![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatLast night's episode of the Good Wife, focused in some respects on Carey, but like all the episodes it was about politics and how various people use and often abuse power.
* Eli and his latest ex-wife. This was interesting. Parker Posey, who is by the way, in her 40s, actually one year younger than I am. And Alan Cummings is...wait for it, also in his 40s. Shocking, I know. So the actors are in truth only three years apart. Cummings was born in 1965, Posey in 1968. Okay, maybe 4 years apart. I mention this because I noticed in other reviews online, people thought she was too young for him? LOL! I can only imagine what you must think of James Marsters who is 49, marrying a 25 year old. And he has a 17 year old son. Mind-Boggling, I know.
Anywho...this bit worked for me. And was quite chewy. Eli is asked by Diane if he knows anyone in the State Department that can help them get their Taiwanese client immunity? He's the Ambassador from Taiwan's son. Apparently the Dutch Ambassador's son got immunity, no problem. But the US' relationship with China prevented Taiwan from getting the same treatment. Eli states he does know someone, but it is well uncomfortable, because it's his ex-wife. But Diane convinces him that if he pulls this off - it would be a nice feather in his cap for the Presdential race. So..Eli chats up the ex, played by Parker Posey, who wants a favor in return, for Eli's expertise regarding her desire to run for the Senate. I've read that people didn't see this as realistic. Hee. It is. If you know American politics.
Happens all the time. Posey has some skeleton's in her closet, but hey what American politician doesn't? (Kennedy (all of them but hey, if you want to be picky? *cough*TedKennedy*cough*, Clinton, Edwards, Palin, just to name a few). Eli askes Kalinda to vet his ex. Making it clear he's not really interested in who she's sleeping with, he just wants to know if she can run. Kalinda talks to Posey and discovers that she can't run - she had a one-night stand with one of Osma Bin Laden's cousins while she was still married to Eli. Posey doesn't want Kalinda to tell him. And yes it seems awfully niave that she'd run without realizing Eli would ask or that Kalinda would tell him, but again, *cough*SarahPalin*cough* or how about Bill Clinton and ahem, Jennifer Flowers? Or what about
Teddy Kennedy? People don't tend to think these things through. And as Posey states it was a long time ago, a mistake that she regrets, it shouldn't be an issue - but it is. That's the point - everything you do when it comes to politics, is an issue, someone can hold it against you. Why'd they do it? Because of the Alicia/Peter/Kalinda story thread - which Eli doesn't know about but is this-close to finding out. Eli did not take Posey's affair with the Bin Laden well (which makes sense, considering Eli is Jewish). But worse, it was while she was married to him. Their argument which does to a degree echo Alicia and Peter, is that Eli was distant, not present, and she was bored. Yes he did everything right, but sometimes it just is too late. Eli in Alicia in this scenario and Posey, Peter. Eli was distant, he did everything right, but ...not enough. So she strayed in the wrong direction, a direction that makes it impossible for her to run for political office. Being a woman, she's twice screwed. Peter, who slept with Kalinda, and countless others while married to Alicia, and even went to prison for improper handling of funds, can run and succeeds. Of course he didn't sleep with the cousin of a known terrorist.
Putting Eli in Alicia's shoes for a bit is an interesting twist in the tale, and rather effective. The relationship they are building is between Eli and Alicia, not Eli and Peter.
Also, just in case it's not clear that this is exactly what they are doing - putting Eli in Alicia's shoes so to speak - Eli's lap-top goes on the blink the exact same way Alicia's did.
