Good Wife and other things..
Jan. 28th, 2013 10:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Watched this week's The Good Wife - which apparently shocked some folks on lj - when one of the lead characters admitted to being an atheist. (Actually she admitted to this about three seasons ago, but apparently I'm the only one who noticed? Here she merely does it in front of reporters.) They think this is a rarity on American TV. Folks, you watch too many procedurals, fantasy and sci-fi shows. Most "mainstream network" tv shows either don't address religion at all, or if they do - there's always a great and nice character who is atheist. It's really not that rare. The religious shows of the 1980s-1990s are a thing of the past. I wonder sometimes how we see each other, and other countries - we are so tribal a species, that our perception of people who live outside our neighborhood, country, vicinity seems to be somewhat warped. What I've noticed interacting with people around the world online, through letters in the 1980s, and my own nomadic travels is people really aren't that different around the world. We share more in common than we wish to admit. The US really isn't as religious and into God as you think - yeah, the National News Media leads you to believe it is - but they sort of embellish the truth to get ratings and sell papers. Journalistic integrity, my foot. Church attendance has been down for quite some time in traditional churches and religions. And it's always varied. The number of out-spoken atheists I know in the US is about equal to the number of religious theists. Actually, I struggle, because I'm an odd theist - I believe in a God, but not in the God the atheists don't believe in and the theist's believe in. I've given up trying to explain it. You ever get it or you don't. Personally, I agree with Alicia Florick, it really doesn't matter. (Well unless of course you are using your religion as an excuse to hurt others, that is. Then yes, we have a problem. But that's really not the religion's fault so much as the interpreters or practioner's)
At any rate, it was amongst the better episodes.
Alicia gets a promotion, but it comes with a big price tag. She's not the only one. Four other 4th year associates get one too, including Carey Argos who was gone for two years working for the District Attorney's office. And, she has to fork over $600,000, which Will and Diane failed to disclose when they told her to go treat herself to something expensive and buy a few things. David Lee however is all too eager to do so.
Later, Canning has a field day revealing to Alicia while she's on the stand testifying for her firm, that Diane and Will have manipulated her or rather offered her partnership along with four other 4th year associates - in the hopes of reaping 3 million to pay off Canning. Canning is trying to push them into foreclosure, so he can take over the firm and get rid of Diane and Will as managers. They successfully get their 5 month extension, but not before Canning manages to expose them to Alicia.
At the end, Alicia is sitting in her office avoiding the Equity Partner's Party, when Canning wanders in - story at the ready. But she doesn't like his stories and wants him to get to the point. Damn, I wanted to hear it. Anyhow...the gist, he offers her his business card as a "get-out-of-jail" free card - join me, he states, if you hate it here. Canning reminds me a lot of Stern.
And I still think the end game is Canning, Alicia, Carey and Kalinda setting up shop together.
Or maybe Nathan Lane, Alicia, Carey and Kalinda.
Diane scolds Alicia for hanging back from the party and sulking. Stating - look it wasn't easy for me either. I found out Stern made me a partner to fight off a sexual harrassment lawsuit. It always comes with a price, and there's always an agenda attached. Alicia all smiles goes to the party as requested, with Diane watching...uncertain.
Story number 2 - is Nathan Lane's Trustee - who discovers that Canning is playing him for his own purposes. Canning offers Lane a job in return for helping him win his case against Lockhardt & Gardner. Lane tells Diane and Will, after a brief discussion with Carey - in which he says that the law feels too messy to him, not precise enough. Carey states that it doesn't have to be, depends on what law you practice. So Lane cleans up his mess and turns Canning in - losing Canning's case.
Story number 3 - Eli and Boy Wonder want Alicia to tell the press she's an agnostic, so they can go after Maddie's atheism. Which while not an issue for tv shows and movies, is an issue for politicians. People don't care what the tv show presents or believes in, but the person creating their laws and enforcing them is a whole other matter. Yet, at the same time, it isn't really. The times they are a-changing. There are quite a few politicians that do not believe in God and are not Judeo/Christian that have been elected and recently.
