It’s the rare guest star on The Good Wife that fails to impress, yet last night I was disappointed by both of the big names that made appearances. In her previous turn as Nancy Crozier, Mamie Gummer did a great job playing the naive innocent whose demeanor belied an intellect and savvy well beyond her years. Last night Gummer remained true to her character, but I felt underwhelmed by her performance. Why? I think because I began to question whether maybe she really is that simple, and we had made the incorrect assumption that she had to be masking her cunning on our own. Alicia wiped the floor with her yet again with ease … at some point you have to stop giving people the benefit of the doubt.
The other unexciting appearance came from Sarah Silverman as Stephanie Engler, Lockhart/Gardner’s client and the founder of a cheating website called SideEncounters.com. I’m not a Silverman fan in the first place, but even so I can somewhat appreciate her creativity in a comedic setting. On The Good Wife I found her to have fallen flat.
I’m not sure exactly what the intended subtext was in assigning Alicia to the case, but the significance that I extracted came during Alicia’s preparation of Stephanie for her testimony. In explaining what she thought was wrong with not being faithful to her spouse Alicia said “Because it would hurt them not to.” Not that she believed in love, commitment, and “the one,” but rather once she committed she was loath to hurt anyone’s feelings. Can’t you just feel the love?
I wasn’t surprised to see Alicia inquiring about the legal process of separation and divorce, but I was surprised that she brought her issues to someone in the firm, let alone David Lee. It’s because they’ve worked together that I’d think Alicia would want to keep her personal life far from someone like Lee. But then I guess there’s also some humor in how he interacts with other people, so it could be funny to see how he applies his lack of social graces to Alicia’s personal life.
For the first time in a long time I was really proud of the way that Alicia handled a difficult personal situation. She was awesome when confronting Kalinda in her office, and she was cold as ice the second time they spoke in the conference room. As for Kalinda’s “explanation?” It was great how in all of what she said not once did the fact that she knew that Peter was married, even if she didn’t yet know Alicia, come up. All the rest of her reasoning was just noise. And Alicia, despite not mentioning that fact, was terrific.
And she was great with Jackie as well. I can’t stand Jackie, and it’s about time that someone puts her in her place. It won’t have any affect going forward, but at least for once someone didn’t just smile and nod at her intrusiveness.
In many respects Alicia’s come a long way on this show, so why did we have to go back to her and Will again? I understand that what Stephanie said stirred up some old feelings, but how awkward were Alicia and Will when they were talking? Besides, Will’s been much better with a girlfriend; do we really want (or need) to go back to a plot that failed the first time around?
With Kalinda out looking for work I was wondering whether the creative minds behind the show had been a bit premature in burning Blake. I’d love to see him come back now to replace Kalinda, or at least to cause her problems as she slinks away into the night. But talk about a tease … she’s sticking around? That’s unfortunate. I at least had hoped that she’d become like Cary, there but not there. I guess we won’t be getting so lucky again.
As for the season finale, I think rekindling the dead Will/Alicia relationship this week showed the writers’ hand — we’re bound to see more of it to end the season. How that will play into the rest of the story I don’t know, but I’m sure that some way and some how Peter will find a way to act injured by it. Beyond that I have no idea what The Good Wife has in store for us. Any guesses?
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on May 11, 2011 @ 15:18 EST5EDT
Sarah ‘s acting actually impressed me last night. I didn’t expect much, but she died a great turn as the sex-site creator (although I hated the ending) and I started to think about other actors (Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg) who exhibited similarly surprising talents.
I loved seeing Alicia stand up for herself. And, I loved watching Kalinda’s broken walk after each confrontation. All the same, I hated seeing Alicia showing such cruelty to a former friend.Yet, when J. Marguiles did that great pseudo crying scene, I finally understood why Alicia stood by Peter all those years (although I questioned it all throughout season one) and I almost understood why women like Maria Shriver/D. Bonaduce’s wife stood by their men during the worst but eventually left them when most of that crap seeingly died down. At her core, she IS the good wife. She IS that ethical and that honest, and she applies those standards to her seemingly like-minded acquaintances.
I’m wondering how long she’ll stay with L & G, considering how they’re slowly sliding down the ethical ladder.
*POST AUTHOR*
Alicia’s been given a couple of lines of escape from the firm. The fact that she’s let them all go without any follow-up that we’ve seen at least suggests that she might not be leaving over the life of the series. But I definitely think it would be for the better … and would make a lot of sense.
I thought Silverman was uneven. Some of her scenes were very good, others were not.
The Good Wife usually does a fantastic job with recurring characters (mostly other lawyers and judges), but I think Nancy is my least favorite. Her schtick was fun once, but now it’s just supremely annoying.
This was a great episode – defintely the Emmy submission for a few folks, I think.
I’m guessing the season will end with another cliffhanger… probably her going into a bedroom with Will… Did she or didn’t she sleep with him? That sort of thing. meh.
*POST AUTHOR*
Even if they were good together that would be weak. But it’s too soon for it to be a political cliffhanger, either for Alicia or for Peter. So maybe.
I don’t understand all the anti-Alicia-Will feelings. I want to see them at least give each other a try. I’m not sure there is a long term relationship there, but they have to give each other a chance.
They clearly have feelings for each other. I’d rather they get together and see if it will work than continue with this … oh … I wonder … world. That would be annoying.
*POST AUTHOR*
For me it’s due to their total lack of chemistry. We’ve been told that they have feelings for one another, but I’ve never seen it between them. What do they say about acting and writing? Show, don’t tell? I don’t see it.
That’s where I disagree. I think they do have chemistry together. But, it is not in your face. Alicia is married and has been “the good wife”, which I think comes across as no chemistry to some. But, the look they gave each other this week? You didn’t see their chemistry with a simple look back and forth across a room and through glass?
I don’t feel the chemistry either. Frankly, there are times I find it hard believing they are friends. There’s just nothing there. She even has more chemistry with Eli, there is at least a spark between them. With Will? Nothing.
*POST AUTHOR*
You know what was terrific about that look? Alicia looked at Will wistfully, whatever, but Will looked at her like a caring friend … exactly the place that they should have been in for the last 45 episodes. Seeing his face I thought, “Yes, that’s what should be between them: friendship!”