The Good Wife returns tonight after the brief winter break and it appears as if Lockhart Gardner is once again in jeopardy, but this time it is not because of Wendy Scott-Carr (Anika Noni Rose) and the State Department investigation. This isn't to say that this investigation is going away but that there is a new challenge for the firm and it looks like it could get ugly.
The case this week has a couple suing Lockhart Gardner for $44 million which could destroy the firm. The reason for this lawsuit is they believe that they were encouraged to get a divorce by Lockhart Gardner for financial gain. This means that we are likely to get a lot of angry David Lee (Zach Grenier) as it is his department that oversaw this divorce. The couple that are suing are being represented by Burl Preston (guest star F. Murray Abraham) who we last saw in the season 2 The Social Network inspired episode "Net Worth."
This timing of this lawsuit is pretty terrible (though I'm sure it would be unpleasant at any time) as Will (Josh Charles) is already under investigation for judicial bribery and this also would suggest more unethical financial dealings. Will refused to play Wendy Scott-Carr's long game that she revealed in the last episode; her target isn't Will but is actually Peter (Chris Noth). This refusal might cost Will as Wendy seems pretty determined to get what she wants all under the cover of justice. Luckily for Will and for us he has decided to hire a lawyer to fight this case and this lawyer is Elsbeth Tascioni (Carrie Preston). Preston is one of my favourite guest stars on this show and her appearance earlier this season in "Executive Order 13224" was both hilarious ("Look at all this paper") and proved once again that she is someone who knows how to win. This second part is what Will needs the most but it is the first part that I am looking forward to and to see Tascioni interact with Will. Another thing that will hopefully make for great viewing is the difference between Tascioni and Wendy Scott-Carr; Wendy seems so put together it is unnerving and Elsbeth seems like a scatterbrain (even though we know she's not).
One thing I seem to mention every week is whether Alicia (Julianna Margulies) will find out about the SA's investigation into Will and how she will react when she does, surely there will be no hiding it now that he has a lawyer? And not just any lawyer but one that has both represented Alicia and Peter in the past. The other big secret that Will is hiding now is Wendy's real agenda; what will he do with this incendiary piece of information? There are several people that he could share this with and strangely I think that smartest option would be to tell Eli (Alan Cumming) after they started a new whiskey alliance recently.
Another new drinking friendship that begun in the last episode was between Alicia and Diane (Christine Baranski) and I hope that we some development here too. Diane, I would imagine will be somewhat perturbed that two of the main male figures at the firm have put her livelihood in jeopardy, so this will be a good time for Alicia to please Diane and progress with her career.
The development that had a lot of Good Wife fans (myself very much included) feeling hopeful before the holiday was the thawing between Alicia and Kalinda (Archie Panjabi). No they aren't tequila drinking buddies yet but Alicia threatened Cary (Matt Czuchry) to get her former friend out of jail; ok she only threatened him with the law but that scene was pretty badass. Plus Alicia sat in a car with Kalinda and even spoke more than a couple of words to her which is definitely an improvement.
Are you happy to see that Will has hired Elsbeth Tascioni as his lawyer? What hopes do you have for The Good Wife in 2012? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. You can also watch a sneak peek for the episode below.
I think we're in for a real treat with tonight's episode, "Alienation of Affection." This will be the second time this season we've seen Alicia challenged when it comes to ethical conduct (flash back to "Executive Order 13224") and about the fourth time we've seen the firm come under fire for potentially elicit activities. All of this has me wondering what the firm was up to before the cameras started to roll, as there certainly seems to be a pattern forming. Still, with a "win rate" of approximately 80%, I'd be a paying client, wouldn't you?
What I love most about the attached clip is the quote Alicia is being questioned around: "You can't imagine the relief you feel that first night, just being alone, having a glass of wine." As an audience, I think we truly felt those same emotions for her. We, too, were relieved. I think the fact Diane was in the room to hear that quote will actually be great for their relationship. At work, Alicia is all business (in the above clip, this is especially true!), but knowing a bit more about Alicia's struggles at home is bound to provide further foundation for this budding friendship. Diane knows Alicia has been going through turmoil for the last three years, and yet she's at work everyday, doing her absolute best. We're being set up for what should only be described as "a beautiful friendship." Of course, I'm still rallying behind a reunion of Alicia and Kalinda, but these things take time.
I don't know why your comment reminded me, but there was a quote from Kalinda in season 2, that she's "rallying friends for the end days." I get the weird sense that Diane is doing that too.
I can't wait! Sadly I will be on a plane right when it airs…but when I land, hooray!