The Good Wife: The Line
September 21, 2014 11:16 PM - Season 6, Episode 1 - Subscribe
Season 6 begins with Alicia refusing to run for State's Attorney despite Eli's attempts to persuade her to launch a campaign. Meanwhile, Diane considers joining Florrick/Agos as a partner, but an internal crisis threatens to destroy the firm.
This show was very missed by me and the idea that many themes of the episode are encapsulated just in the episode title alone reminds me why.
This show was very missed by me and the idea that many themes of the episode are encapsulated just in the episode title alone reminds me why.
Lots of the cook county lockup stuff was lifted - sometimes word for word - from Courtroom 302. These guys do their research like whoa.
Any episode with Eli's daughter is a winner.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 4:35 AM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
Any episode with Eli's daughter is a winner.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 4:35 AM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
Cary's situation was so disorienting and tense. The blonde investigator readily throwing in all her money for bail when the other partners balked, without knowing her job was on the line again. David Lee scheming to poach Diane's clients. Wheeeee, it's back and we're in for a wild ride.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 4:57 AM on September 22, 2014
posted by TWinbrook8 at 4:57 AM on September 22, 2014
A great, tense start to the season. I watched the previous finale just before the premiere, Alicia and Cary were at each other's throats. That's swept under the rug quickly, but the new situation sets up all sorts of new challenges for the firm and Diane's chances of joining it going forward. I'm sure they'll eventually get all the "good" guys together under the FA banner, but it's not going to be an easy ride. Lee and Canning's barely contained glee at Cary's arrest and what it would mean for Diane's secret plans was delicious. The AVClub's review makes some good points about Bishop as a smoking gun of morality finally going off.
So good to be back with these folks. I notice episode titles are back down to two words, hopefully they won't be planning to turn out the lights after next year when they're down to one word again. I would watch this show until Diane and Alicia are doddering and bickering like Jackie and Veronica.
posted by yellowbinder at 6:35 AM on September 22, 2014
So good to be back with these folks. I notice episode titles are back down to two words, hopefully they won't be planning to turn out the lights after next year when they're down to one word again. I would watch this show until Diane and Alicia are doddering and bickering like Jackie and Veronica.
posted by yellowbinder at 6:35 AM on September 22, 2014
I notice episode titles are back down to two words, hopefully they won't be planning to turn out the lights after next year when they're down to one word again.
The producers have said that that is exactly what it means. They have a seven-season arc planned out.
posted by Etrigan at 12:21 PM on September 22, 2014
The producers have said that that is exactly what it means. They have a seven-season arc planned out.
posted by Etrigan at 12:21 PM on September 22, 2014
Someone remind me why Cary and Alicia fought last episode?
I love Eli's daughter, let's see her a lot now. And I'm really glad that they don't intend to keep the show going forever -- I don't want to see it spin its wheels.
That said, I think Canning/David Lee are getting a little too moustache-twirling.
posted by jeather at 4:32 PM on September 22, 2014
I love Eli's daughter, let's see her a lot now. And I'm really glad that they don't intend to keep the show going forever -- I don't want to see it spin its wheels.
That said, I think Canning/David Lee are getting a little too moustache-twirling.
posted by jeather at 4:32 PM on September 22, 2014
(I know their fight was about the merger, but not the details.)
posted by jeather at 4:37 PM on September 22, 2014
posted by jeather at 4:37 PM on September 22, 2014
Alan Cumming is such a gift to humanity. Eli was unbearably annoying in the early part of Season 1 (not quite as much as Jackie), but I pretty much live for his scenes now. The Cary story is creepy, and just when did Finn turn into such a good little goose-stepping Nazi? Wasn't it just 5 minutes ago that Castro was trying to throw him under the bus? The dead sister angle isn't really enough to sell me on his transition into ScaliaBot.
Seems like Alicia will have no choice but to run for that hideous office just to fumigate the joint a bit. I guess the overall thematic arc of the series is for her to turn into Peter? Or something?
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:50 PM on September 22, 2014
Seems like Alicia will have no choice but to run for that hideous office just to fumigate the joint a bit. I guess the overall thematic arc of the series is for her to turn into Peter? Or something?