He's unable to access anything because of evil IT guys - who loaded propriety software which charges the firm for storage space, making it difficult to access previously stored files and slowing down the system. Another metaphor regarding power-plays, and political maneauvering. It also echoes - the inability Lockhardt/Gardner has to use the immunity card to free the Taiwan National. They can't play the system - in this case, Carey and the prosecution have the right player (Joe Morton), Peter's former campaign manager, who prevents the grant of immunity that Eli had Posey finagle. Both Eli and Alicia are blocked, this is foreshadowed by the computer. They can't access critical information until it is too late and sort of blows up in their face. In Eli's case - he doesn't know about his ex-wife's affair, he does find out before she runs, but it still blind-side's him. In Alicia's - she doesn't know that her client is guilty, or that the Dutch National covered for him, not the other way around. She's blind-sided by the information, which Carey has access to. Same with the political asylum - she thinks both have it, Carey's source/assistant knows they don't, while Alicia's is as useless as the computer or as useful as a computer but in a limited manner.
* The other thread is Carey - and how his supervisor keeps trying to bully him. Placing him in smaller and smaller office spaces. Carey fights to win this case against Alicia. If it's a Lockhardt/Gardner case - Carey automatically gets it. And he has an ace in his corner, an assistant who is Joe Morton's daughter and leaving the prosecutor's office for defense work.
Unlike Caitlin, this gal knows what she is doing and doesn't rely solely on technology.
We follow Carey more than usual, indicating that he'll most likely win - but he starts in the underdog position. And he also plays political games. Brow-beats the Dutch National into testifying (also realistic), and bluffs Alicia. Alicia similarly plays games, although her behavior is actually ethical here. She's not permitted to break confidentiality regarding her client. But she is permitted to tell them where he client is going. It's a dicey position she is placed in under ethics rules. She plays this game right by the book.
(I like the fact that Good Wife on the whole is fairly realistic when it comes to legal rules, ethics, and how the game is played. It's not perfect, no tv show is, but it is by far the most realistic television series I've seen, which doesn't bore me to tears.) I'm certain the American Legal System bewilders Europeans. We are alike, yet at the same time incredibly different. And it doesn't help that each state is different from the next.)
* I don't much like Caitlin, but I'm not sure I'm supposed to. Did finally remember where I'd seen her before. She was the grating eager beaver moot court law student attempting to get Will to vote in her favor in that episode where he has to recuse himself from being a judge at moot court hearings at a law school. The reason, and I think she was the one who came up with it, was favoritism towards one of the teams. I'd have to rewatch the episode, it was in Season 1, I think. Good way to reference old episodes! Kudos. Make's the series more layered.
Anyhow...Caitlin is a climber. She's playing Will and Alicia. In this episode, she convinces Alicia that she's just an eager beaver. But at the same time, she's going after one of the partner's maneauvering herself into position. Getting on Will's good side. At the end of the show, she apologizes to Will for coming to him, that Alicia had said she should only come to Alicia with issues and not bug the partner's. Will says, oh no, we don't mind, come to us at any time. Once again Will has assisted someone in undercutting Alicia's power. He did it in the prior episode with Caitlin's uncle regarding Caitlin, and he does it again in this episode. He gives Caitlin to Alicia to mentor, but he makes it clear to Caitlin that she should come to him. (This made me dislike both Caitlin and Will - because I've been in Alicia's shoes, I've had a boss do that to me. It's not pleasant.) Demonstrating once again why Alicia should not trust Will Gardner.
Will awkwardly introduces himself to Alicia's son Zack, who is in Alicia's office fixing her lap-top. And Zack has an awkward moment with Alicia, where he tells her that he met her boss, Will Gardner, finally. Alicia worries, but Zack clearly thought nothing of it. Will tells Alicia that it would be okay if she wants him to meet her kids...he sort of gently suggests it. But she tells him, no, no, totally unnecessary. Let's not even go there.
And I can't decide if Will was relieved or disappointed. He didn't enjoy introducing himself to Zack..Will is not good with kids. This is the second time they've underlined this point.
It's definitely building. Interesting episode.
* Eli and his latest ex-wife. This was interesting. Parker Posey, who is by the way, in her 40s, actually one year younger than I am. And Alan Cummings is...wait for it, also in his 40s. Shocking, I know. So the actors are in truth only three years apart. Cummings was born in 1965, Posey in 1968. Okay, maybe 4 years apart. I mention this because I noticed in other reviews online, people thought she was too young for him? LOL! I can only imagine what you must think of James Marsters who is 49, marrying a 25 year old. And he has a 17 year old son. Mind-Boggling, I know.
