selenak

In which Mrs. Florrick and Mr. Argos go to Washington, and a splendid time is guaranteed for all.

You know, I wonder whether Julianna M. told the writers she wanted an episode where Alicia could laugh a couple of times instead of having to worry, and if so, go her, because she and Alicia have a very charming giggle/laugh. Also I approve of Alicia's "l can't manage rage too often these days" philosophy, and taking on the absurdities with a smile. And the Alicia and Cary buddy movie was delightful to watch. I remember abigail_n speculating all the way back in s2 that they might became the next generation of Will and Diane, and you know, I can totally see that. Like Will and Diane, they did fight and scheme against each other but are far better working together, always have respect of each other's abilities and over the years have grown to like each other. Also like Will and Diane, it's an utterly UST free relationship. In the hotel room scene, they reminded me of Alicia and her younger brother Owen.

Cary's dad comes straight out of the cliché book of dastardly millionaire dads (played by the former Lex Luthor of Lois & Clark, no less; why does the idea of Cary as a Luthor have such appeal?), but the show managed to veer away from the cliché by not going for the hug & "I love you, son!" "I love you, dad!" reconciliation over illness, or the father helping out with the commissioner to prove he does care after all. Instead, we got a foiled attempt at networking, while the Maura subplot was a welcome surprise - I hadn't expected the show to bring the character back, and Alicia getting her Cary's old job at the state attorney's office probably means we'll see more of the internal workings there again. Also: poor Geneva, presented with double standards (to which hiring by reccomendation belongs, even though, as Alicia says about the way she got her own job, that's what people do) again.

Ongoing campaign plot: so Mattie did plant the fake intern story from the get go, before befriending Alicia. Okay then. This unfortunately means the friendly overture was faked from the start as well (what Alicia and Peter suspected, but the audience couldn't know for sure last week). And we promptly get a reminder that Eli isn't more scrupulous, either, since he jumps at the idea of striking back via media distraction by lancing a story about Mattie and her female aide, if they get confirmation. Unfortunately this means that after black Wendy Scott-Carr, who was basically written as a female Kenneth Starr of impeachment trial fame,we get our second female antagonist in a row, and she is bisexual or lesbian (unless the aide story is just a rumour). Problematic subtext is problematic.

(Alicia laughing with Peter about the "mark shaped like Brazil" story was still a fun scene, though.)

Speaking of antagonists: considering the show had two episodes in a row where Nathan Lane was unjustly suspected by Diane of sabotaging the firm when he was really helping, we were probably due for one in which he actually was doing what she suspected him of doing, though he saw it as a rescue operation again. If this means war, does that mean we'll see no more of his character's awesome accountant stills winning the day? :(