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:50 PM on September 22, 2014
Re: the fight. Diane was battling to maintain control of LG, and secretly planned to bring FA back into the fold once she had. Alicia, emotionally spent from Will's death and the hustle of a startup year was all for it, but Cary thought it would be giving up on all their hard work and would put many of their employees out of a job. They had a tense standoff, the first real coming to blows of their partnership and began trying to round up votes against each other.
Cary met with Canning in secret to warn him about Diane's merger plans so they could both work to prevent it. Canning threatened Diane with dissolving LG because of Will's hasty expansion if she didnt cede management. Because LG left their teleconferencing on everyone found out about Cary's warning to Canning and things got even more heated, but then Diane came in with her offer to jump over to FA. That's pretty much where things left off.
posted by yellowbinder at 10:42 PM on September 22, 2014
Cary met with Canning in secret to warn him about Diane's merger plans so they could both work to prevent it. Canning threatened Diane with dissolving LG because of Will's hasty expansion if she didnt cede management. Because LG left their teleconferencing on everyone found out about Cary's warning to Canning and things got even more heated, but then Diane came in with her offer to jump over to FA. That's pretty much where things left off.
posted by yellowbinder at 10:42 PM on September 22, 2014
The Cary story is creepy, and just when did Finn turn into such a good little goose-stepping Nazi? Wasn't it just 5 minutes ago that Castro was trying to throw him under the bus? The dead sister angle isn't really enough to sell me on his transition into ScaliaBot.
The thing is, as far as he knows, and he seems to have a lot of pretty damning evidence to support his knowing, Cary is legitimately totally guilty. If you imagine Alicia and Finn sparring like that if it were actually Bishop in jail and her fighting to get him out, would he still seem like a ScaliaBot? We as the audience aren't remotely unbiased.
Unrelatedly I have long that this show and Shameless are almost perfect companion pieces to each other - both set in Chicago, at opposite ends of the economic scale, showing basically how the folks on the top and the folks on the bottom have almost mirror-image-opposite lives. But in this episode, man was I reminded of Iron City so much, so many times.
posted by mstokes650 at 10:54 PM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
The thing is, as far as he knows, and he seems to have a lot of pretty damning evidence to support his knowing, Cary is legitimately totally guilty. If you imagine Alicia and Finn sparring like that if it were actually Bishop in jail and her fighting to get him out, would he still seem like a ScaliaBot? We as the audience aren't remotely unbiased.
Unrelatedly I have long that this show and Shameless are almost perfect companion pieces to each other - both set in Chicago, at opposite ends of the economic scale, showing basically how the folks on the top and the folks on the bottom have almost mirror-image-opposite lives. But in this episode, man was I reminded of Iron City so much, so many times.
posted by mstokes650 at 10:54 PM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
Also, I really hope Eli's daughter genuinely does decide to learn the family trade and hangs around a lot. Now that Zach's off to college someone needs to be there to snark at the grown-ups being ridiculous, after all.
posted by mstokes650 at 10:59 PM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by mstokes650 at 10:59 PM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
The thing is, as far as he knows, and he seems to have a lot of pretty damning evidence to support his knowing, Cary is legitimately totally guilty. If you imagine Alicia and Finn sparring like that if it were actually Bishop in jail and her fighting to get him out, would he still seem like a ScaliaBot? We as the audience aren't remotely unbiased.
You're right; I'm not unbiased. I think Cary is a smug little whiny entitled prick, and if he actually did facilitate criminal activity, fine, throw the book at him -- although I have little patience for anything having to do with the [trumpet fanfare] War on Drugs. If you don't want crimelords making bazillions of dollars from drug trafficking? There's an easy way to reduce that.
Anyhow, did we see the scene in question; maybe Cary did moronically say something that could be construed as advice? (I didn't see it because I wrote off the show for its dumb L.A. Law bickering a while back, until the NSA stuff and Will's death got me reinterested.) But on principle, I'm generally not a fan of the "Can't get X criminal? Go after their lawyer and get 'em to flip" school of prosecution since it erodes the right to counsel and attorney-client privilege. Seems unwise to do so on the uncorroborated word of an informant, particularly when we (and Finn) know Castro's every move is motivated by his antipathy to all things Florrick, and when Finn also knows firsthand his boss's tendency to play fast and loose with ethics and screw innocent people over without blinking an eye, so yeah, I do think Finn is a jerk or at least spineless for playing along.