Anywho...this bit worked for me. And was quite chewy. Eli is asked by Diane if he knows anyone in the State Department that can help them get their Taiwanese client immunity? He's the Ambassador from Taiwan's son. Apparently the Dutch Ambassador's son got immunity, no problem. But the US' relationship with China prevented Taiwan from getting the same treatment. Eli states he does know someone, but it is well uncomfortable, because it's his ex-wife. But Diane convinces him that if he pulls this off - it would be a nice feather in his cap for the Presdential race. So..Eli chats up the ex, played by Parker Posey, who wants a favor in return, for Eli's expertise regarding her desire to run for the Senate. I've read that people didn't see this as realistic. Hee. It is. If you know American politics.
Happens all the time. Posey has some skeleton's in her closet, but hey what American politician doesn't? (Kennedy (all of them but hey, if you want to be picky? *cough*TedKennedy*cough*, Clinton, Edwards, Palin, just to name a few). Eli askes Kalinda to vet his ex. Making it clear he's not really interested in who she's sleeping with, he just wants to know if she can run. Kalinda talks to Posey and discovers that she can't run - she had a one-night stand with one of Osma Bin Laden's cousins while she was still married to Eli. Posey doesn't want Kalinda to tell him. And yes it seems awfully niave that she'd run without realizing Eli would ask or that Kalinda would tell him, but again, *cough*SarahPalin*cough* or how about Bill Clinton and ahem, Jennifer Flowers? Or what about
Teddy Kennedy? People don't tend to think these things through. And as Posey states it was a long time ago, a mistake that she regrets, it shouldn't be an issue - but it is. That's the point - everything you do when it comes to politics, is an issue, someone can hold it against you. Why'd they do it? Because of the Alicia/Peter/Kalinda story thread - which Eli doesn't know about but is this-close to finding out. Eli did not take Posey's affair with the Bin Laden well (which makes sense, considering Eli is Jewish). But worse, it was while she was married to him. Their argument which does to a degree echo Alicia and Peter, is that Eli was distant, not present, and she was bored. Yes he did everything right, but sometimes it just is too late. Eli in Alicia in this scenario and Posey, Peter. Eli was distant, he did everything right, but ...not enough. So she strayed in the wrong direction, a direction that makes it impossible for her to run for political office. Being a woman, she's twice screwed. Peter, who slept with Kalinda, and countless others while married to Alicia, and even went to prison for improper handling of funds, can run and succeeds. Of course he didn't sleep with the cousin of a known terrorist.
Putting Eli in Alicia's shoes for a bit is an interesting twist in the tale, and rather effective. The relationship they are building is between Eli and Alicia, not Eli and Peter.
Also, just in case it's not clear that this is exactly what they are doing - putting Eli in Alicia's shoes so to speak - Eli's lap-top goes on the blink the exact same way Alicia's did.
He's unable to access anything because of evil IT guys - who loaded propriety software which charges the firm for storage space, making it difficult to access previously stored files and slowing down the system. Another metaphor regarding power-plays, and political maneauvering. It also echoes - the inability Lockhardt/Gardner has to use the immunity card to free the Taiwan National. They can't play the system - in this case, Carey and the prosecution have the right player (Joe Morton), Peter's former campaign manager, who prevents the grant of immunity that Eli had Posey finagle. Both Eli and Alicia are blocked, this is foreshadowed by the computer. They can't access critical information until it is too late and sort of blows up in their face. In Eli's case - he doesn't know about his ex-wife's affair, he does find out before she runs, but it still blind-side's him. In Alicia's - she doesn't know that her client is guilty, or that the Dutch National covered for him, not the other way around. She's blind-sided by the information, which Carey has access to. Same with the political asylum - she thinks both have it, Carey's source/assistant knows they don't, while Alicia's is as useless as the computer or as useful as a computer but in a limited manner.
