he isn’t finished yet and is trying to go about this another way.  That’s where Cary working for LG comes into play.

I think Cary going to LG for a job was originally an innocent proposition.  He lost favor in the SA office so he’s looking for another opportunity.  He loved working there, his relationship with Alicia is much better (or is it), so he took the jump back to the “dark side.”  When Peter found out, he was genuinely upset.  He brings Cary into his office and they discuss the information that was brought to Peter’s attention.  Peter talks about loyalty and Cary tells him that he is loyal.  After Peter tells him to turn his cases over to Geneva and that he’ll receive 1 month’s severance, the scene is over.  Was there another conversation that was had that we weren’t privy to?  I don’t know.  After Cary bumped into Alicia at LG and asked her not to say anything to Peter, does Cary assume it was Alicia who spilled the beans?  I don’t know.  Does that phone call by Peter that Cary took while talking to Alicia (celebrating his return to the “dark side”) mean something more than Peter asking him where he left his stapler?  I don’t know!  As usual, I’m probably reading MUCH more into this than there actually is.  But I can’t help it!  I always think there is more to something than meets the eye and while TGW, for the most part, has been a straight forward show, that doesn’t mean there isn’t something bigger brewing.

Kalinda

Someone needs to explain to me what happened with her and Lemond Bishop…yum.  My husband and I were on opposite sides.  I think my husband was right though (don’t you dare tell him I said that!!!)   He thought Kalinda did some work for Bishop and he was pissed that the FBI found out about and are questioning him.  I thought, you know what, never mind.  What I thought was dumb.  Even revisiting it in my head it makes no sense.  I change my mind, hubby was 100% right.  Anyhoo, Bishop tells Alicia and Kalinda that he doesn’t like the FBI sniffing around him (what a shock) and tells them to handle it.  Kalinda goes to see Agent Delany and tells her…I’m sorry fondles her into submission…to stop going after Lemond Bishop because it will get her killed.  Lana tells her no can do and Kalinda leaves.

This does drive me crazy about Kalinda.  She always uses sex to get what she wants.  Isn’t that how she lost her only friend for a while there?  Hasn’t she learned from that?  Kalinda is sharp and she’s a bad ass.  She doesn’t need to resort to the sex thing every time.  It’s one area I wish the writers would clean up.   In fairness to Lana, it’s not fair of Kalinda to ask her to not do her job.  As a FBI agent and with Lemond Bishop the biggest criminal in Chicago, Lana has to go after him.  On the flip side, can’t she go after Bishop without dragging Kalinda into it?  There has to be a million other ways she can pursue him without bringing Kalinda into the fold.   I don’t think the writers would kill off Kalinda because she’s way too popular a character, but I would be lying if I didn’t admit that this storyline does have me a bit concerned.

Next week….the season finale!!!!  It’s hard to believe with the way CBS has scheduled this show all year that it’s already time for the last episode.   But it is.  I have to say, I don’t have nearly the giddiness I had last season for that finale, but I am thrilled to see Patti Nyholm (Martha Plimpton) and Louis Canning (Michael J. Fox) returning for the finale.  Will we be seeing a little Chandler Bing as well?  One could hope!

 

RECAP & REVIEW: The Good Wife “Pants on Fire” S3 E20

Chandler Bing is horrible and amazing at the same time.  In typical The Good Wife form, they are flipping fantastic when it comes to guest stars on this show.  I was hoping “Blue Ribbon Panel” wasn’t going to be the last we saw of Mike Kresteva (played by the always remarkable Matthew Perry) and after last nights episode, we only scratching the surface of Mr. Kresteva’s devious and manipulative ways.

I think the key with finding a good foil for our heroes (that would be Peter and Alicia in case you were wondering) is finding someone we can’t stand because they are making or are about to make life very difficult for our protagonists but at the same time is so charismatic that we want to see more of them.  The old “I love to hate you” mentality if you will.  And that’s what Kresteva brings.  He is calculating, dastardly, and beguiling. But you know why I love him the most?   Yes you do.  You know what I am going to say before I even write it down.  Kiki, you know where I’m going!   I love him because he is already starting to bring Peter and Alicia back together.

To me, Peter and Alicia will always belong together and I believe that’s what they want as well.  For obvious reasons, Alicia was hurt.  But Peter has changed and so has Alicia.  I believe that once the hurt is gone they will find their way back to one another.  It happened once, it can happen again.  And what better way to start the reconciliation than to have a common enemy to fight!

