'The Good Wife': Alicia and the alpha males

Though it may have lacked romantic subplots worthy of a Nora Ephron film, last night’s episode of “The Good Wife” was but a solid if not enthralling installment. A little heavy on the courtroom drama, perhaps, but it all served a purpose. And what was that purpose, you ask? 

Alicia’s big ol’ crush on Will, that’s what.

Yes, last night boyish-looking Will proved himself to be quite the alpha male, and Alicia did not mind it one bit. Take, for instance, the scene in which he stood up to Judge Lessner (Ana Gasteyer).  He lambasts the rather impartial judge for not ruling on his objections -- a tactic Judge Lessner used to avoid appeals in the past (can any legal experts tell me if this is a real thing?). Will's outburst was a risky, maybe even reckless, display of aggression, but Alicia ate it up. I’m going to read between the lines here and guess that our heroine has a thing for powerful, confident men. Let’s just hope that self-assurance is all that Will has in common with Peter. Speaking of romance, I was sad to see that Diane’s love interest, McVeigh (Gary Cole), was not back for round two. Here’s hoping that he returns in time for May sweeps.

Already sensing the growing attraction between Alicia and Will, Peter completely wigs out when he finds a few condoms in his wife's bedside drawer. That's when he decides to get a little territorial -- and a whole lot hypocritical -- by confronting Alicia about the mysterious prophylactics.  Alicia is understandably enraged by Peter's double standards, but even more so by his invasion of her privacy. Instead of caving into his demand that she stay home, Alicia stuffs the condoms into her purse and defiantly walks right out the door. Surely it was more of a symbolic gesture -- I doubt Alicia put the rubbers to use -- but even so, it was delightful. 

Elsewhere in the episode, Peter and company are all worked up about a flurry of mysterious tweets.  An anonymous but prolific Twitter user by the name of “Upriser7”  has been dishing intimate details about the Florricks' family life, and Eli (Alan Cumming) is determined to find out who’s behind them -- especially when they’re picked up by real-life political blogger Ben Smith (who, I'm guessing, probably wouldn't care that much about the estranged wife of an Illinois state attorney, but I could be wrong). 

So it is that, once again, “The Good Wife” goes right past timeliness straight into the discomfort zone.   This week, the trenchant subject matter was how Twitter fuels the gossip that in turn drives the blogosphere.  It was all very "now," but did anyone else feel a little weird hearing Chris Noth say “tweet” over and over again, like he wasn’t even sure what it meant?  No? Just me?

All the tweets did have one positive side effect, which came in the form of a deliciously nasty scene between Eli and Becca, Zach’s precocious (read: skanky) girlfriend.   It turns out that she is responsible for the incriminating tweets: Becca is Upriser7. She's also pretty savvy for a high schooler, and for a second, it appeared she was going to outwit Eli in the game of manipulation.  As a cop car drove past, she screamed, pretending Eli was a perv. Too bad the cops are pals with Gold. “I have a lot of friends.  I’m sure you do too.  Only difference is my friends are not in homeroom,”  Eli says, with evident glee.  Then he tells her “If you tweet, I will know you tweet.  Have you seen ‘Drag Me to Hell?’  It will be just like that.”  The scene was so satisfying, I may have watched it twice.

Another pinch of uncomfortable reality: Cutbacks are looming at Stern-Gardner. The episode opened with an amusing but painfully familiar scene in which some sort of efficiency expert counsels Diane and Will in cutting costs.  He doles out euphemistic suggestions like adopting a “self-policing hydration policy” (no more paper cups) and downgrading season tickets from the Chicago Cubs to the Red Stars (women’s soccer, in case you’re wondering). The scene established the financial desperation of the firm -- and thus their willingness to represent murderous but deep-pocketed drug dealers -- and it also made me wonder what will happen to Alicia if she doesn't beat out Cary for the permanent job at Stern-Gardner.  At this point, could Alicia be a housewife once again? Would she go to work somewhere else? What do you think?

