The Good Wife - Season Seven

[PeterG]

The Good Wife returns tomorrow night (Sunday October 4th). Here's a good article I found about the premiere:

The Good Wife - Bond (Season Premiere) - Advance Preview: "Alicia's Newest Reinvention"

I admit I didn't read the whole article though, because it talks a lot about what happens in the episode and I decided to wait and watch it rather than read about it now. I did watch this sneak peek on youtube, though:

The Good Wife - Bond 7x01 - Sneak Peek 2

Looks like we are in for another interesting year! I will miss not seeing Kalinda around. I've been saving this blurb from an old issue of Entertainment Weekly about the creation and development of Kalinda's character:

When Good Wife creators Robert and Michelle King cast the U.K.-born Panjabi in 2008 after seeing her in A Good Year opposite Russell Crowe, the plan was to have her play a minor role on the major ensemble drama. "but when we saw the dailies, she just blew us away," remembers Robert King. "there was a mystery to Archie's performance that was never written into the part. And after three or four episodes, we started writing toward what Archie was doing.

I thought Panjabi had either a new show in the works, or a development deal. But imdb.com has no new projects listed. Wikipedia seems to be ahead of the game though, because Panjabi is supposed to be guest-starring in Brooklyn Nine-Nine which will air on FOX at 8:30 tomorrow...directly before The Good Wife premiere.

 

[Artemis@BC]

I'm looking forward to the new season. Every time I think they're edging toward getting stale, they shake things up.

I just hope there won't be a lot of Canning. I really can't stand his character and I get twitchy every time he's on screen. So if Alicia does actually join his practice ... well I hope there's a way to minimize their onscreen interactions.

 

[Debbie S]

I hate the Canning character too, but I always enjoy seeing Michael J. Fox on TV. Yay for the new season finally starting!

 

[madm]

I hate the Canning character too, but I always enjoy seeing Michael J. Fox on TV. Yay for the new season finally starting!

I thought Canning was near death in a previous episode. What happened?

 

[Debbie S]

I thought Canning was near death in a previous episode. What happened?

The magic of TV ratings.

 

[PeterG]

I can't remember why the firm is now Lockhart Argos instead of Florrick Argos. Was information unearthed that show there was something underhanded/illegal that somebody from Alicia's political campaign did? And that the result of that was so negative that Cary (with Diane) had to give Alicia the boot?

I thought Canning was near death in a previous episode. What happened?

Was he actually near death, or was that a ploy/tactic for Canning to get something he wanted from Alicia?

 

[Desperado]

Alicia's now a public defense lawyer? I was trying to see if something was going to get back in but that's not it, lol. Alicia has always been my least favourite character in TGW and as much as love Matt Czuchry and Christine Baranski, I guess I'm gone for good.

 

[PeterG]

Desperado...you're a hard one. Why don't you come to your senses?

 

[Artemis@BC]

I can't remember why the firm is now Lockhart Argos instead of Florrick Argos. Was information unearthed that show there was something underhanded/illegal that somebody from Alicia's political campaign did? And that the result of that was so negative that Cary (with Diane) had to give Alicia the boot?

If I remember correctly:

The ballot-stuffing accusations triggered an investigation / recount, and Alicia was prepared to fight til she was shafted by the Democratic party, so she stepped aside in favour of David Hyde Pierce's character.

Diane invited her back to the firm and they were all set for that to happen. But then the Oliver Platt character basically gave Diane an ultimatum: if they let Alicia back, they'd lose him as a client. And the firm was not in a position financially to lose him. So they chose him over Alicia.

 

[Artemis@BC]

Not a bad start to the season. Alicia in transition, again, but she rises to the occasion as usual -- okay we've seen that before but I guess that's her thing. I didn't even mind Grace as perky assistant girl (though doesn't she have school or something to go to?)

I was very worried that we wouldn't see Eli after Peter fired him, but it looks like he's here to stay. So that will be fun.

I'm not sure about Alicia's new bond court bestie. Is she supposed to be a demographic substitute for Kalinda? Tough act to follow, to be sure, so it's an unfair comparison. I'll try to keep an open mind.
The various expert witnesses at the probate hearing were pretty funny. How'd you like to be a "suction expert"?