Alicia ignores them and like Maddie states the truth to the press - I'm an atheist. Only Peter states he believes in God and practices - because he was in prison and found himself. They actually have dealt with religion fairly realistically on the Good Wife.
Story number 4 - Case of the Week is David Lee and Carey and Kalinda manipulating Dena to fight her hubby to be's prenup agreement, so it is more to her benefit as her father wishes. Apparently Kalinda figures out that hubby to be, Neil Grossman, had a kid on the side and is sending money to said kid and hasn't told Dena about it. Too keep Dena from finding out - he agrees to their terms or rather Dena's, end of story.
All the stories are about manipulating truth and belief to meet specific needs. And how information is power.
2. Brain is still playing with Kim Harrison's latest Hollows novel Ever After, wish there were more Harrison fans on flist, or any for that matter. I have Dresden and Martin fans, but no Harrison fans dang it. This is one of those stories I want to read fanfic for. She's teasing me.
* Harrison does a fascinating and innovative bit on what it means to be a slave or enslaved, and how we demonize or belittle those that we disempower or enslave and abuse. She shows the complexity of the relationship, how it comes about, and more importantly what it does to both sides and the tragic ending. In some respects Harrison's Rachel Morgan tale feels allegorical or like a complex metaphor of various ways humans have enslaved each other over time.
I wish her writing technique was a bit better - because this would be an excellent book if it was.
The only other writers that I've seen tackle the topic of slavery and its long-term after-effect half as well are Toni Morrison in Beloved and Octavia Butler in Kindred.
It doesn't go away. This is an evil that will taint every generation after you for hundreds of years.
* She also tackles racism in an interesting manner - discussing how we demonize the other by their traits or what we believe their traits to be, and place value judgements upon those traits. And even the effects of ingrained or internalized racism - and what that does to an individual, how it tears at them.
As a biologist she knows that there are different traits between people, but is also wise enough to know that they do not mean one person or individual is better or superior to another. We are different and equal. And this theme is expressed deftly and subtly through her books, as well as gradually.
* In addition she paints a universe that is not black and white or morally clear-cut. People do horrible things, and wonderful things for various reasons, you can't neatly define them.
Would write a lengthy meta, but seriously what is the point? I'd only be talking to myself. ;-)
At any rate, it was amongst the better episodes.
Alicia gets a promotion, but it comes with a big price tag. She's not the only one. Four other 4th year associates get one too, including Carey Argos who was gone for two years working for the District Attorney's office. And, she has to fork over $600,000, which Will and Diane failed to disclose when they told her to go treat herself to something expensive and buy a few things. David Lee however is all too eager to do so.
Later, Canning has a field day revealing to Alicia while she's on the stand testifying for her firm, that Diane and Will have manipulated her or rather offered her partnership along with four other 4th year associates - in the hopes of reaping 3 million to pay off Canning. Canning is trying to push them into foreclosure, so he can take over the firm and get rid of Diane and Will as managers. They successfully get their 5 month extension, but not before Canning manages to expose them to Alicia.
At the end, Alicia is sitting in her office avoiding the Equity Partner's Party, when Canning wanders in - story at the ready. But she doesn't like his stories and wants him to get to the point. Damn, I wanted to hear it. Anyhow...the gist, he offers her his business card as a "get-out-of-jail" free card - join me, he states, if you hate it here. Canning reminds me a lot of Stern.
And I still think the end game is Canning, Alicia, Carey and Kalinda setting up shop together.
Or maybe Nathan Lane, Alicia, Carey and Kalinda.
Diane scolds Alicia for hanging back from the party and sulking. Stating - look it wasn't easy for me either. I found out Stern made me a partner to fight off a sexual harrassment lawsuit. It always comes with a price, and there's always an agenda attached. Alicia all smiles goes to the party as requested, with Diane watching...uncertain.
