The Good Wife 1.23
May. 27th, 2010 06:57 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakI'm in Osnabrück for the annual PEN conference, which means little online time, so everyone whom I still owe an email or comment reply, I'll try when I can, and please don't feel I'm ignoring you!
Also, last night I did manage to see The Good Wife season finale. (Icon courtesy of guest star.) Which was good, even though at the very end it did exactly what I did not want, i.e. a "Peter or Will, whom will Alicia choose?" cliffhanger. But the minute before that gave Alicia one of the best lines ever - "poetry is easy, it's the parents/teacher conferences that are hard" - and her response throughout Will's call was so, in lack of a better term, grown-up and lacking in melodrama, that I'm basically mollified and sure that the show will continue to maintain its high standard and not reduce Alicia's goals in life to choices between love interests. Also, I can appreciate that the ending image is a repeat and contrast of the opening image of the season.
The case of the week was great with the moral ambiguity, and I must admit that even though the clues were fairly given - for example, Cary bringing up that Trish made a call about spousal abuse when interrogating her - the twist still caught me by surprise. (BTW, nice to see Amy Acker again.) Speaking of twists, it's noteworthy that while Alicia was somewhat appalled they'd help their guilty client collect the money, she did not protest or do anything about it (though it's arguable how much that influenced her reaction to Peter wanting to run again), whereas that professed cynic Kalinda slipped her cop contact the proof as to what Trish had done.
Speaking of Kalinda, while it's nice that we now have textual bisexuality after all the dancing around, I thought it was somewhat coy to show us the kiss between her and Tony the after all not corrupt cop but keep the one between her and FBI woman literally covered by shades.
I must admit I squeed a bit when I saw Gary Cole in the credits. Having liked him ever since American Gothic, I was delighted when he showed up in The Good Wife to have banter, UST and then RST with Diane, but I hadn't expected him to be back for the finale, so that was a welcome surprise. Also loved how it played out; Diane showing what a ruthless lawyer she can be (after fair warning), and then that final encounter, where utterly without dialogue you could tell what both of them were thinking. I might have squeed some more when she smiled and he let her in.
While we're talking romance, I like Will's alternate love interest, and considering I still don't like Will one bit, I must admit I was surprisingly charmed when he responded to her revelation re: her father by ordering the most expensive wine on the menu.
Back to moral ambiguity: the kids asking Peter whether he likes politics and power and his reply that he likes what it can do, as well as his words to Alicia before his speech, that he was an okay D.A. at best but wants to be a great one, reminded me of one of the reasons why I find him interesting: he may be believe what he says but be kidding himself, or he could be sincere and truthful, or he could be consciously putting on a show - it's all possible within what we know of the character.
In conclusion: a good conclusion to an excellent first season. I am so glad this show did not get cancelled, and that I can look forward to more!
Also, last night I did manage to see The Good Wife season finale. (Icon courtesy of guest star.) Which was good, even though at the very end it did exactly what I did not want, i.e. a "Peter or Will, whom will Alicia choose?" cliffhanger. But the minute before that gave Alicia one of the best lines ever - "poetry is easy, it's the parents/teacher conferences that are hard" - and her response throughout Will's call was so, in lack of a better term, grown-up and lacking in melodrama, that I'm basically mollified and sure that the show will continue to maintain its high standard and not reduce Alicia's goals in life to choices between love interests. Also, I can appreciate that the ending image is a repeat and contrast of the opening image of the season.
The case of the week was great with the moral ambiguity, and I must admit that even though the clues were fairly given - for example, Cary bringing up that Trish made a call about spousal abuse when interrogating her - the twist still caught me by surprise. (BTW, nice to see Amy Acker again.) Speaking of twists, it's noteworthy that while Alicia was somewhat appalled they'd help their guilty client collect the money, she did not protest or do anything about it (though it's arguable how much that influenced her reaction to Peter wanting to run again), whereas that professed cynic Kalinda slipped her cop contact the proof as to what Trish had done.
Speaking of Kalinda, while it's nice that we now have textual bisexuality after all the dancing around, I thought it was somewhat coy to show us the kiss between her and Tony the after all not corrupt cop but keep the one between her and FBI woman literally covered by shades.
I must admit I squeed a bit when I saw Gary Cole in the credits. Having liked him ever since American Gothic, I was delighted when he showed up in The Good Wife to have banter, UST and then RST with Diane, but I hadn't expected him to be back for the finale, so that was a welcome surprise. Also loved how it played out; Diane showing what a ruthless lawyer she can be (after fair warning), and then that final encounter, where utterly without dialogue you could tell what both of them were thinking. I might have squeed some more when she smiled and he let her in.
While we're talking romance, I like Will's alternate love interest, and considering I still don't like Will one bit, I must admit I was surprisingly charmed when he responded to her revelation re: her father by ordering the most expensive wine on the menu.
Back to moral ambiguity: the kids asking Peter whether he likes politics and power and his reply that he likes what it can do, as well as his words to Alicia before his speech, that he was an okay D.A. at best but wants to be a great one, reminded me of one of the reasons why I find him interesting: he may be believe what he says but be kidding himself, or he could be sincere and truthful, or he could be consciously putting on a show - it's all possible within what we know of the character.
In conclusion: a good conclusion to an excellent first season. I am so glad this show did not get cancelled, and that I can look forward to more!
no subject
Date: 2010-05-27 08:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-27 03:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-27 08:33 pm (UTC)http://thepettycoat.livejournal.com/6784.html
I sure did. *g*
no subject
Date: 2010-05-28 03:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-23 06:46 pm (UTC)For what it's worth, I like Will better than you do, but that's certainly not for storytelling or actor-related reasons but personal. ;)
no subject
Date: 2011-06-23 07:39 pm (UTC)