Peter has been going back and forth about his run for Governor.  Of course Eli wants him to run but does Peter?  He has mentioned several times that he really enjoys being the State’s Attorney again and that he wants to run a tighter, more above ship this time around.  So does he want to throw that away for the chance at the Governor’s office?  By the end of the episode the answer is, yes.  What gives Peter that final nudge towards running?  Alicia’s support.

First, Alicia goes to see Eli.  You see, Kresteva came to see her in her office regarding the BRP report and asked if she would be willing to write a minority report.  She declines again because of the conflict of interest since he husband was possibly involved in the case.  He leaves.  Later that day, he is on the news saying how it was Alicia who invited him to her office to discuss suppressing certain information because it would expose her husband.  He says he refused to do it because the most important thing is the truth.  Alicia’s jaw (along with mine) is on the floor at this point.  After this grandstanding of insidiousness, Kresteva then announces he is running for Governor of Illinois.  Of course he is!!!!   So Alicia goes to see Eli and at first wants him to go after Kresteva and tell him to stop spreading lies about her.  Eli tells her that will get them no where and to just let it go.  Who are we kidding?   There is NO WAY she is letting this go.  She confronts Kresteva who recounts a completely different version of events (a were-you-smoking-crack-then-or-now version of events) and Alicia is beside herself.  It’s one thing to lie to a pundit or a TV audience.  It’s an entirely different matter to lie directly to the person you are lying about and look at them, like they have lost their mind because they don’t remember it the way you are fabricating it.  When Alicia gets back to LG, she tells Eli what happened and before she can finish, he finishes it for her.  He reminds her how good he is at his job and to let him handle it.  At this point, she says she wants Peter to run and win and she is behind it 100%..whatever Eli needs.   That’s my girl!!!  Of course there is the ubiquitous reminder of no kids involved.

Finally, Alicia goes to Peter.  She tells him what a fantastic Governor he would make and that regardless of their issues, she has always supported his politics and belief system.  She will back him and he really appreciates the support that he desperately needs.  This pushes him over the edge to run.   When he meets Kresteva in the elevator later on and lets him know that he will be running against him, Peter asks him to leave out the families.  You can go after him all he wants, but leave out the families.  Kresteva says no way.  In Mike’s mind, that’s what makes it fun.  How far will you go to get elected when it could destroy your family.  In particular, his wife.  This is setting up for a MONSTER campaign that I cannot wait to watch.  With Alicia and Peter teaming up, there is no way they can lose!!!

Another interesting twist on the political front is Eli being torn between Peter’s campaign and his ex-wife, Vanessa’s (played by Parker Posey) campaign.  I’ve never been a huge Parker Posey fan but I LOVE her as Eli’s ex.  Eli isn’t running her campaign but he is consulting to help her out (and, as to be expected, they have started sleeping together again.)  Unfortunately, the head of the DNC comes to see Eli and puts him in a brutal position.  He doesn’t want Vanessa to run.  He has another candidate the committee would rather see this time around and if she runs, she takes all the women voters away from him and he’ll lose.   If Eli continues to help Vanessa, the DNC will not support Peter’s bid for Governor.  If Eli pulls his support from Vanessa, the DNC will back Peter.  Ugh!!  That is brutal!!  Eventually, Eli gives Vanessa the bad news therefore giving the DNC what they want and Eli and Peter get what they want.  But Vanessa left hung out to dry.  That sucks.  But that’s politics.

Lastly, there is one more thing I need to touch on….Alicia and Peter vs. Jackie.  We knew the showdown was coming based off the ending from “BRP” (that you may not remember considering it was close to a month since the last new episode!)   Curse you CBS!!  Anyhoo, when last we left, Alicia was trying to buy her old house but it didn’t work out.  However, her agent called to congratulate her when she saw the name Florrick on the agreement of sale.  Putting 2 and 2 together, Alicia realized it was Jackie who bought the house.  She confronts the witch at her salon and asks why.  Jackie says she bought it for Peter and the kids.  And Alicia chimes in “with the hopes of you moving in as well.  That way you get what you want…me out of the picture.”  Alicia is pissed and tells Jackie that she will stop it.  ”How” Jackie asks.  ”I’m a lawyer, watch me” Alicia replies.  I love their pissing matches!!!

