Things are heating up both professionally and personally for all at Lockhart Gardner on tonight's The Good Wife. Alicia (Julianna Margulies) has to contend with breaking attorney-client privilege when questioned by the Treasury Department, and Peter (Chris Noth) continues his investigation into Lockhart Gardner that could be motivated in part by a personal grudge.
Last week's case was a political minefield that explored the law revolving around diplomatic immunity, and this week has the government requesting information on a client that has Alicia worried about breaking confidentiality. As the promo and sneak peek would suggest, the stakes are high and there is even a threat of incarceration for Alicia if she doesn't comply with the Treasury Department's questions. This is where Carrie Preston (True Blood) comes in as she reprises her role as Elsbeth Tascioni, who we last saw representing Peter in season 1. Due to Alicia's fears about this line of questioning she hires Tascioni to protect her rights. This is yet another character that made an impression in a short space of time and one that I'm very glad to see again.
There have been hints this season that Peter will target Lockhart Gardner and specifically Will (Josh Charles); the warning signs beginning with Peter's request for a full audit. The motivation behind this could be simply to 'clean up' the Chicago law system, but considering all of the personal factors that relate to this firm this would seem unlikely. Peter is reluctant in his investigation of Will, probably because there are such conflicting factors but that doesn't mean that he won't use what he finds against him, especially if he discovers that Will is sleeping with Alicia.
This relationship is still a secret but it would seem that there are suspicions being aroused. Alicia's kids are asking questions as to what she does when they are not there (this gif sums it up nicely), Diane (Christine Baranski) will not stay in the dark for long and we can assume that Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) already knows (she is an investigator after all). It can be guaranteed that if Diane thinks that the firm is in jeopardy because of this relationship she will not hesitate in getting rid of Alicia. Despite Will agreeing to the same his actions in the past few weeks would suggest that he has fallen hard for Alicia, even if he is being held at arm's length. He met Zach (Graham Phillips) and was, in his own words 'lame.' The brief meeting was excruciatingly awkward but showed that Will wanted to meet Alicia's kids and make a good impress, not sure if his "keep on keeping on" was what he had in mind. Who do you think will be the first to find out about their secret relationship?
Another work related hook up happened in the State Attorney's office, as Cary (Matt Czuchry) not only got a promotion with a swanky new office and title (Deputy State's Attorney) but he also had a tryst with Dana Lodge (Monica Raymund). Lodge will be making an appearance this week even though her time with the State Attorney's office seemed all but over, will this be a hot new romance for Cary to take his mind off Kalinda or just a fleeting moment? Cary's promotion could also be as a result of his knowledge of Lockhart Gardner, something that will come in useful with Peter's investigation into the firm.
The title of the episode comes from an executive order that President George W. Bush signed into law after the 9/11 attacks, one that is intended to disrupt the financial support network for terrorists (for more information on this executive order head here).
The Good Wife airs tonight at 9 PM on CBS. To view the promo photos and video for "Executive Order 13224" head here.
Check out the sneak peek below that sees Alicia facing the Treasury Secretary (guest star Bob Balaban).
