‘The Good Wife’ recap: Alicia gives (almost) everyone a chance

If you thought lately that Alicia and our favorite anti-judge Schakowsky were starting to get along better, that is now out the window: Alicia tries to take the obnoxious judge down, while letting her new and old friends back in her life, in a new episode of “The Good Wife.”

Alicia is clearly not quite herself, as she and Lucca are back in bond court. When a prisoner is brought into the courtroom, he silently asks Alicia for help, and we see Judge Schakowsky delay his trial again and extend his prison stay for another two months. Apparently he’s been in jail for eight months already, since Alicia first tried to help him in her early bond court days, when Schakowsky set a steep $150,000 bail on a simple disorderly conduct charge (one in which he was actually the victim), essentially as a way of punishing Alicia. Alicia of course wants to fix this, and defends the prisoner pro bono, as they sue Schakowsky for civil rights infringement.

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Though Alicia’s out of it, this case against Schakowsky certainly wakes her up. She seems still blindingly angry with Eli but redirects that anger on Judge Schakowsky (not that he doesn’t deserve it). She and Lucca go in guns blazing, doing their best to take him down, until sad sack bond attorney Bernie Bukovitz (Rob Bartlett) takes the stand. Lucca smartly sees that Schakowsky is influencing Bernie’s answers, just by looking at him, so she blocks his view. What I want her to ask him, which she doesn’t, is “Are you afraid of Judge Schakowsky?” I’m not sure how much that would have helped, but to me the clear answer is “yes.” Doesn’t that seem like an abuse of power?

Alicia and Lucca lose the case, and what’s worse, Bernie talks the plaintiff into suing them for malpractice. Alicia then hires Cary to represent her. Good, they have to bring him back in some way.

But all this time, Alicia’s having bigger problems. She cannot let go of wondering what might have been, if Eli hadn’t erased Will’s message. She demands that Eli help her torture herself by telling her exactly what Will said in his message. I remember thinking the first time I saw that season two episode that it’s not wise of Will to say, “Just ignore this message if you don’t agree.” It’s much too open-ended.

Alicia is inconsolable over having lost her opportunity with Will—so much so that when sexy investigator Jason shows up on her doorstep, back from California early because he didn’t like it there, she’s quiet and awkward, and essentially blows him off, professionally and romantically. While it’s great to see him, I keep wondering what he wants, standing there with a big goofy (yet adorable) grin on his face. We don’t really know what happened between the two of them before. They clearly spent time together, but how romantic (or physical) did it really get?

Lucca can tell something is up with Alicia, and asks her what Jason did to her. (I didn’t realize Lucca and Jason were that close). She admits he didn’t do anything, and she eventually breaks down and tells Lucca about the erased phone message. Julianna Margulies continues to deserve the accolades she’s received, as this emotional collapse is touching and heartrending. (I only wish they would give her a better wig, longing for the days of her much maligned bangs.) Lucca picks up the pieces, hugging Alicia for a long time, and asking Alicia to be one of her only friends.

It seems all Alicia needed was to get this weight off her shoulders, and to have a really good cry, because shortly after telling Lucca about it, she’s able to forgive Eli. It also helps that he points out that she did still end up with Will. But he’s still incredibly relieved, and admits he never apologizes, and that he’s never been more sorry about anything. Alicia is also able to move on with her life, and stops Jason in the elevator with a big kiss. Finally!

Too bad the malpractice suit doesn’t go as well. Cary’s not able to do much for Alicia, even with tapes of Schakowsky admitting he penalizes attorneys for taking too long with cases. The ruling judge throws out the tapes, and Bernie insists on a $1.5-million settlement, feeling positive that Alicia can afford it, being the governor’s wife and all. Surprisingly, Cary also encourages Alicia to settle — with the help of a job as junior partner at Lockhart Agos.

We’ll have to wait till next time to see how Alicia decides.

Meanwhile, Diane is busy with what should be a 1st Amendment case, but because it’s happening at a private college, it’s not as cut and dried as it seems. The college is threatening to defund the school newspaper because its editor-in-chief wrote an offensive editorial. Thanks to Jason’s brilliant hidden law background and expertise, Diane eventually wins the case by proving that the college is more like a self-sufficient city, not just a campus, and is therefore a “state actor,” which means it’s essentially self-governing and has to uphold the Bill of Rights.

So what do you think, “Good Wife”-ers? Was this an emotional episode for you? Are you excited to see Alicia forgive Eli, and to let Jason (and Lucca) into her heart? Do you think Schakowsky will ever get his comeuppance? Will Alicia ever get a better hairstyle?

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