Alicia calls Peter about what Jackie did and Peter tells her that he will handle it.  Peter invites Mommie Dearest over to his office and tells her to withdraw the offer.  She says she can’t but Peter is very firm with her and he isn’t messing around.  Seriously, if she wasn’t his mother, I would have thought he was threatening her.  She tries to tell him that Alicia is manipulating him (oh and she isn’t trying to do the same thing…weasel) but Peter isn’t buying it.  He tells her to back off and pull the offer or he will make the call and do it himself.  She relents and walks out with her tail between her legs.  But Jackie is not one to go down without a fight….

Alicia gets a call from Jackie telling her that she had a stroke and to please call Peter.  They both arrive at the hospital but Alicia is there just a minute before Peter.  Jackie asks her to lean down and whispers “I forgive you.”  Just then Peter comes in and immediately apologizes for yelling at her earlier and Jackie lays in bed with a smug look on her face.

Ok, so here is my question.  Did Jackie really have a stroke or not?  I know you can’t fake a stroke BUT she has a lot of money and influence.  Could she set this up to make it look like a stroke to wear Peter down?  If not and she really had a stroke, then she is using it for everything she can to paint this as Alicia’s fault and get Peter to do what she wants.   WEASEL!!!   Either way, she sucks.  It just seems a bit of fortuitous timing that right after Peter scolded her, she has a stroke.  Also, we didn’t see her have the stroke.  We just see her in a hospital bed.  So until I am proved wrong, I think Jackie just had an episode of some sort that she is blowing up to be a stroke.  And yes, I do think she is that awful a person to do something like that!

Only two more episodes until the season finale!!  What are you hoping to see before we break for next fall?

 

RECAP/REVIEW: The Good Wife “Gloves Come Off” & “Blue Ribbon Panel” S3 E18 & 19

The best show on TV delivers another fantastic episode on Sunday night.  But I would be remiss if I didn’t at least comment on the March 18th episode “Gloves Come Off.”  I watched both yesterday so there are a few things I want to discuss from each.

Gloves Come Off

Elizabeth Reaser is back as Tammy.  I must say, the slick dark hair is a really good look for her!  I’ve said this before when Tammy was around more, I can’t stand her character and I really don’t think Reaser is a very good actress.  The only good thing about Tammy coming back is that her visit precipitated a reunion between Alicia and Kalinda..sort of.  Tammy tells Alicia that she and Will weren’t over when she slept with him.  But once they did sleep together, Will seemed to forget all about Tammy and appears to have lost her number. It put some things in perspective for Alicia…good people make bad choices sometimes.   Alicia isn’t a bad person but she had just found out about another person Peter had slept with and it happened to be her current BFF. Between that and the chemistry she and Will had once shared, she let her guard down and gave into her needs.  Unfortunately, she hurt someone else in the process.  I think this is why Alicia is seeing Kalinda’s situation regarding Peter in a different light.  People have their reasons for having an affair.  You may not agree with their reasons and they may not agree with yours.  But people have them and if you are going to be someone who is one part of a cheating tandem, you can’t judge other people.  So Alicia decided to extend an olive branch to Kalinda to see if they can get back to where they were.  She doesn’t know if they can but she’d like to try.   Yeah!!!!!   You knew it was going to happen sooner or later.

The case involved a former hockey player suing a snowmobile company for the death of his wife, which turned into a countersuit since the former hockey player suffered head trauma so he decides to go after the league.  It’s a complicated case and one that was really fascinating until the end when for some reason, the snowmobile company dropped their countersuit and settled for what the plaintiff was requesting in the first place.  I was as confused as Alicia and Julius.  The case did bring back a TGW favorite…Louis Canning (Michael J. Fox.)  Canning has been trying to woo Alicia to his firm now for over a year.  Alicia isn’t interested because she doesn’t want to be considered a poacher.  I really don’t understand her logic here.  Well I do and I don’t.  People get recruited from rival companies all the time.  It doesn’t mean they aren’t loyal (especially if they keep turning down the offer.)  If someone out there is willing to pay you a better compensation package for the work you do with a potential for better advancement, why wouldn’t you at least consider it.  You’d be a fool not to.  You may be perceived as loyal but now you’d also be perceived as stupid.  And I still don’t buy the loyalty angle.  Just because you change jobs, doesn’t make you disloyal.  In the end, Alicia used Canning’s offer to solicit a better offer from Lockhart Gardner.  At first she was really pushing Diane but she pushed one step too far when Diane asked Alicia to give her until the end of the week and Alicia said no.  Diane stood her ground and said “the end of the week Alicia or you can clean out your desk now.”  Both women were taking big risks.  Alicia needed more money for a house and Diane didn’t want to see one of the stars of her company leave but she wasn’t about to be strong armed by her either.  It was also hard to feel for Alicia somewhat in this scenario.  Because of the different flashbacks we were seeing, I couldn’t tell if she really wanted her old house again or not.  So if you can’t afford $1.9 million for a home, then find a home you can afford.   Why is it LG’s fault that they don’t pay you enough to buy that kind of home?  Also, you and Peter are still married.  These are his children that will be living there.  Why not pull your resources and buy the home together?   You and the kids live there and he can still live in the city until you guys work things out.  I know she wants to do this on her own, I get that.  But sometimes your pride has to take a back seat (if you can’t do it on your own) to do what’s in the best interest of your family.  Or simply buy a cheaper home.

