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swatkatAfter all the drama in the last few episodes, this was a surprisingly low-key season finale, and I think I like it that way. A lot of things were packed into the episode in subtle touches -- vintage The Good Wife -- and set things up for the next season: Eli Gold in Lockhart/Gardener, Diane dangling a promotion in front of Alicia and a hint of ambition in Alicia herself, Peter being a deliciously ambiguous figure in the State Attorney's office, Cary being Cary, Jackie's determination to have her grandchildren on her side, Owen being supportive, Will and Alicia...
Will and Alicia. Speaking of which. I liked it. I like Will/Alicia, and I like how not-contrived it was. It was cute and spontaneous, and this being Will and Alicia, who are always mature and never spontaneous, it made for a nice change. The elevator scene was beautifully shot, and I loved that they pushed through all the possible trouble -- the lack of rooms, the suggestive piano player, the endless elevator ride, the key not working -- that could have been used as yet another contrivance for them to back out, draw out the tension. I don't like how casually Tammy's departure was handled -- that's a ball dropped, writers -- but I liked how the Will/Alicia was framed: some good timing, just an hour. I don't see Alicia in a relationship right now, but nice to see the season end with her having some fun.
And, odd though it may sound, for the first time in a looong time I'm not worried about the future of Alicia and Kalinda's friendship. Perhaps it's just the way this episode was paced, perhaps it's the way Julianna Margulies and Archie Panjabi handled it -- they were clearly uncomfortable with each other, but Kalinda, for all her claims of becoming a ~LONE WOLF, made up excuses so that Alicia wouldn't have to. They work ridiculously well together and they enjoy it, and as long as they're in the same firm, they will be thrown together, despite their best efforts otherwise. So watching Kalinda drink to herself (contrast: Alicia drinking with Will) and realising that she isn't up for being the other woman again, not right after what happened with Alicia, while sad, wasn't as SOUL-CRUSHING as it could be. It's not that she has suddenly developed a moral compass or has been 'born again', in Sophia's words, no -- but things have changed for her, and she can't go back and pretend as if nothing's happened, as if losing Alicia didn't mean anything to her. That, if Alicia calls -- because the onus will be on Alicia (she already took the first step, sort of, by re-establishing their working relationship after being somewhat justifiably petty in the previous episode) -- she probably won't think twice before running back.
Also, I'm endlessly amused by the Kalinda's string of ~friends (usually, hot women) whom she works with and also ends up in bed sometimes. Never change, Kalinda, never change. <3333
- Will's speech FOR THE SAKE OF JUSTICE. AND COMPREHENSIVENESS. ♥
- Oh god, Jackie. Give it a rest, please.
- Loved Owen being supportive/sarcastic younger brother.
- Needs MOAR Diane. Hopefully next season. And there will be a next season, right? Because I hear Allan Cumming has already been signed up, and the Kings have been talking about 'next year. Just announce it already.
Will and Alicia. Speaking of which. I liked it. I like Will/Alicia, and I like how not-contrived it was. It was cute and spontaneous, and this being Will and Alicia, who are always mature and never spontaneous, it made for a nice change. The elevator scene was beautifully shot, and I loved that they pushed through all the possible trouble -- the lack of rooms, the suggestive piano player, the endless elevator ride, the key not working -- that could have been used as yet another contrivance for them to back out, draw out the tension. I don't like how casually Tammy's departure was handled -- that's a ball dropped, writers -- but I liked how the Will/Alicia was framed: some good timing, just an hour. I don't see Alicia in a relationship right now, but nice to see the season end with her having some fun.