Story number 2 - is Nathan Lane's Trustee - who discovers that Canning is playing him for his own purposes. Canning offers Lane a job in return for helping him win his case against Lockhardt & Gardner. Lane tells Diane and Will, after a brief discussion with Carey - in which he says that the law feels too messy to him, not precise enough. Carey states that it doesn't have to be, depends on what law you practice. So Lane cleans up his mess and turns Canning in - losing Canning's case.
Story number 3 - Eli and Boy Wonder want Alicia to tell the press she's an agnostic, so they can go after Maddie's atheism. Which while not an issue for tv shows and movies, is an issue for politicians. People don't care what the tv show presents or believes in, but the person creating their laws and enforcing them is a whole other matter. Yet, at the same time, it isn't really. The times they are a-changing. There are quite a few politicians that do not believe in God and are not Judeo/Christian that have been elected and recently.
Alicia ignores them and like Maddie states the truth to the press - I'm an atheist. Only Peter states he believes in God and practices - because he was in prison and found himself. They actually have dealt with religion fairly realistically on the Good Wife.
Story number 4 - Case of the Week is David Lee and Carey and Kalinda manipulating Dena to fight her hubby to be's prenup agreement, so it is more to her benefit as her father wishes. Apparently Kalinda figures out that hubby to be, Neil Grossman, had a kid on the side and is sending money to said kid and hasn't told Dena about it. Too keep Dena from finding out - he agrees to their terms or rather Dena's, end of story.
All the stories are about manipulating truth and belief to meet specific needs. And how information is power.
2. Brain is still playing with Kim Harrison's latest Hollows novel Ever After, wish there were more Harrison fans on flist, or any for that matter. I have Dresden and Martin fans, but no Harrison fans dang it. This is one of those stories I want to read fanfic for. She's teasing me.
* Harrison does a fascinating and innovative bit on what it means to be a slave or enslaved, and how we demonize or belittle those that we disempower or enslave and abuse. She shows the complexity of the relationship, how it comes about, and more importantly what it does to both sides and the tragic ending. In some respects Harrison's Rachel Morgan tale feels allegorical or like a complex metaphor of various ways humans have enslaved each other over time.
I wish her writing technique was a bit better - because this would be an excellent book if it was.
The only other writers that I've seen tackle the topic of slavery and its long-term after-effect half as well are Toni Morrison in Beloved and Octavia Butler in Kindred.
It doesn't go away. This is an evil that will taint every generation after you for hundreds of years.
* She also tackles racism in an interesting manner - discussing how we demonize the other by their traits or what we believe their traits to be, and place value judgements upon those traits. And even the effects of ingrained or internalized racism - and what that does to an individual, how it tears at them.
As a biologist she knows that there are different traits between people, but is also wise enough to know that they do not mean one person or individual is better or superior to another. We are different and equal. And this theme is expressed deftly and subtly through her books, as well as gradually.
* In addition she paints a universe that is not black and white or morally clear-cut. People do horrible things, and wonderful things for various reasons, you can't neatly define them.
Would write a lengthy meta, but seriously what is the point? I'd only be talking to myself. ;-)
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no subject
Date: 2013-01-29 06:14 pm (UTC)I agree that TV does occassionally have atheist characters, interesting ones. The trend I've noticed, though, is that the atheist characters almost always get an episode where they have a very special experience that's supposed to teach them the value of prayer, or teases them with the possibility that God exists. As an atheist, I can tell you that it's a fairly annoying plot device. It implies some kind of defect in those of us who don't believe.
The real surprise, though, was her admitting her atheism in front of reporters. I know she's not the one running for office, but it does have the potential to damage Peter's campaign, and she doesn't seem to want that.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-29 10:42 pm (UTC)That said - The Good Wife much like The West Wing is a tv series that is solely about "politics" and so addresses both topics directly. Because politics and religion go hand in hand, particularly in this day and age (unfortunately). I was less surprised by Alicia stating it - mainly because the show already sort of went there with her daughter dating the insane born-again Christian and Peter trying to gain favor with the Black Baptist Church, when he's Catholic.