Show of hands.  How many people love seeing Diane Lockhart playing the field?   That’s what I thought…everyone.   I loved watching her get flustered on the phone as she is switching back and forth between Kurt and Jack’s calls and trying to schedule dates with both of them.  In case you were wondering, Team Kurt right here!  I can’t get behind Bryan Brown’s Jack because I still remember him being such a jerk in the movie Cocktail.  Sorry Bryan.  I know it’s not fair, but it is what it is.

The last question I want to raise…who is leaking information about Will to the review board?  In typical form when it comes to my feelings about Will Gardner, I can’t feel bad for him.  He is hanging around helping with cases (even though he thinks he’s skirting around it by being ambiguous and dismissive.)  He is doing things he shouldn’t be doing.  So I can’t feel bad for him that someone is saying it to the review board.  However, the Judas must be captured and punished!!  You don’t squeal on your firm or your teammate.  And that’s what someone is doing.   But who?

Blue Ribbon Panel

I need someone to explain the point of a Blue Ribbon Panel.  How do these things come about and what is the end goal of these panels?   Because I don’t get it.  Isn’t the most important thing to find out the truth to what is happening so the victims’ receive justice?   Well apparently that isn’t the goal of this particular panel which is headed up by the devious Mike Kresteva (played by the delicious Matthew Perry.)  Alicia was asked to step in on Diane’s behalf and step in she did.  One of the things I love about TGW is the real world feel the show has at times.  Here is a woman who is confident, intelligent, determined, and excellent at her job, who is thrown into the deep end of the pool with very powerful people.  She was out of her league at first.  And we get to see Alicia’s self-doubt creep in very much the way we saw her in the early parts of Season 1 when she was just trying to find a way to be successful and figure out what is going on.  Even very successful people have moments where they aren’t sure if they are up for a certain task (whether they want you to know it or not.)  But in typical Alicia form, she outshines everyone in the room.   No one tells her this is basically a formality because all Alicia cares about is the truth….how refreshing.  But it starts to backfire on her because in her quest for justice, she may be putting her career in jeopardy by pissing off judges and other lawyers.  So she needs to weigh what’s more important.  She of course falls on the side of justice and sooner than later starts to have some people in her corner.  It backfires though when it is revealed that her husband was involved in the early investigation and he chose to shut down the pursuit for unknown reasons.  It was a racial charged case with a white man shooting black man.   So Kresteva gives Alicia the choice…file the amended paperwork and the case goes away or file the truthful paperwork that will come back to bite her husband and other people, in the ass.  She chooses to save Peter.

I love when that happens!!!  Not because the victim won’t receive justice for his father’s death, but when the outcome isn’t as neat and tidy as we would like.  Why can’t Alicia find justice and protect Peter?   Because you don’t always have that choice.  Sometimes, your choices are hard and someone has to be the loser.  That’s how the real world works.  And that’s what happened to the victim’s family.  Perry was terrific as the slimy but charming Kresteva.  It’s another thing that TGW has always been the best at….perfect guest stars that you just want to see over and over again (except Elizabeth Reaser.)  And they bring these guest stars in just enough so you remember them but not too often that you get sick of them.

