Hot, hot, hot! My TV is still smokin’ from the onscreen action of this week’s The Good Wife. But despite the teasers showing Alicia finally confronting Will about the missing voice mail, it wasn’t the lawyers steaming up the place this week.
In “Net Worth,” all the characters debate honesty in one way or another, raising more questions than they answer. For example, when does truth become “the truth”? Where do actual facts fit in? Do others have the right to expose you just to prove “the truth”? And how could Blake be stupid enough to give back Kalinda’s baseball bat?
The Facts in Evidence
Apparently there were two movies this year about Internet moguls. In a page from The Social Network’s notebook, L-G is hired by Viola Walsh, an old friend of Diane’s, to run interference on a defamation case. It seems a studio has made a movie about a Mark Zuckerberg-like media mogul that makes him seem like a greedy jerk. (We know this is a different movie from The Social Network because they reference the Oscar-nominated picture several times.)
At first, the case seems like a loser. Despite the screenwriter’s blatant disregard for the facts, Edelstein is a public figure. But with some help from Alicia (literally phoning in her advice), Will and Diane nail the studio for taking away Edelstein’s “right to publicity.” They made money off of Edelstein’s life story, thereby reducing his ability to do the same. That turns out to be the winning strategy — worth $35 million and a public apology.
Cross Examination
I actually found this week’s case fascinating, but as is often true with TGW, the real action lay elsewhere. Specifically, Kalinda finds herself the object of three people’s attention: Cary, Maria (the FBI agent) and rival investigator Blake Calamar.
Though Cary denies any romantic interest in K, his efforts to prove her innocent of serious assault charges certainly look like more than a friendly gesture. Meanwhile, Maria — who has been pursuing Kalinda for months — manages to get her into a hotel room for a potential seduction — plus a job offer (a two-fer!).
Kalinda (who, as we’ve seen, is open to relationships with both sexes) only wants information on Blake. But when she leaves, Blake is waiting for her in the hall. Let’s talk, he says.
In another hotel room, they start an intriguing dance — basically removing each other’s clothes (and hidden weapons) as they quiz each other. Who is Blake? A fixer for Bond, brought in to investigate anyone who might threaten the firm. Did Kalinda try to frame Blake for the assault? No, she claims.
Just as Blake looks to get lucky, he makes the mistake (or is it?) of calling K by what he believes to be her true identity — Leila.
Remember that baseball bat? Big mistake giving it back, Blake. Kalinda wallops him in the gut, then calmly calls the hotel’s front desk to send up a doctor. But as she starts walking out, Blake gasps that he’s found her husband. Gasp, indeed! Kalinda/Leila has a husband?
Friends of the Court
So, what about the much-advertised tete-a-tete between Alicia and Will? Actually, Alicia spends all but the last minutes of the show outside of Chicago, road-tripping with her brother Owen.
Now this isn’t a bad thing — the two sibs have a chance to talk, mainly about Will and her feelings for him. Though Owen tells Alicia it’s time to be honest with herself and with Will, he also believes she’ll never cheat. It’s not in her nature.
Nevertheless, Alicia dolls herself up and heads to the office to ask about the missing voice mail. Finally — the truth will come out!
Well, not so much. Will tells her a bald-faced lie: He had called to tell her staying with Peter was the right thing to do. Whether he lies to save her family or because he’s now deeply involved with Tammy, we don’t know yet. I do know that Will’s face was full of regret as Alicia leaves his office.
Sigh.
Summary Judgment
I’m always skeptical about “all will be revealed!” promos, and this proved to be another instance. Though Will and Alicia finally had “the talk,” they didn’t share their true feelings. But is that a bad thing, given their respective situations and family issues?
Still, a strong episode: a good case, great guest stars (Rita Wilson as Viola and Oscar-winner F. Murray Abraham as the studio’s lawyer), and steamy, steamy doings with Kalinda and half the cast. Or should I say Leila?
Which begs the question: When the truth comes out, which truth will it be?
(Image courtesy of CBS)
Photo Album2.14: “Net Worth”
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