But again, maybe I missed some damning (of Cary) or redeeming (of Finn) info last year.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:45 AM on September 23, 2014 [2 favorites]
You're right; I'm not unbiased. I think Cary is a smug little whiny entitled prick, and if he actually did facilitate criminal activity, fine, throw the book at him -- although I have little patience for anything having to do with the [trumpet fanfare] War on Drugs. If you don't want crimelords making bazillions of dollars from drug trafficking? There's an easy way to reduce that.
Anyhow, did we see the scene in question; maybe Cary did moronically say something that could be construed as advice? (I didn't see it because I wrote off the show for its dumb L.A. Law bickering a while back, until the NSA stuff and Will's death got me reinterested.) But on principle, I'm generally not a fan of the "Can't get X criminal? Go after their lawyer and get 'em to flip" school of prosecution since it erodes the right to counsel and attorney-client privilege. Seems unwise to do so on the uncorroborated word of an informant, particularly when we (and Finn) know Castro's every move is motivated by his antipathy to all things Florrick, and when Finn also knows firsthand his boss's tendency to play fast and loose with ethics and screw innocent people over without blinking an eye, so yeah, I do think Finn is a jerk or at least spineless for playing along.
But again, maybe I missed some damning (of Cary) or redeeming (of Finn) info last year.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:45 AM on September 23, 2014 [2 favorites]
Oh, plus the whole Tough Guy "leave Cary to rot in jail w/o bail so he'll get hurt + terrified and be induced to cooperate" approach even though they know for a fact he's not a flight risk. That's just egregious and puts this guy's life at major risk for no reason except govt. goon leverage. Biz as usual.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:47 AM on September 23, 2014
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:47 AM on September 23, 2014
i think that Cary's amorality, and that he might be guilty, makes the work even more complicated.
posted by PinkMoose at 8:49 AM on September 23, 2014
posted by PinkMoose at 8:49 AM on September 23, 2014
"Maybe this season," I thought, "The world will finally stop shitting on Cary."
HAHAHA
posted by Drinky Die at 10:13 AM on September 23, 2014 [3 favorites]
HAHAHA
posted by Drinky Die at 10:13 AM on September 23, 2014 [3 favorites]
Lots of the cook county lockup stuff was lifted - sometimes word for word - from Courtroom 302. These guys do their research like whoa.
I was talking to a friend of mine who is a Good Wife fan and also has experience in Cook County lockup, and he said those scenes were unnerving because it didn't look like the same place but it really felt exactly the same.
We were texting during the episode and as soon as the bail part happen, he said "they won't let you do that in Cook County for drug charges - you have to prove that the money didn't come from drugs" so when the judge denied it, he fell a little bit more in love with the show.
(Related: He knew of someone whose mother sold their family house to get her son bail in Chicago, but since the house was in Mexico, so they could only get proof from a Mexican bank, the judge wouldn't allow it. It doesn't seem like this is uncommon at all. It's hard to prove where money didn't come from selling drugs.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:35 AM on September 23, 2014
I was talking to a friend of mine who is a Good Wife fan and also has experience in Cook County lockup, and he said those scenes were unnerving because it didn't look like the same place but it really felt exactly the same.
We were texting during the episode and as soon as the bail part happen, he said "they won't let you do that in Cook County for drug charges - you have to prove that the money didn't come from drugs" so when the judge denied it, he fell a little bit more in love with the show.
(Related: He knew of someone whose mother sold their family house to get her son bail in Chicago, but since the house was in Mexico, so they could only get proof from a Mexican bank, the judge wouldn't allow it. It doesn't seem like this is uncommon at all. It's hard to prove where money didn't come from selling drugs.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:35 AM on September 23, 2014
Finally saw the latter half of this episode (even after I ditch the NFL, it keeps fucking with me), and I just have one comment: Could they possibly have said the word "panties" just a little bit more? I mean, honestly, not even one use of, say, "underwear," even by Eli, who's supposed to be so concerned about sexual harassment?
posted by Etrigan at 12:41 PM on September 23, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 12:41 PM on September 23, 2014 [2 favorites]
We were texting during the episode and as soon as the bail part happen, he said "they won't let you do that in Cook County for drug charges - you have to prove that the money didn't come from drugs" so when the judge denied it, he fell a little bit more in love with the show.
Yeah, I wondered about that when Mr. Placeholder plopped the moneybag down on Alicia's desk. It would seem a smart lawyer and an experienced drug trafficker would both know that.