And Jane Curtin! Add her to the list of awesome guest stars who have been on the show.

Not enough Diane though. And I was disappointed we didn't get to actually see the Chagall.

 

[PeterG]

Wow, what a great season opener. The show moves so fast, you really can't be doing tasks while watching this show or you can miss a lot of good stuff! The writing just amazes me, I wonder if I should bother trying to write anything when I doubt I could ever equal the work of these people.

Are bond courts really that brutal?? That was just horrible...for everybody, nobody what you were doing there. I really liked Lucca Quinn, the bond court lawyer who helped out Alicia. Hope we get to see a lot more of her.

And I loved the male-on-male hand-holding. Matt Czuchry just gets more handsome every year and I'd love to see whether he has any bisexual leanings. He certainly had no problem being with Kalinda, who was about as pansexual as one can get. Maybe Kalinda helped him open his mind a little bit...

And Jane Curtin! Add her to the list of awesome guest stars who have been on the show.

Curtin was great, so much fun. And it looks like we'll get to see Emmy winner Margo Martindale for a number of upcoming episodes. She can definitely hold her own amongst this amazing cast.

 

[Sarah]

So happy the Good Wife is back! I love Eli and can't wait to see what happens this season.

 

[PeterG]

Tonight's episode is called "Innocents". A brief synopsis via google:

Alicia considers asking investigator Jason Crouse for assistance with a complex vandalism case; Howard Lyman's inappropriate conduct toward young associates becomes Cary's problem.

Guest stars tonight include Jeffrey Dean Morgan (as Crouse), Amy Irving, Mamie Gummer, Kurt Fuller and Margo Martindale. A short preview from youtube, probably the one that ran at the end of last week's episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrKHG_j8WCk

 

[Cachoo]

So I was wondering if we would ever see Finn and then I kind of forgot about that when Jeffrey Dean Morgan popped up. Such a doll...

 

[PeterG]

Does anybody know anything about bond court lawyers? The three that we've seen show up at the beginning of the day with Alicia...one day none of them were there. Are they like auxiliary employees in that they work when they want to? And if they don't want to go in that day...they don't? We've seen them get twenty or more cases each morning, to do that every single day would be crazy. Or do they just do what they can (meaning a crappy job for the most part) and then just do it all again the next day? Sounds horrific...

Early in the episode, when Peter was talking to Alicia about Eli being her campaign manager (or whatever you call it), Peter says, "you're being used". Alicia responses, "I know...who isn't"? How does Alicia think she's being used? By Eli? Or just in general? Of course we know it's Eli's plan to ruin Peter, but Alicia can't know that, right? I'm not sure what exactly it is that Alicia "knows".

Not sure about the Eli vs. everybody storyline. I know Eli can be a lot of things, but does being a vindictive little b**** really part of who he is? Him butting heads for Ruth Eastman (Margo Martindale) is getting a bit too soap-opera-y for me. When Peter asks Ruth to call Eli, that was a bit over the top. It's all interesting to watch because the cast is so great, but it's kind of beneath the quality that this show usually works at.

Wondering about Alicia's appointment to the elections board. Being strong-armed seconds after being appointed to the board...by somebody she really dislikes (loathes??)...why not just kindly decline the appointment? Or did she decide that Eli's suggestion of bringing him down became cemented in her head after this guy pulls this kind of crap on her?

 

[skipaway]

So will Jason end up being a Sociopath?

Morgan’s new gig isn’t expected to have an immediate impact on his Good Wife duties since Walking Dead‘s annual production hiatus begins in late November and continues until late spring. That said, it seems unlikely that he would be able to bring his investigator character Jason back to the Good Wife

 

[Debbie S]

So will Jason end up being a Sociopath?

Sociopath or not, it sounds like his tenure will be short-lived.

I cringed when they interviewed the prospective associate and talked about Baltimore like it was an urban jungle (OK, in some areas it is, but not the entire city)....since when did Baltimore become the new Newark (NJ)?

 

[Scrufflet]

So will Jason end up being a Sociopath?

This plot line has me glued to it!