One last thing: Is it just me, or is Alicia dressing a little sexier these days?  Last night she wore a fabulous, form-fitting black dress that almost showed some cleavage.  Not exactly racy, but it was a far cry from her usual buttoned-up look.   What's next, messy hair? I for one welcome the change, so long as she leaves the leather jackets to Kalinda.

What we learned:  Not that much, other than Alicia’s preferred method of birth control.  Oh, and Will and Diane are going to be shopping around for a new partner.

New questions:  Just why is Becca tweeting about life in the Florrick household?  Is she just a mean girl, a shameless gossip?  Or is she spying for someone?  And what was really going on with the condoms in Alicia’s drawer?

-- Meredith Blake  (follow me on Twitter @MeredithBlake)

Related:

Complete coverage of 'The Good Wife' on ShowTracker

'The Good Wife':  Coming home and 'Going Rogue'

'The Good Wife': Tattoo You

'The Good Wife': A PG-rated conjugal visit

Photo:  While wearing a fabulous pair of heels, Alicia (Juliana Margulies) talks tweets with Eli Gold (Alan Cumming).

Credit: David M. Russell / CBS

Comments

[jeromejoe1]

That is why every citizen need a Home Security System. ADT even offers free systems check http://ow.ly/1fQ5b

[Erica Stephens]

First of all,I didn,t think Peter "wigged out" he merely asked her about the condoms.And rather calmly,I thought.They are still married,so his cheating doesn,t absolve her actions.And I disagree that the court room scene was heavy handed,it was excellent,and it is a show about lawyers,not a soap opera,so I fail to see why we must learn something each episode.As for Alecia,once again she acts like an idiot at the stables,what was the point of sending her with Kalista? To stand and stare tongue tied.Surely she doesn,t think she is superior to the dealer?..All in all it was a great episode.

[GoodWifeLV]

Hey, did you not see the end of the episode? The son was hiding condoms in mom's drawer. Disagree with you totally on the assessment here - thought it was a very entertaining and intriguing episode. This is the best-written show on TV - hands down

[Kiki]

love it! You got it all right! and yes Alicia is dressing much sexier :-)

[Nana]

One of the only shows that I really watch without any interuption...Great writers and Acting as well...Hope they don't overprice themselves like "Without a Trace"..

[bedtimeforbonzo]

This episode wasn't a doozy like last week's, but it was still very satisfying.

"The Good Wife" is full of wonderful surprises. For instance, the scene between Eli and the high-school skank turned out to be delicious and the night's highlight.

Zach is growing up fast. But this Becca is so much more experienced than he is.

It went unsaid but I am thinking Alicia found the condoms in Zach's room and took them away from him -- although that would not seem prudent parenting by a wise cookie like Alicia. But hiding your condoms in your mom's drawer would seem dumb.

So does Zach get Becca pregnant? And does Alicia have to examine her working-mom status as contributing to his predicament? And is it just me, or does Peter do a poor job of owning up to his actions? Alicia deserves better.

I was never big on Will. But he was terrific in that courtroom scene, and I finally saw why Alicia might have the hots for him.

I've really grown to like Cary. Am I the only viewer who felt bad for him, and in a way Alicia, when she accused him of tweeting the Florrick's household gossip?

And, yes, I am all for the sexier Alicia. Julianna M has a low-key, simmering kind of hot.

[Bill Lancaster]

I agree with jeromejoe1. Did Peter act like a pig when he cheated with the prostitutes on Alicia? Of course. Does that make him a hypocrite for being insecure and questioning Alicia about the condoms? You can't be serious. The guy has been in prison for several months. He and his wife have had no sex life for even longer. He knows she has a history with Will who she spends late hours with alone at work. He finds condoms in Alicia's bedroom (who, understandably has not invited him to yet) and you think because he made the stupid mistake of fooling around on her, he doesn't have the right to question on whether if she has done the same? He would be heartbroken if she had because (1) he would blame himself and (2) that with will it would like not just be physical. I think that Alicia's reaction, especially putting the condoms in her purse (had to be the cruelest thing I've ever seen a wife do to a husband, no matter what point she was trying to make)was over the line. If she thinks that will's cheating makes it okay to do what she did, she should end the marriage right now.

