Did she or didn’t she? Viewers of “The Good Wife” aching for a resolution to the wacky Jackie storyline were probably sorely disappointed by Sunday’s episode, “The Penalty Box,” in which Peter (Chris Noth) makes a brief appearance and Mommy Dearest (Mary Beth Peil) is but a ghost. With no reference to last week’s flurry of activity — Peter declared his gubernatorial candidacy, Alicia decided to stand by his side, Jackie was conveniently, and melodramatically, hospitalized — this installment had a Hamburger Helper feel to it: mostly filler, little meat.
The case of the week, involving Richard Cuesta (David Paymer), a judge taken off the bench pending an investigation into his conduct as a prosecutor 20 years earlier, monopolized the evening. After he hired Lockhart Gardner, Diane (Christine Baranski) and Alicia (Julianna Margulies) came up with what I’ll call the Hair Weave Defense. The appearance of Stephen Root (“Justified,” “King of the Hill”) as the judge from Podunk assigned to oversee the court of inquiry resulted in some amusing moments. But like so many other cases in “The Good Wife,” and particularly for one on which half the episode rested, its rush to the finish line left me hungering for more facts and less moralizing. Where is “Law & Order” when you need it?
But let’s step back for a moment. Before Lockhart Gardner could take on that case, an overburdened Diane sought additional counsel for the firm. Alicia’s suggestion: Cary Agos (Matt Czuchry), who was feeling increasingly shut out in the state’s attorney’s office. The other option: Callie Simko (Julianne Nicholson), who had impressed Diane with her work on a murder case.
What Callie didn’t realize was that Will was not the moving force behind her interview with the firm — which he let her know as he climbed off her half-naked body and pulled up his trousers in time to lessen the conflict of interest.
And what Diane didn’t know was that Callie and Will were dating.
“I don’t mean to intrude,” Diane scolded when he revealed their budding romance, “but could you please keep your pants zipped?”
Kalinda, meanwhile, initiated some sexual intrigue of her own after the drug lord Lemond Bishop (Mike Colter) informed her that Lana Delaney (Jill Flint), the lovelorn F.B.I. agent hot on her trail, had approached him with news of some tax issues that needed clearing up immediately.
Cut to Lana’s apartment, where an emboldened Kalinda sent shivers down her pursuer’s spine and caused Lana to wonder why, after two years, Kalinda was finally giving in to her advances.
“He’s going to kill me, Lana,” she said, pulling away. “Stop it.”
Lana couldn’t, she replied. It was her job.
Exit Kalinda, amid tears.
Over at the state’s attorney’s office, a distressed Peter, having heard rumors of Cary’s impending departure, lectured him on the importance of loyalty and served him his walking papers, leaving us to wonder if perhaps Cary had made the mistake of his career.
He might have, had Callie not accepted a job at another firm. But was it really, as she told Will, because the offer was better? Or because she wasn’t ready to give him up?
“Welcome back to the dark side,” Alicia said, raising a glass to Cary.
Cary had been away for two years, he confided, and he hadn’t learned a thing.
What is there to learn? Alicia asked.
“That people lie,” said Cary. “And the people who judge, they lie the most.”
With that, his phone rang. Peter was calling.
A thought: did Peter have a change of heart? And even if he had, would Cary be able to void his contract with Lockhart Gardner? And what does the seeming addition of Callie do to the Will-Alicia scenario? Is that over for good? Share your thoughts in the comments. And stay tuned.
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