The Good Wife often revolves around a simple question: What would you do to get what you want? Betray a friend? Betray a principal? Commit perjury? Commit murder?
During “Ham Sandwich” (the term refers to the old saying that a Chicago grand jury will indict pretty much anything in its path), we learn a little too much about what people will do to achieve their own ends. But because TGW also offers the shades of gray that most network TV lacks, nothing and no one are as simple as they at first appear.
The Case Before the Court
In the wake of the breakup of Lockhart-Gardner Bond, Will and Diane are working mightily to keep as many clients in the fold as possible. They even try to persuade presumed drug dealer Lamont Bishop to stay on — for his legitimate businesses, of course. Bishop says he’ll stay — provided they handle his divorce.
It turns out he doesn’t want the divorce, but his wife caught him with another woman, so now it’s all about the settlement. Unfortunately, that bringing up the messy business of his drug empire. Things turn vicious — Mrs. Bishop’s young lawyer demands big bucks and custody of the Bishops’ son.
Lamont pleads near-poverty. And, in fact, his legal businesses aren’t doing well, but we (and his wife) know the truth about his real net worth. Just as Bishop seems ready to cave to get partial custody, Kalinda learns that Mrs. B. has a secret meeting at a hotel coming up. Is she having an affair, too?
Before they end up in court, though, Mrs. B — a former addict — ends up dead in a hotel room, overdosed on heroin. Her young attorney accuses Bishop of killing her.
Did he do it? Let’s just say that for a man who didn’t want a divorce, he certainly doesn’t seem very upset. More important, the identity of who Mrs. Bishop was going to see at the hotel will become crucial to someone we care a lot about.
A Political Sidebar
With Peter gaining in the polls, the Chicago Democratic Party chairman says that Peter will get the party’s support if the campaign disassociates itself from the “urban” voting bloc (read: African American, Latino, or other “ethnic groups”). The party hacks believe Peter needs to bring in white voters to beat Wendy Scott-Carr.
Though clearly disgusted with the idea, Eli holds his nose and gets down to work. In a few days, Peter’s website is devoid of color (so to speak) and he’s canceled Peter’s meetings with Pastor Isaiah. Even more disgusted is Grace, who accuses Eli of racism. By the way, she asks, does Eli know that Zach has a black girlfriend (Neesa)?
When Alicia gets wind of the revised campaign, she calls Eli on it. But will he change or stick with what he fears might be the winning strategy?
Damaging Evidence
Glenn and Cary finally move ahead with the long-threatened legal action against Kalinda. They start by questioning Blake, who testifies that Kalinda assaulted a witness last year. Alicia accompanies Kalinda to court, urging her to take the fifth no matter what they ask her.
Just when things look bleakest for Kalinda, she turns the situation to her advantage by implying that Blake went to see the now-deceased Mrs. Bishop in that hotel room. Given that Blake worked for Bishop as well as Lockhart-Gardner Bond, it’s plausible. Kalinda even predicts that if Cary confronts Blake with this information, he’ll never return to the grand jury room. Without Blake as a witness, there’s no assault case.
She’s not only right about him skipping the grand jury, Blake also plans to skip town. But first — despite Alicia’s objections — Kalinda meets with him in a parking garage. (To be on the safe side, she keeps her bat handy.)
He congratulates her for besting him by tying him to Mrs. Bishop’s death. But he also congratulates himself for figuring out that she’s really a woman named Leela. What he only recently figured out, though, was why she seemed so determined to cover up her past. She has a “tell,” he says — every time he mentions Alicia, she overreacts.
That’s when he hits her with his best shot: When she worked in the State’s Attorney’s office, Peter helped her change her name, and she slept with him to return the favor. Though she denies it, it’s a true “whoa, Nelly!” moment.
Could Blake possibly be right? Could Kalinda actually have slept with her new BFF’s husband?
Summary Judgment
“Ham Sandwich” didn’t quite reach the heights of the last few episodes, which after all included some of Eli’s finest campaign shenanigans and the Shootout at the LG&B Corral. But with that stunning accusation about Kalinda, it more than earned its claim on our time.
I’m thinking (hoping) that the Kalinda-Peter fling is a red herring. I just don’t buy that “our” Kalinda could become so close to Alicia while hiding such a horrific secret. Right? Please tell me that I’m right about this one, or I’m going to deeply bummed.
(Image Courtesy of CBS)
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