Overall this was a very strong Alicia-centric episode.  Between her fighting the old boys club on the Blue Ribbon panel to fighting the IRS and FBI for Kalinda, she was not someone to mess with this week!  You know where all that intensity is coming from?   The stress of buying a home.  It can make you do some crazy things and act in insane ways.  I’ve been there, done that, bought the t-shirt, starred in the movie.  I have to say though that the one eye-rolling part of the episode is when the real estate agent asks Alicia to write a letter to the home owner about why she should get the house.  I’m sorry, but I’ve bought and sold enough homes over the years that it has nothing to do with that.  Yes you want someone to buy your home that you know will love it and take care of it as much as you did, but you can’t control that.  What you can control is how much you get for your house.  Because ultimately, it’s your decision who you sell your home to.  You can write me the most beautiful letter in the world.  But if your offer is several hundred thousand dollars less than other offers, sorry for your luck.  That’s kind of what happened to Alicia.  They called to say they loved her letter and they want her to have the house, but they still wanted their money.  So they are giving Alicia the chance to match the best offer so they can give the house to her.  So it kind of worked, kind of didn’t.  But it didn’t matter because Alicia got the house!  She has no idea how that’s possible since she didn’t up her bid but the agent said she was looking at the paper work with the name Florrick on it.  ”How many Florrick’s are there” she asks.  Really? You’ve never heard of the State’s Attorney Peter Florrick?   Ugh.  Alicia confronts Peter about it but he is clearly in the dark and has no idea what she is talking about.  It then dawns on her that there is a third Florrick. That’s right.  It’s the God awful most horrible character on this show, Jackie Florrick.  She bought the house in Peter’s name.  Damn her.  And that’s how the episode ends….with Alicia tracking Jackie down to her salon where she asks to speak with her.  I can’t wait to see the fireworks when we come back on April 15th.  APRIL 15th!!!   Yikes.

As you can tell from my recent post on the renewals for CBS, TGW was renewed for Season 4.  Can I get an Amen?   AMEN!!  Can I get an Oh Yeah?   OH YEAH!!!!  Can I get a Hell Yes?   HELL YES!!!   I’m not excited in the least that TGW is coming back.   We only have 3 more episodes until the season finale.   What do you think will happen with this Jackie/Alicia showdown?   Is there any chance that Peter and Alicia, with this new house situation, will find their way back to each other again?  What will happen with Will and the review board? What is going on with Kalinda’s situation and why is Lana after her?   So many questions to answer before the April 29th season finale!!!!

 

Quick Thoughts on Revenge, The Good Wife, Castle

Since I’m still catching up, here are some quick thoughts on shows I have watched but haven’t had a chance to write about yet:

Revenge

Were you surprised it wasn’t Daniel that died and it was actually Tyler?  It didn’t surprise me.  I had a feeling David wasn’t going anywhere.  It would have been quite a bomb if it was.  It sounds funny saying that seeing as that’s how the show started…with us seeing Daniel in blood, falling to the sand.  I’m glad they didn’t kill him because with some of the information Tyler relayed to him before he was killed, it will be interesting to see how Daniel plays it?  Will he believe Tyler or will he stand by Emily?

What did surprise me was how quickly we learned who actually killed Tyler.  To me it was obvious Daniel was struck over the head from behind.   That’s why he was bleeding out of his ear and has blacked out on some of the details.  But who was it?  Well it was…….DON”T READ IF YOU DON”T WANT TO KNOW……Takeda.  He was basically cleaning up the mess she made by letting her emotions get involved.  We also saw Faux Amanda/Real Emily get into his car and take off.  So is this the last we see of Faux Amanda Clarke?  And how soon until Jack learns who the real Amanda Clarke is?

The best part is, I could watch this for another 10 episodes this season.  But you know what, there are only 3 left!  We don’t have a new episode until April 18th and only one episode between then and the finale currently scheduled for May 23rd.  Seriously who does this scheduling?

This and Homeland are my favorite new shows of the season.  I can’t wait to see how this season will wrap up. “Chaos” certainly could have been a season finale.  So if it wasn’t, I can’t wait to see what Mike Kelley has in store the finale episode!!!!

The Good Wife

Will is on suspension for 6 months.  And I have to say, I would be seriously pissed if my sisters just decided to show up on their own to stay with me without me asking them to come.  I would let them stay one week and then I would send them on their way.  Who needs that?  I don’t like Will (although I’m starting to soften my stance) but he doesn’t deserve that.  Yikes!

Can someone explain to me how he is able to be at the office while on suspension?  I thought he couldn’t be anywhere near LG during that time and I thought Diane said she had to remove his name from the firm’s name. Am I wrong?  Isn’t that a conflict?  Kiki probably knows so if you’re reading this Kiki, please clue me in!

