'The Good Wife': The moment we've all been waiting for

Abortion, religion, health insurance, adultery, sex, race: Tuesday night’s episode of "The Good Wife" was so full of controversial subject matter that the only thing it was missing was a cigarette or two. Oh, wait ...

All the turmoil started with what is surely a typical day at the office for a junior associate at a white-shoe Chicago law firm: working on a high-stakes case involving cutting-edge experimental surgery and some extremely complicated bioethics. In the middle of a snowstorm, Alicia and Will are called to work on an “emergency case” involving a young couple suing their insurance company to pay for fetal surgery that will save the life of their unborn child. Without it -- you guessed it -- the child will most likely die. Which, according to the laws of television, also means that the insurance company, Life State, obviously will not cover it.

Making her triumphant return to “The Good Wife” as Patti Nyholm, Life State’s attorney, was the excellent Martha Plimpton. When last we saw Patti, she was milking her pregnant status for all it was worth, while doing her darnest to make sure that a bunch of widows were denied a wrongful-death payout. Last night, Patti was exploiting her newborn in the same way in order to make it clear she was "pro-baby." Her manipulative ploys make Eli Gold look like a Girl Scout.

This inspired plot line brought up all kinds of thorny issues: Should insurance companies be required to cover medical care for “unborn” people, or should their priority be insuring those who are, at least legally speaking, alive? Can someone be pro-choice but also believe that insurers are responsible for covering this kind of expensive procedure? On the flip-side, if you’re pro-business but also pro-life, then where do you stand? It was all very thought-provoking.

But, to be honest, I was more interested in what was going on elsewhere.

First, there’s the extremely urgent matter of Will’s off-hours stubble. As you faithful "Wife" trackers know, the famous stubble first appeared a few weeks back, and it’s catnip to Alicia -- and to some of the commenters on this blog, I might add. It’s so potent, in fact, that after six long months of stoic, self-disciplined behavior, Alicia finally caved and did something human, maybe even irresponsible. Yes, folks, it was the moment we’ve all been waiting for: Alicia finally made out with Will.

The scene itself -- as well as the protracted aftermath in which Alicia ran away, then changed her mind, then changed her mind again -- was pretty satisfying, if I do say so myself. There may have been some gleeful yelps, perhaps a few bursts of clapping, maybe even some “Go back! Go back!”s heard in my apartment. Whatever -- no judgments here at Show Tracker, OK?

Strangely, the make-out also turned out to be the moment Pete’s been waiting for.

That’s because after her thwarted make-out session, Alicia pulled a very bad wife move: With thoughts of Will on her mind, she hurried home and seduced her husband. That’s right, Alicia "Goody Two-Shoes" Florrick used her husband for sex. And she was probably (maybe) thinking of someone else while she did it. Peter was thrilled, though he may not have been thrilled to find out what really caused her sudden hormonal urge.  

In a delightfully awkward twist, Will showed up the next morning to talk to Peter about the Willoughby case. Thus ensued the most awkward scene in the history of the universe: Alicia, in her pajamas, serving coffee to the estranged husband she just seduced and the guy she just made out with. To make it even more cringey, Peter was unbearably smug about Alicia’s seduction. He practically cheered when former archenemy Will walked in the door -- obviously he thinks he’s won this battle. And did it strike anyone else as patronizing when he asked Will how Alicia was doing at work?

After the world’s most uncomfortable breakfast, Alicia and Will have a heart-to-heart talk at work -- with the doors wide open, I might add. Alicia expressed her reluctance to pursue anything more with Will (no!!!) but left the door ever-so-slightly ajar by suggesting it’s because she doesn’t want to jeopardize her job, not because she’s married (yay!).

Will once again brought up the dinner topic, but Alicia deflected the offer. “Alicia, it’s fine. We have bad timing. We’ve always had bad timing,” Will said, breaking my heart into a thousand little pieces. I should have known that by the end of the episode, Alicia would once again be back to her controlled ways, but at least she’s cooling to both men, not just the one. In the episode's final scene, she shot down Peter’s obvious attempts at “round two” with a cool “Good night, Peter.” That's my girl.

Lest I forget, another conflict may be on the horizon because of Peter’s sudden religious awakening. The conversion started out as your typical political photo-op: Apparently, African American women don’t like Peter, so Eli Gold arranged a meeting with Pastor Isaiah (Gbenga Akinnagbe), a young, influential black preacher. Peter will go to church at Pastor Isaiah’s, hopefully with Alicia in tow, appear repentant and, just like that, he’ll be embraced by the black community.