* The other thread is Carey - and how his supervisor keeps trying to bully him. Placing him in smaller and smaller office spaces. Carey fights to win this case against Alicia. If it's a Lockhardt/Gardner case - Carey automatically gets it. And he has an ace in his corner, an assistant who is Joe Morton's daughter and leaving the prosecutor's office for defense work.
Unlike Caitlin, this gal knows what she is doing and doesn't rely solely on technology.
We follow Carey more than usual, indicating that he'll most likely win - but he starts in the underdog position. And he also plays political games. Brow-beats the Dutch National into testifying (also realistic), and bluffs Alicia. Alicia similarly plays games, although her behavior is actually ethical here. She's not permitted to break confidentiality regarding her client. But she is permitted to tell them where he client is going. It's a dicey position she is placed in under ethics rules. She plays this game right by the book.
(I like the fact that Good Wife on the whole is fairly realistic when it comes to legal rules, ethics, and how the game is played. It's not perfect, no tv show is, but it is by far the most realistic television series I've seen, which doesn't bore me to tears.) I'm certain the American Legal System bewilders Europeans. We are alike, yet at the same time incredibly different. And it doesn't help that each state is different from the next.)
* I don't much like Caitlin, but I'm not sure I'm supposed to. Did finally remember where I'd seen her before. She was the grating eager beaver moot court law student attempting to get Will to vote in her favor in that episode where he has to recuse himself from being a judge at moot court hearings at a law school. The reason, and I think she was the one who came up with it, was favoritism towards one of the teams. I'd have to rewatch the episode, it was in Season 1, I think. Good way to reference old episodes! Kudos. Make's the series more layered.
Anyhow...Caitlin is a climber. She's playing Will and Alicia. In this episode, she convinces Alicia that she's just an eager beaver. But at the same time, she's going after one of the partner's maneauvering herself into position. Getting on Will's good side. At the end of the show, she apologizes to Will for coming to him, that Alicia had said she should only come to Alicia with issues and not bug the partner's. Will says, oh no, we don't mind, come to us at any time. Once again Will has assisted someone in undercutting Alicia's power. He did it in the prior episode with Caitlin's uncle regarding Caitlin, and he does it again in this episode. He gives Caitlin to Alicia to mentor, but he makes it clear to Caitlin that she should come to him. (This made me dislike both Caitlin and Will - because I've been in Alicia's shoes, I've had a boss do that to me. It's not pleasant.) Demonstrating once again why Alicia should not trust Will Gardner.
Will awkwardly introduces himself to Alicia's son Zack, who is in Alicia's office fixing her lap-top. And Zack has an awkward moment with Alicia, where he tells her that he met her boss, Will Gardner, finally. Alicia worries, but Zack clearly thought nothing of it. Will tells Alicia that it would be okay if she wants him to meet her kids...he sort of gently suggests it. But she tells him, no, no, totally unnecessary. Let's not even go there.
And I can't decide if Will was relieved or disappointed. He didn't enjoy introducing himself to Zack..Will is not good with kids. This is the second time they've underlined this point.
It's definitely building. Interesting episode.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-11-01 01:15 am (UTC)I'm with Alicia - I'd want to keep everything compartmentalized as long as possible. Someday Peter is going to make a stink about the relationship and it won't be pretty....
no subject
Date: 2011-11-01 09:48 pm (UTC)I'm with Alicia - I'd want to keep everything compartmentalized as long as possible. Someday Peter is going to make a stink about the relationship and it won't be pretty....
Oh yeah. Although he technically already has - last season when she kicked him out, before she started sleeping with Will, he made a big stink about the relationship. I think he assumes they are together, but as long as she keeps it under-wraps and isn't rubbing his face in it or anything, he can ignore it. And so can the media. I honestly think Alicia is protecting herself and her kids from the media. Which she made clear to David Lee, the divorce attorney, and to Peter, and Eli - she can't have people know - because of the press. The show does a good job of depicting how the press can hurt a case and people, or help them.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-01 07:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-01 09:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-01 11:32 am (UTC)I agree with you about Caitlin. I also think she's a climber and that her burgeoning crush on Will isn't "genuine" at all.