My guess is that something is going to go down between Alicia and Caitlin.  I love Anna Camp and I love her character.  I’m not ready to say she’s a bad seed, but my husband hasn’t trusted her from Day One.  And as soon as Kalinda told Alicia to look out for that one (meaning Caitlin) that was all my husband had to hear to validate his point.  ”Kalinda’s always right!!!!”  I have to agree with him.  Once she said that, my eyebrows went up.  It’s as if Caitlin is too good to be true.  So something has to be wrong with her right?   LOL!

Tonight Colin Sweeney is back!   Also, last week kicked off the final episodes of season and we have 6 weeks in a row of TGW!!!!  I was really getting annoyed how many hiatuses there were with this show.  It’s bad enough being on Sunday during football season when it’s constantly starting 20-30 minutes late.   Then you put it off the air for 3-4 weeks at a time.  Don’t get me started.

Best.  Show.  On.   TV!!!!

Castle

I’m trying to get a pulse on how fans are feeling about Castle and Beckett these days.  Last week’s “Once Upon A Crime” was a great episode but we were back to the looks, the compliments, the hand holding.  Come on!!!  I’ve said this before.  If you are going to have them act like a couple, then make them a couple.  If you aren’t going to make them a couple, then knock it off.

I read another post where the writer (whom I really respect and agree with 99.5% of the time) felt this was a step in the right direction in movement in their relationship.  I don’t see it.  How?   Because he said she was cute?  Because she held his hand at Martha’s reading?  This has been the slow build all season to the fact that they are definitely comfortable with one another, they absolutely care about (LOVE) one another, but nothing else is happening!   That’s why it’s frustrating.

We only have 3 more episodes starting March 19th.  In one of these episodes, the secrets have to come out.  I don’t know if it will be Castle’s or Beckett’s or both.  But something has to happen.  I think at Paley Fest this week, Andrew Marlowe indicated that this was a season of secrets and the consequences of those secrets.  So that tells me something will be revealed before the season is up.  Also the number one question was is it time for Castle and Beckett to get together to which Stana Katic replied a resounding YES!  I knew I liked her!  Marlowe also reminded us that there are also a lot of interesting storylines to tell AFTER they get together.  Which tells me that it is going to happen at some point soon.  The secret thing has to blow up first, but I have a feeling that next season (Season 5) will be the moment they finally get together!  I don’t know that for a fact, but that’s my hunch.  But the waiting is brutal!!!!!

 

REVIEW: The Good Wife “Bitcoin for Dummies” S3 E13

Even when The Good Wife has a marginal episode, it’s still 5000 times better than a lot of the shows on TV.  Last night’s episode showed how creating a new currency or protecting someone who has, will get the US Treasury Department breathing down your neck.  Honestly, this is how NOT creative I am…I wouldn’t even know where to begin to create a new currency that people could actually use.  Incredible.  But I thought the show did a solid job of keeping you guessing as to who was Mr or Ms Bitcoin until the very end.  Hell, there may be some people who are still guessing.  But while the case was interesting, it wasn’t the edge of your seat story telling we have come to expect from TGW.

What I really want to get into is Will’s case.  One of the things TGW has always been amazing at doing, is creating fantastic secondary characters and finding the perfect actor/actress to bring that character to life.  And there is no better example (at least not this week) than Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth Tascioni.  What makes this character work is that she is phenomenal at her job.  Yes she’s quirky.  Yes she can be unprofessional.  And yes you start to wonder how someone this flighty got through law school.  The question is, is this really who she is or is it all a rouse to throw people off.  I think it’s both.  I think Elsbeth is who she is but she’s very self-aware and uses that to her advantage.   I think people either underestimate her or are completely thrown off their game by her mannerisms.  And that’s her goal…and it usually works.

This week, Wendy, Cary, and Dana (really what is the point of Dana) go to meet with Elsbeth and Will.  They think they have the upper hand but before they know it, they are giving up the names of the three judges they are looking into (significantly narrowing down who Elsbeth and Will have to look into) yet Will gives them nothing in return.  It’s brilliant.  Wendy is pissed because she just got played and wants Dana to go play hardball with Kalinda.

I have to admit, these scenes with Dana and Kalinda have me confused.  I don’t know what Dana’s endgame is.  Is she trying to help the SA office or is she trying to help Kalinda because she has the hots for her, even if she won’t admit it?  Kalinda, I still believe, is playing with her.  Kalinda is the best at saying a lot and saying nothing at the same time.  You have no idea what she is really thinking and feeling because she has the same poker face at all times.  It’s one of the things that makes her character so fascinating.