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:28 PM on September 23, 2014
Yeah, I wondered about that when Mr. Placeholder plopped the moneybag down on Alicia's desk. It would seem a smart lawyer and an experienced drug trafficker would both know that.
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:28 PM on September 23, 2014
Yay, the Good Wife is back!
Yep, this episode was scary. Being arrested with no warning like Cary was must be terrifying. Watching him try to piece together what was happening is interesting.
It seems like Alicia running for state's attorney would really complicate things with Cary and Bishop. Wouldn't Bishop want Cary and Alicia dead if they were potentially in a position to prosecute him? Would Castro have more incentive to go after Cary to score political points against Alicia? It looks to me like Alicia will wind up running because Cary's arrest will make her firm fall apart and she'll see it as the only way she can save Cary, whom she will feel responsible for - she'll have survivor's guilt.
I think Lee and Canning will have to redeem themselves somehow this season.
posted by medusa at 7:23 PM on September 27, 2014
Yep, this episode was scary. Being arrested with no warning like Cary was must be terrifying. Watching him try to piece together what was happening is interesting.
It seems like Alicia running for state's attorney would really complicate things with Cary and Bishop. Wouldn't Bishop want Cary and Alicia dead if they were potentially in a position to prosecute him? Would Castro have more incentive to go after Cary to score political points against Alicia? It looks to me like Alicia will wind up running because Cary's arrest will make her firm fall apart and she'll see it as the only way she can save Cary, whom she will feel responsible for - she'll have survivor's guilt.
I think Lee and Canning will have to redeem themselves somehow this season.
posted by medusa at 7:23 PM on September 27, 2014
I just read the AV club review and had to quote this line:
Watching Cary’s face in the episode is like watching a flan collapse in a cupboard—a slow and inevitable deflation, from righteous indignation and measured patience to fear and outright despair. It’s fucking terrifying.
posted by medusa at 7:31 PM on September 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
Watching Cary’s face in the episode is like watching a flan collapse in a cupboard—a slow and inevitable deflation, from righteous indignation and measured patience to fear and outright despair. It’s fucking terrifying.
posted by medusa at 7:31 PM on September 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
I think Alicia is going to resist the politics. One of the things I love about this show is how much they lionize defense attorneys, even when they are defending disgusting clients the audience has been explicitly told are guilty. I can't see any self respecting entrance into politics for Alicia with that background for her character in mind. There are some suggestions she will enter politics to oppose Peter's various crimes but I'm just like...why? If she hasn't by now, why would she do that? Eli is pushing it, but Eli repeatedly displays tunnel vision on politics that ignores domestic and personal reality.
Well, this show does skillful twists and turns, if we get there I think it will be an appropriate journey to that point. After the Eagles, this show is the main TV highlight of my Fall and Winter Sundays.
posted by Drinky Die at 7:41 PM on September 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Well, this show does skillful twists and turns, if we get there I think it will be an appropriate journey to that point. After the Eagles, this show is the main TV highlight of my Fall and Winter Sundays.
posted by Drinky Die at 7:41 PM on September 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
I was so nervous about the season opening. I had resisted watching the show for a while, then watched all five seasons in one fell swoop once I got started. It's been a great opening. All the Kalinda complications are back. The byplay between Bishop and Kalinda is awesome. The fact that she doesn't back down from most people, that her normal response to threats is to escalate, and the polite menace with which Bishop tells her to back off, and she is terrified into doing so. It's really scary.
posted by bardophile at 12:05 AM on September 28, 2014
posted by bardophile at 12:05 AM on September 28, 2014
God I loved how disorienting this episode was as soon as Cary's arrest happened. Nothing made sense and formaybe the forst time we were in his shoes, emotionally, throughout.
I will say, re: scaliabot, that as much as I hate Scalia, criminal defendants' rights was, like, his one area where he was really great. So maybe not the right appellation here. Roberts-bot, maybe.
posted by Navelgazer at 10:25 PM on March 4, 2017
I will say, re: scaliabot, that as much as I hate Scalia, criminal defendants' rights was, like, his one area where he was really great. So maybe not the right appellation here. Roberts-bot, maybe.
posted by Navelgazer at 10:25 PM on March 4, 2017
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Also, Cary Argos shirtless and looking dishevelled and grouchy is pretty much fan service of the highest caliber.
posted by viggorlijah at 1:07 AM on September 22, 2014 [2 favorites]