Man, did this week's episode of The Good Wife feel light, interesting, and lean to you too? Why was that? Hmm.
Oh, yeah: Eli's one-note descent into perpetual anger didn't even make a cameo this week. We got a break from watching our main man torpedo his own awesome identity with hapless mugging. That's a break we needed. No dumbfounded Peter antics either. Phew. We really needed that break.
The Good Wife felt renewed and revived as the Lemond Bishop case surfaced again, Alicia tangled with an old law school foe and a creepy lawyer, and some Cary-and-Kalinda zsestxy-ness came on strong ("zsestxy" is an obvious combination of "zesty" and "sexy," and I want you to deal with it).
Here are my picks for the five most notable moments of "Runnin' With the Devil."
1. Alicia had two kickass moments right at the start of the show. Can you name them?
Alicia had a pretty sinister week, but I have to say I loved two moments of hers that occurred right at the beginning of the episode. If you can name them without reading any further, I'll give you a cranberry-colored pantsuit fitted on a disturbing papier-mache Diane Lockhart mannequin.
1) That excellent look of disgust and dubiousness when Alicia first reunited with and hugged this week's courtroom competition, her law school nemesis Liz (played by the Tony-magnetic Audra McDonald). I know I always rave about Diane Lockhart's smirk prowess, but Alicia's upper-lip service is lippy and serviceable too. Serious angst and contempt shooting off her like fresh lasers.
2) Her obvious discomfort with David Lee at the opening meeting. First of all, he compared the firm's current office to a "Burmese tent city," which is admittedly a hilarious line, but I just loved Alicia's non-reaction to his brusque attitude and her eventual "nay" vote that she planted right in his face.
2. Let us rank this week's guest-stars, who are all fabulous and perfectly cast.
3) Bebe Neuwirth. I'm uncomfortable with casting glamorous superstar Bebe Neuwirth in the role of a judge like she's a forgotten supporting actor from Knots Landing or something, but I was comforted watching her navigate the screamy terrain between Alicia and her adversary. Plenty of powerful gesturing and command. Did you know she auditioned for the role of Lilith on Cheers while her arm was in a sling? I think about that sometimes.
2) Audra McDonald. I loved how hard it was to decide how to feel about Liz in the episode. On the one hand, her phony repartee with Alicia came off as immature and annoying, but when she felt her kid was threatened later in the episode, I felt a genuine surge of sympathy. Until I realized she could also be lying her ass off. Ugh! Lawyers. Huge sociopaths in Hugo Boss. Fortunately, Alicia got the final word when she snubbed Liz with a kickass kiss-off in the episode's final moments. Bye, Liz. Go back to scintillating audiences in 110 in the Shade or something.
1) Wallace Shawn. The awesome character actor fromThe Princess BrideMy Dinner With Andre Clueless, dammit was a hoot as weirdo, perhaps threatening consultant lawyer Charles Lester, whose strange methods may or may not have a magical way of getting witnesses to recant their testimonies. Let's just put it out there: Wallace Shawn is frightening. He has the unrepentant air of a man who has definitely strangled someone with his bare hands. Pleasure to see him interface with stony Alicia.
3. Elsbeth 2: Bridget Fonda Boogaloo
Jess Weixler came on board as a protege investigator, and so far the awkwardly giggly upstart is both unnerving and enchanting her mentor Kalinda. I'd be happier about this interesting new character if she didn't seem like a knockoff of Elsbeth, who has certainly delivered the "I'm a little loopy, but I'm deadly when it counts!" shtick like a retirement-ready SNL sketch. (Which reminds me: Enough of Stefon and the horrible "breaking"Bill Hader does every week. He's too talented for that b.s.)
Not sure whether this lifelike Bridget Fonda hologram is here to stay, but here's hoping she's not a hollow Elsbeth. Because Elsbeth is sumptuous like a gallon of Hawaiian Punch, which is probably what she drinks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
4. Cary and Kalinda, kissing/not kissing/probably having sex in a tree
Just between us, a confession: Cary is unbearably hot, especially when he's in hot horndog pursuit of Kalinda and her black-and-blue Underarmour businesswear. I've missed some Cary virility in the past few episodes, and now I'm kinda psyched and kinda bummed to realize the amazing energy between him and Kalinda may have peaked for good thanks to a knowing look they exchanged, which definitely suggested (sometime after Cary tried kissing her) they'd slept together. I mean, whatever, it's fine if that tension is now over, but... I just hope it means more aggressive sexiness in the future. As I said, I actually can't believe how hot Cary is, even when he's just flashing a grin or thinking hard. Call him Tuesday Weld, because his naughty face is my Pretty Poison.
5. I'm going to say it: The Growing Pains reference was stupid.
Will and Diane toasted their success in digging the firm out of financial ruin, but their weirdest moment of levity came when Will started singing the Growing Pains theme to underscore Diane's feelings. She jokingly whapped him with some papers. Eh. It was just too cute for me. Too "Awww, we love Will and Diane, and they're having some fun!" Except Josh Charles looked pained to me as he sang those ancient lyrics, and Diane's reaction was overly precious too. Get back to dead eyes and bon mots, you two. Leave Kirk Cameron behind. Because it's easy and, of course, it's also his worst nightmare.
What'd you think of this episode? A fun affair with some great guest-stars, no?