Somehow, the SA office/Dana, got their hands on the document Alicia was questioning last week.   Dana shows it to Kalinda and asks her to turn evidence on Will to save Alicia.  They don’t want Alicia, they want Will.  In the end, Kalinda hands Dana the file she and Will were reviewing earlier that has the documents regarding the case he was most nervous about looking like bribery, even though it wasn’t.  Now I have to believe, she handed her some incriminating information but not everything.  I can’t believe Kalinda would turn on Will.  They seem to be pretty tight so I don’t see her giving Dana anything, even if it is to save Alicia.

And what do we think about Will’s situation?   Well you know my feelings on him.  He has always seemed ruthless and willing to bend the limits of the law to see how far he can bend them before they break.   Will always seemed to be a take no prisoners type of lawyer.  But something tells me he’s not guilty here.  Notice I didn’t say innocent, but not guilty.  I think the big reason I support Will here (try not to crash your cars after that statement.  Come to think of it, don’t drive and read this at the same time…wait till you get home…it’s safer) is because Diane has his back.  I loved her line this week when she told Kalinda “let me know when it gets bad.” “So you’ll know when to bail?”  Kalinda asks.  ”No.  So I’ll know when to help” Diane replies very matter-of-factly.

Diane and Will have always had a strong partnership, which is evident considering what they have been through and they’re still together.  But their friendship is even stronger.  They are always there for one another and have each other’s back no matter what.  I really believe that if Will was truly guilty of something that could hurt Diane or the firm, he would let her know or remove himself from the firm.  I don’t think he would take Diane down with him.  The one thing I do believe about Will’s personality (regardless of all the bad things I think about him) is that I believe he would do anything for the people he vehemently trusts.  Diane is one of those people.  So I think Will is in the clear here.   Whether or not that matters, is a whole other story, but I like where it is going….sort of.

Did you see the previews for next week?  Actually the show returns in two weeks, but still.  Alicia is on the witness stand and Wendy asks if she’s ever had sexual relations with Will Gardner.  Uh oh.  This is going to get U-G-L-Y ugly!    How did Wendy find out about that or is she going off a hunch?   Is Peter in the courtroom when she asks the question?  Is Will?  Diane?  Is that when Alicia walks out?  I am chomping at the bit for two weeks from now!!!!   And why do we have to wait so long?  Didn’t we just come off of a long hiatus?   Sheesh.

 

RECAP & REVIEW: The Good Wife “Parenting Made Easy” S3 E10

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmas is my favorite holiday (tied with Thanksgiving) but the holiday is not the reason for my song choice to start the blog.  And you know me, you know why I posted that it is the most wonderful time of the year….because Alicia and Will broke up!!!!!   In my opinion, this was just a matter of time.  When Alicia told Owen that she didn’t love Will and that realization hit her like a ton of bricks, it was only a matter of when not if they would split up.  Add on the conversation  Diane had with Will last week and it was definitely happening.  So I am really celebrating today!!!

This episode was a bit of a flashback to “The Marthas and The Caitlin’s” episode because the case (which was actually an arbitration)  pitted the girl Alicia wanted to hire at Lockhart/Gardner, Martha Reed (played by Grace Rex) vs. the girl Alicia did hire, Caitlin D’Arcy (played by Anna Camp.)  And while Alicia (and myself) could sympathize with Martha with how the situation went down, Martha didn’t want to let it go and both Alicia and myself got annoyed by her and wanted Caitlin to crush her in the arbitration.  At first, Martha was the stronger of the two with Caitlin struggling.  Eventually though, Caitlin started to gain confidence and really put Martha in her place and majorly impressed Alicia.  Martha struggled to the point, she needed to call in her boss for help….Louis Canning!!!!  God I love that character and wish I could see him more often!   So not only has this case become Martha vs. Caitlin, it’s now Alicia vs. Louis which is always so entertaining.  Throw in the always incredible John Michael Higgins as the arbitrator (and I learned it’s not pronounced arbiter but arbitrator) and Dexter’s own Debra Morgan, Jennifer Carpenter, as the woman who was suing her University for wrongful termination, and it’s a hell of a case!!  I have to say, it was nice to see Jennifer Carpenter playing a mild-mannered, very religious professor.  What a far cry from Deb Morgan, foul mouth Miami Metro Police Lieutenant!

