The Good Wife – Michael Ealy is the bonus points on an exceptional series

I wonder how many people were actually in suspense over the hiatus following the season one finale of The Good Wife (that being your cue to speak up). I mean, seriously … the show is about a wife who stood by her man. Would Alicia suddenly turn her back on the father of her children — or at least do so at the very moment he was waiting for her to join him onstage at a press conference — just because Will, the man she has no chemistry with, finally made up his mind?

And yet, although it wasn’t explored further, I was left wondering what might have happened if Eli hadn’t been there to take Alicia’s phone and nudge her toward the stage. Might she have really turned her back on Peter? I doubt it, but that moment spoke volumes.

That part I was cool with. But when Eli deleted the second message that Will had left for Alicia I was completely done with him (although, there is an argument to be made for Eli having spared Alicia from hearing Will’s “My plan is I love you” line). Who is he to decide that this woman, who’s suffered so much at another’s hand, doesn’t deserve happiness? I thought that was absolutely disgusting, and outside the limits of even his sliminess.

I didn’t really get what the scandal in Colorado was meant to be. It brings Peter’s sins back into focus, but were they ever out of focus? Is it even fathomable that the entire sordid affair won’t be dragged back into the spotlight now that he’s selfishly running for office again? It was interesting how it looped back around to Grace and the tracker, but otherwise, what was the point?

In fact, I’m not sure what the point of that entire story line is anymore. Alicia’s tale was the hook to get The Good Wife to stand out for viewers, but it’s not what keeps on bringing us back. In fact, Peter could have even been an un-cast role, because the show, when focused on Alicia and her career, is fantastic.

I loved the case of the week. It was a great new way for us to see Alicia’s skills, and I enjoyed the courtroom battle itself. If I was Cary I’d run from the way Glenn Childs (Titus Welliver) is obviously using me — he’s only worth Glenn’s time if the case is against Alicia? — but it was a great courtroom fight.

It was weird that Diane was being thrifty with Kalinda’s hours … that is, of course, until we discovered that there’s a new investigator in town. I enjoyed the two of them together, and hope they work regularly as a team going forward.

And why was there a new in-house investigator? Because Will and Diane finally brought in a new partner … Michael Ealy as Derrick Bond. Ealy’s a phenomenal actor. He had me in Barbershop, but it wasn’t until Showtime’s Sleeper Cell that I truly discovered just how talented he is. If he’s in for the long haul, we are really lucky.

As is Alicia, who’s getting the somewhat non-traditional partner as her new mentor. She should take note that, if she and Will are to ever have a chance, the change in mentor can only help them. There needs to be some separation between them at work for a healthy relationship to develop between them.

Not that it ever should, but, you know, if it did.

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Sep 29, 2010 @ 15:30 EST5EDT