I for one, hope she doesn't get intimate with Will, even though the previews for next week's show seem to lean in that direction. Just for once, it would be nice for a change for a lead character in a TV series not to act stupid and self-destructive. Is she going to try and save her marriage or not? If no, divorce Peter and move on with Will or whoever. If yes, reject Will's advances and continue to focus on doing what she can to rebuild her relationship with Peter. If she does have a romatic relationship with Will, she will be no better morally than Peter, maybe worse because sex with Will could potentially be much more destructive to her marriage, her kids and possibly her career, than what Peter did. If she succumbs to temptation, I guess they will have to retitle the show, "The Not So Good Wife." And yes, the condoms being in Alicia'a night stand was explained at the end of the episode. Her son had hidden them there.

[SusanS]

Zach hid the condoms in Alicia's drawer. It was pretty clear given that he zoomed straight there to try to find them. Remember, he knew his grandmother was snooping in the kids' rooms, so he needed a grandma-proof hiding place.

Peter has been getting quietly freaked out by Will for a long time. That fight - condoms or not - has been brewing. Given that his sordid excracurricular life has been on the most public of displays, for him to ask Alicia to "prove" her loyalty by not going into the job that is keeping a roof over their heads is laughable on a bunch of levels.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

This show is full of surprises. The decision to bring in a third partner presents the opportunity to disrupt the dynamic at the firm we have seen to date. I don't think they'd be bringing in another partner to be a wallflower.

Re: The Florrick marriage. I agree with Susan, disagree with Bill.

Alicia has been loyal to Peter, but reluctantly. It's clear she has lost her romantic feelings, her passion, for Peter, and I'm not sure how she gets that back.

My guess is that she will ultimately resist Will -- even though there is an attraction there. I just think she values her career -- her new life and the freedom and responsibility it brings -- to risk it with a messy affair at work with the boss.

[lanee]

Loved this episode. One of the main reasons I watch is for the chemistry bet. Alicia and Will. I totally agree about her dressing less stodgy ~ she looked fab in that black dress. That one scene where she tells Will she will go back to her office said it all (the smiles/eye contact). Can't wait for next week. Peter had no right to be so incensed after all that he has done.

[Emily]

Was there something else in Alicia's drawer when Zach went there looking for the condoms? The camera held there for just a bit, and I thought I might have missed something.

[Laura]

Something you forgot to mention was eli's forshadowing of becca becoming pregnant. Then at the end of the episode Zach leaves the apartment without condoms in hand. I think we may find ourselves with a small teenage pregnancy scandal at the end of the season...

[bedtimeforbonzo]

"Was there something else in Alicia's drawer when Zach went there looking for the condoms?"

If she had a vibrator in there, it would not have been outrageous. I mean, she's young and healthy and her husband and her have not had sex in a long time -- and Alicia hasn't gotten any on the side.

Meanwhile, I see this Becca as big trouble for our Zach.

And where's grandman been?

[Erica Stephens]

I to would like to see one primetime program not succumbing to the obvious sexual tension between Alicia (the stick) and Will .She has spent the entire series acting morally superior,how about the writers let her remain superior for a change.

[Jayne]

Best show on television! I love watching Alan Cumming eat the scenery as Eli Gold. Spin off is character into his own show once the legal defense story line is complete. Kalinda's double agent tricks are going to run straight into Eli Gold at some point!

Becca embodies all the best "love to hate" characteristics of "Mean Girls" and "Heathers". Kudos to the actress who makes her so believable.

[Stephen]

The objection ruling thing was absolutely real, and that clip will likely make it's way into Trial Advocacy and Evidence curricula across the country.