While it looked like Team Lockhart/Gardner was going to pull out the victory, Team Canning pulled a very devious move and plucked information out of Alicia’s briefcase that helped exonerate their client.  I really don’t like that the writers went down that road.  The thing I always liked about Louis Canning is that he is very smart and always several steps ahead of everyone else in the courtroom.  It really forces Alicia to more on toes that normal.  Stealing information out of someone’s briefcase just seems beneath him.  It’s the kind of thing a less competent or dirty lawyer would do.  I’ve never found Canning to be dirty just crafty.  This was dirty, especially considering the situation Alicia was in.

If you saw the previews for last night’s episode, you knew that there was going to be a situation with Grace.  She goes missing.   The thing is, she really isn’t missing, she’s just off the reservation for a bit.  Unfortunately, somethings happen that cause Alicia to jump to conclusions.  First, she has a terrible dream that something happens to Grace.  Second, she sees around 13 missed calls from Grace on her cell phone and then can’t get a hold of her.  Third, Grace didn’t leave a message on the fridge saying where she would be (which she always does.)  Fourth, her friend from school tells Alicia that Grace got into the car with a strange man that she had never seen before.  While some people may think Alicia overreacted, I can see how her heart would go in her throat and she would think the worst.  She happens to be at lunch with Canning while all this is going on, and he was a good friend to her and helped her get to where she needed to be and was there to support her.  That is until he stole the email correspondence from her briefcase.  But if you ask him, at least he waited until her knew her daughter was safe.  Ugh.  How awful.  I don’t want the writers to write him to the point where I don’t like him, and I really didn’t like him last night after that.  So here is my shout out to the writing team at TGW….DON’T WRITE CANNING AS AN ASSHOLE WHO I DON’T LIKE!!  Thanks for listening.

Meanwhile, Alicia called Peter about her concerns and he jumped right into it and did everything he could to help find Grace.  In addition, Zack was at Alicia’s office fixing her computer when Kalinda overheard his conversation with Alicia about Grace being missing.  Kalinda also jumps in to help but unbeknownst to Alicia and Peter.  As soon as she took off to track Grace, my husband and I looked at one another and said…”Kalinda will be the one to find Grace.”  And she did.  Turns out Grace went with the kid we have seen on her computer that talks about Jesus, the bible, and other religious proclamations.  He was baptizing her.  Which I find completely bizarre and creepy.  Grace surrounds herself with the strangest people and week to week I have absolutely no idea what to make of her character.  Regardless, Kalinda brings her back to Alicia’s and leaves before Alicia and Peter have the chance to see her.  Grace walks in and immediately her mom hugs her and Peter emerges from the kitchen and a big group hug ensues.  And guess who is watching this whole thing….Will.  He showed up at Alicia’s for whatever reason and saw the big Florrick family bonding moment.  Awesome.  I have to say, it was nice to see Peter and Alicia so close again!

The next day, Alicia goes to Will’s office and tearfully tells him that she can’t do this right now.  It’s too much for her.  She also tells him that she is really going to miss him and then she walks out.  I was doing cartwheels in my house!!!!  Not really, but it gives you an idea of my excitement level!  Diane witnesses this because they have glass doors so everyone can see everything, and goes to see Will to tell him that he did the right thing and that she will get over it.  He agrees with Diane by saying yes she will.  However, I’m not so sure if Will will be getting over it anytime soon.

Another stellar episode of the Good Wife.  What did you guys think?  Are you happy or sad that Alicia and Will are no more?   And what did you think of Canning’s actions?  Sound off below!

Final Points From the Episode:

• Does anyone else think that Diane and Eli are going to hook up?   They have been spending more time together lately and they could both use a little lovin’ so I’m wondering if the show is going to go there.
• Peter and Alicia’s tender hug when he came to check on her was so sweet and it really made me miss them as a couple.
• I LOVE the fact that Cary and Wendy hired Andrew Wiley (played by fabulous Tim Guinee) to investigate Will.  Wiley is a great character and he’s another one that I really enjoying seeing when he’s on-screen.
• I hate Dana more and more with every passing episode because I really don’t understand what her point of being on the show is and I want her gone.
• I have a feeling that Alicia will eventually find out that Kalinda was the one to find Grace and bring her home.   They have to start softening that tension somehow!