The only problem is Pastor Isaiah won’t let Peter take a shortcut; he tells Peter that he has to accept Jesus before Alicia will ever “return to the bed.” After some initial cynicism, Peter opens himself up to the idea and, what do you know, she comes barging into his bedroom. You could practically hear Peter thinking, “Gee, maybe this religion thing works after all.”

To put it mildly, Alicia doesn’t seem thrilled with this development, though it’s hard to tell whether that’s because she’s an avowed atheist or because she’s skeptical of Peter’s motives. Either way, something tells me she’s not going to be attending Sunday services with him anytime soon.

One last thing: As much as I loved this episode (which was a lot), I have a teeny, tiny bone to pick. Will and Alicia discover that Life State is running a possibly illegal program called “PAM,” and they use this bit of ammunition to get the Willoughbys’ coverage reinstated.

Which is great, except that they had to sign a confidentiality agreement in order to make this happen. So now the insurance company’s thousands of other customers can still have their policy waived over minor infractions, and the definitely unethical, possibly illegal program will continue. Remind me again how that’s a good thing? And why would the state insurance commissioner agree to such a rotten deal?

What we learned: Do not post pictures of yourself casually smoking on Facebook. Ever. And don't let Kalinda anywhere near your cellphone.

New questions: Is Peter really going to find Jesus? Are Alicia and Will ever going to have that dinner? And will anyone at work find out about Alicia and Will? Am I terrible for rooting for Alicia and Will?

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

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Photo: Alicia (Juliana Margulies) serves coffee to both of her men. Credit: Jeffrey Neira / CBS

Comments

[Phil]

If Alicia takes this any farther while still married to Peter then they need to change the show title. If she pursues her relationship with Will while still with Peter, doesn't that make her a CLASS A hypocrite? And what about the kids? Alicia's character will lose all of her class if she sinks to Peter's level. Plus, there will be nothing left for Peter to ask her forgiveness for when they are two of a kind.

[Evelyn e.]

I totally agree with every word you wrote! I am also an Alicia and Will fan, so it isn't terrible for you to like them too :D

Though Alicia kissed Will and then slept with her husband shocked me, yet finally realized what that might entail...the fact she slept with her husband right after kissing Will says she basically had Will in mind.

Just can't wait for the next episode "Doubt", though it's not next week, but it still involves Alicia and Will in a case and at the same time still dealing with their growing sexual tension.

I love this show!

[kiki]

Great Review!! I like the way you describes thing.....the only difference I have with you is that I want Alicia with Peter :-)

[Hayley]

Great review, this is my favorite new show.. but I have to agree with Kiki.. I love the tension between Will and Alicia and I know Peter isn't a saint but in the long run I'm rooting for Alicia and Peter.

[Carmen]

I totally agree with you on this. I could not have written it better myself. Peter is a narcissitic, egotistical moron. Will is cutthroat lawyer who will not stop at much to win his cases. I do prefer Will character. It would have been a mistake for Alicia to jump into bed with Will so soon (remember that Will has the reputation of being a womanizer). Alicia should let Will simmer in his lust until next season. As for Peter, she should divorce that SOB by the end of next season. He's unsufferable, and reminds me of an old boyfriend of mine. He gave me a heartburn last night just watching him.

[Mandy]

I agree with every word!!! I love your reviews! I'm also a Alicia/Will shipper, Peter is to full of himself, F to him. I love Peter face in the end cos he was all like "yeah I score, know we are going to go to sleep in the bedroom" and then Alicia says goodnight and left him, LOL to his face, take that!

I love Will character soo much (maybe cos I love Josh Charles so much) but who can resist to those sad puppy eyes, he is adorable. I cry when he talks about the bad timing :(
I don't believe that the end of the series have to be Peter and Alicia back together just cos the show is called "The good wife", that will be so boring and so obvious.

[Jayne]

Great episode, thought my TV would melt from the heat of that make out session. But wish they'd given Eli Gold more scenery to chew up. Love his machiavellian nastiness! It was wasted on the preacher, sometimes honey gets more bees than vinegar.

I predict they will string out the Will-Alicia story line for the slow burn. If they get together, the show will jump the shark the same way "Moonlighting" did. Don't be surprised if Will gets discouraged, pursues other women, even gets engaged or married.

In the end, I think Peter will mess up, maybe related to womanizing, maybe something else, but Alicia will get fed up and end up with Will in the final episode.

[J.B.]

Just a note that I love the recap.

Showtracker consistently writes the best recaps and this is no exception. The style, content, and grammar are all heads above other recaps posted on the web.

[Juliana]

I was never a big fan of those court drama series but The good wife balances everything so great that I`m completely addicted to it. My favourite show.
I totally agree I`m a huge Alice and Will fan but it`s too soon to them get along. They should find a third partner and this other partner should fall for Alicia too and everything wil be messed up.