And, odd though it may sound, for the first time in a looong time I'm not worried about the future of Alicia and Kalinda's friendship. Perhaps it's just the way this episode was paced, perhaps it's the way Julianna Margulies and Archie Panjabi handled it -- they were clearly uncomfortable with each other, but Kalinda, for all her claims of becoming a ~LONE WOLF, made up excuses so that Alicia wouldn't have to. They work ridiculously well together and they enjoy it, and as long as they're in the same firm, they will be thrown together, despite their best efforts otherwise. So watching Kalinda drink to herself (contrast: Alicia drinking with Will) and realising that she isn't up for being the other woman again, not right after what happened with Alicia, while sad, wasn't as SOUL-CRUSHING as it could be. It's not that she has suddenly developed a moral compass or has been 'born again', in Sophia's words, no -- but things have changed for her, and she can't go back and pretend as if nothing's happened, as if losing Alicia didn't mean anything to her. That, if Alicia calls -- because the onus will be on Alicia (she already took the first step, sort of, by re-establishing their working relationship after being somewhat justifiably petty in the previous episode) -- she probably won't think twice before running back.
Also, I'm endlessly amused by the Kalinda's string of ~friends (usually, hot women) whom she works with and also ends up in bed sometimes. Never change, Kalinda, never change. <3333
- Will's speech FOR THE SAKE OF JUSTICE. AND COMPREHENSIVENESS. ♥
- Oh god, Jackie. Give it a rest, please.
- Loved Owen being supportive/sarcastic younger brother.
- Needs MOAR Diane. Hopefully next season. And there will be a next season, right? Because I hear Allan Cumming has already been signed up, and the Kings have been talking about 'next year. Just announce it already.
no subject
Date: 2011-05-18 05:45 pm (UTC):D
There were definite touches for setting up the alliances/plotlines of next year. The firm is expanding and Alicia is being counted on to bring in lots of.... benefits thanks to DA husband! (But we the viewers know this will probably not work so great, so there's tension over that.) Eli in the building! The dubiousness of Peter's work ethics! Cary still being petulant and self-righteous. :P Amending the Kalinda & Alicia rift. Etc etc. I appreciate knowing they have direction for next year.
Will and Alicia *were* fun, weren't they? The timing was finally (somewhat) right, or at least as right as it had ever been with Alicia officially separated from Peter and Will (also officially?) broken up with Tammy. The problems that popped up were a nice reference to how easy it'd have been to find one more reason for not to be together.... which the writers ignored. I think that helped stress that, yes, the characters wanted this enough to get over the inconveniences/plot contrivances that stopped them before. Motivation: interesting!
I saw someone on ONTD pointing out that Alicia has basically done the same thing as Kalinda, cheating on someone who is in a committed relationship. I guess they thought that Will and Tammy weren't completely broken up? I don't know if that's the route the series will take, but if it does, it's another layer to the relationship. Would Alicia understand Kalinda a bit better? Or would it be "different"?
for the first time in a looong time I'm not worried about the future of Alicia and Kalinda's friendship.
Yessssssssss. The worst would've been if Kalinda really had left the firm for Sophia-- especially if she'd accepted taking on tasks for the DA! For a few moments I was all, OMG THE RIFT IS GOING TO BE EVEN WORSE THAN I IMAGINED. Luckily that's not the direction they went with. :D (I do think Kalinda could've just as easily gotten work with another investigation firm or the FBI, but, eh, by staying with Lockheart & Gardener, Alicia and Kalinda will have the chance to keep on working together and mend their relationship!)
So watching Kalinda drink to herself (contrast: Alicia drinking with Will) and realising that she isn't up for being the other woman again, not right after what happened with Alicia, while sad, wasn't as SOUL-CRUSHING as it could be. It's not that she has suddenly developed a moral compass or has been 'born again', in Sophia's words, no -- but things have changed for her, and she can't go back and pretend as if nothing's happened, as if losing Alicia didn't mean anything to her.
You said it better than I could. :3
no subject
Date: 2011-05-19 11:17 pm (UTC)Also,
no subject
Date: 2011-05-22 06:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-22 06:12 pm (UTC)I was under the impression that Will and Tammy were broken up for good. I don't think the writers will put Alicia in that position.
Kalinda working in Peter's office would be the WORST, and for a moment I was seriously worried they'd go there. But Kalinda chose Lockhart/Gardner, and therefore, Alicia. She thinks she doesn't want friends anymore, but that's just a defence mechanism - she has already changed, as we saw so clearly with Sophia.