I think that Will looked disappointed but I agree that it is a bit ambiguous.
I'm worried about the whole Peter/Alicia/Will thing. it looks more and more...phoned. It seems that they are paving the way for Alicia to come back to her husband eventually. I hope I'm wrong because it would be soapish.
I miss the Will/Doane scenes I enjoyed so much in the previous seasons.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-01 09:40 pm (UTC)Wouldn't worry too much. They are examining it more from a political/power angle than a romantic one or even moral one. Everyone appears to have an agenda. I'm not sure what Will's is. Been trying to figure that out from the beginning. I don't know what Will gains by being with Alicia. Peter on the other hand - it is fairly clear to everyone including Alicia that Peter needs Alicia for his political aspirations. That said, it's possible that he could find a way of obtaining those goals, without her, if he succeeds in painting her as well less pristine and making himself, look more honest and wholesome in comparison. So what Peter's agenda is - is unclear. Does he want Alicia back? OR does he want to undermine her, so that she's no longer an aid but a hinderance and he can move on? OR does he want to get her away from Will, and paint Will in a negative light, and get status quo?
Will...has a lot to lose by pursuing Alicia openly. 1) it's not exactly professional to be dating an associate at your firm, who reports directly to you and you hired. It makes Alicia look...well a bit like Caitlin is at the moment. Ironically, Alicia didn't do it - never occurred to her, but it certainly has occurred to Caitlin. 2) Peter & Eli, who have some political sway, and could hurt the firm. Alicia isn't exactly an asset to Will as a girl-friend. Which makes me wonder...could it be love? Will, however, is not beyond throwing Alicia under the bus.
I don't know. I'd say Peter loves Alicia too, actually. But I don't think he's above throwing her under the bus to further his career either. Or to use her to do it. Except...there are the kids to consider, and I don't think Peter would willingly hurt his kids. I don't think Will cares one way or the other.
(shrugs).
I think the writers will pick the most politically interesting situation to explore. Just not sure what that is.
I don't think it is phoned either. (I've watched a lot of these types of shows, currently watching a tv show which well is phoned in *cough*General Hospital*cough*, so trust me this is not!) The political entanglement makes sense. And they've built up the triangle fairly well. From Alicia's pov there is no triangle. From Peter's there is. And from Will's there is.
Which is sort of interesting. I honestly don't think Alicia is in love with or wants either of them to be in her life long-term as a romantic interest. She's done with Peter. And she's just having a fling with Will.
I miss the Will/Doane scenes I enjoyed so much in the previous seasons.
You mean, Will and Diane? Yes, me too. Although I'm loving the build-up of Eli/Diane. They need to build that up, because the big explosion is going to be when Eli figures out 1) Will and Alicia are involved and 2) Why Alicia isn't with Peter and won't go back to him. Remember Eli wants Alicia with Peter and working closely with him. Eli likes Alicia. So the true triangle actually is Eli/Alicia/Will, not really Peter/Alicia/Will. And Eli does not like Will.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-01 04:24 pm (UTC)2. I'm not whether Zack didn't catch it, or if he's playing dumb. Alicia obviously does not want to discuss it, and after being her son for many years - Zack may be catching on that she is not a comfortable sharer.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-01 06:53 pm (UTC)Definitely second wife. They were married from 2004-2008. The affair happened betwee 2006-2007. They were divorced in 08. His daughter is at least 22. So...in order to be Posey's kid, the daughter would have to be 7 years old.
Zack may be catching on that she is not a comfortable sharer.
Agree on Zack. He tells his sister to hang up the phone when the mother pickes up the other line. And he wants a car. You don't talk about your mom's romantic life, when you want a car and just finished fixing her computer.
You go for the car.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-03 09:04 pm (UTC)