[Sarah]

I agree completely with your review. Peter is a smug, egotistical moron and he was so insufferable in the scene with Will where he asked how Alicia was doing. Until that moment, I had kinda liked him in this episode. He plays at being a nice guy but sooner or later the patronising idiot within shows though. Alicia needs to divorce him by season's end.
Now the kiss. God! What a kiss or rather what a bunch of kisses. I cheered when Will tried to end the kiss but Alicia grabbed him. It was better than what I had imagined. Can't what for the next episode.

[Rachel]

Well, I would have to disgree with Phil - Alicia could have dozens of extra-martial affairs on the side and engage in several - possibly - criminal activities, and then maybe she would get to the point low enough where she and Peter could be considered two of a kind. Whatever Alicia ends up developing with Will is not even on the same continent of wrongness with what Peter has done, and not just because Peter has done a lot of wrong already. They are two separated situations altogether.

Plus, it's not a moral superiority contest, so I suppose it's a moot point.

I loved the review, and I just adored this episode. Yay for Will's off-hour stubble. One can only hope that it comes back soon.

[gman]

you forgot the part where Kalinda seems to realize that there was something between Will and Ms goody wife.

[Marie]

Good summary and review as always. I was surprised you didn't comment on the suggestion between Will and Alicia that something happened at Georgetown. There was also a meaningful pause when Will was asked if he had kids. I sense this foreshadows a backstory that involves Will, Alicia and a pregnancy. Or am I reading way too much into this?

[Meriam]

No judgement, Meredith! I think there must have been a collective yelp.

Thanks for one of the most consistently funny and entertaining reviews of this show. I love how you cover all the really pertinent talking points (and I mean Will's stubble here).

[bedtimeforbonzo]

Great episode. Great review.

Great to see the wonderful Martha Plimpton character back.

Loved watching Alicia finally unleash her sexual frustration and use Peter for sex: She finally found Peter useful for something.

I feel that Alicia has lost any romantic feelings and, more importantly, trust in Peter and, therefore, she knows their marriage is over. But his court case, and the kids, make what would be messy already all the more complicated.

The sexual tension between Will and Alicia will continue, but acting on it will not, for now at least. The cards were aligned for that to happen last night and now Alicia will have time to get her head back.

Besides her children, I think Alicia values her new-found independence and her work more than anything.

[Katharine Saavedra]

First of all, the insurance commissioner wasn't in on the deal. Peter, apparently, called him and asked him to show up at Nyholm's office and wait. It was very clear from the look on his face that he had no idea why he was there. Will was bluffing as he could not very well explain to the commissioner how he had discovered PAM.

Second, as much as I love seeing Martha Plimpton, I am not a fan of the Patty character. She is so blatant in her manipulations that I find it laughable that anyone would fall for her tactics. That judges don't hold those tactics against her is equally ridiculous. She treats everyone as though they are stupid. Courts of law are a venue in which that doesn't go over well, particularly when there is no jury.

Third, Alicia needs to open up to her husband. She has been enigmatic and inconsistent with him since day one (of the show) and I am starting to find it tiresome. No matter how she feels she owes it to herself and her family (and to me, if the writer's want me to care about her) to be honest and clear about it. Even if she just says, "I'm confused and I don't know what I want", it would be better than going about as she has been. Here's hoping the writers can come up with something more satisfying though.

[ms gusset]

what i found interesting was martha plimpton's character being so fast with will and alicia; "don't you two make a cute couple?". her ex secretary, now alicia's secretary was leaving after the kiss...which makes you wonder...is she on two payrolls now?

[Kat]

@ Phil: How exactly would that be the same?! Peter cheated on her first. With prostitutes- Pay for rape. And maybe also was corrupt. Alicia would be having an affair with a former boyfriend.

[Lanee]

Loved that kiss, it was smoking. I love the ALicia/Will angle - one of the main reasons I watch TGW. The chemistry between them is fabulous; that look Will gave her before the kiss was so full of emotion. I don't think she loves Peter anymore, just used him. But, I'm glad they did not do more than kiss for now.

[CrunchyFrog]

"Third, Alicia needs to open up to her husband. She has been enigmatic and inconsistent with him since day one (of the show) and I am starting to find it tiresome. No matter how she feels she owes it to herself and her family (and to me, if the writer's want me to care about her) to be honest and clear about it."

Amen, Katharine! Tiresome it is, indeed. The tone of this entire series is very irritating as well. They seem to be going for realism, but there is no grittiness, they frequently cut away from scenes just when an interesting conversation should be taking place, and too many of the supporting characters (judges, opposing counsel) are cartoonish. I'm astonished that this is considered a high quality drama.