And by the way, what has happened with Lemond Bishop? Seems to me he should be causing trouble somewhere. I can't remember if he's in prison.

 

[kosjenka]

Jason is sexy as hell. I am on fire. So is Alicia.

 

[Wyliefan]

Sociopath or not, it sounds like his tenure will be short-lived.

Too bad. I'm enjoying him.

I'm also enjoying Eli this season! He's so deliciously evil. Can't wait to see how far his campaign of sabotage can go.

 

[Artemis@BC]

I cringed when they interviewed the prospective associate and talked about Baltimore like it was an urban jungle (OK, in some areas it is, but not the entire city)....since when did Baltimore become the new Newark (NJ)?

Yeah, that seemed implausible. Well, maybe not David and Howard, but Diane and Cary? C'mon. Even if they were thinking those things they're professional enough not to bring them up in an interview.

That whole storyline seemed pointless and contrived. It didn't make any sense -- unless she comes back next week and tries to sue LAL, and hires Alicia.

 

[PeterG]

ohmigosh....Vanessa Williams is a guest star tonight!!! Please, please, please make her a series regular!! And how about Christine Lahti last week? How amazing was she? Please make her a regular also. Such a powerful performance! Also on tonight is Michael J. Fox. Here's the sneak preview from last week that my cable company also cuts off so I don't get to see:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fia_tXQbyXM

Plus a scene between Alicia and Jason Crouse (Jeffrey Dean Morgan):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o68tTAn0Ca8

And a scene between Alicia, Jason and...Peter!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5sOvKG9wgc

Whew! I'm bummed that Jeffrey Dean Morgan might not be around for a longer stretch since news of him being cast in The Walking Dead. I would like for the two shows to work out a way to let him do both, but it sounds like that might not happen.

And some great spoilers in this article. Can't wait for tonight's show!!

 

[Artemis@BC]

Ok, what's with Grace this season? I could have sworn that Alicia mentioned something about "two kids in college" in the season opener, but Grace seems to be working full time at Florrick-Quinn.

Her little cold-call storyline was cute -- lacking credibility, but cute. And I'm finding her much less annoying this season.

And yay for Kelly Bishop! I hope we'll see more of her in the upcoming episodes.

 

[Susan1]

Ok, what's with Grace this season? I could have sworn that Alicia mentioned something about "two kids in college" in the season opener, but Grace seems to be working full time at Florrick-Quinn.

Yeah, and Alexis on Castle? She seems to be the "office girl" (not an insult, I've been a secretary all my life, it just reminds me of the old black and white detective shows) for her father's detective agency and is going out on missions and coming up with the idea that solves the case. Did I miss the part where she got a license too? Are they going for a new demographic highlighting "the kids"? All My Children used to put the younger cast members stories on in the summer though.

 

[PeterG]

The Good Wife returns tonight. No famous guest stars as far as I can tell. But we will get to see the fallout of Eli telling Alicia about how he deleted Will's message from her phone:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsdyENrTGIo

 

[Cachoo]

I wondered if her f*** this sh** attitude would lead to a full-blown breakdown. Good episode tonight as I wasn't sure where it was going and I like being surprised.

 

[jeffisjeff]

I just watched last night's episode - very surprised at how Alicia handled everything, but good for her.

I'm thinking I may need to to go listen to "No One's More Happy Than You." I've never actually heard that song before, but now it is really stuck in my head. Or, at least one line of it is.

ETA: Apparently, I wasn't the only one who needed to hear the whole song. I ended up on listening to a youtube link that hadn't been commented on in a year - until last night.

 

[smurfy]

Commercial during Super Bowl announced final season, only 9 episodes left, if I remember correctly
I use to really enjoy the show and was going to quit.
Once Archie Punjabi and Juliana m never shared scenes,, the show felt differently
The cgi last season was strange
And this season, not fully using talent like Christine bars ski, the show needs to end

 

[PeterG]

Super Bowl Shocker: The Good Wife Will End in May [Updated]

Ultimately, after discussions with both the Kings and executive producer Ridley Scott, CBS and its partners decided to stick with the Kings’ long-stated plan of ending The Good Wife in its seventh year.

Did anyone else know about this "long-stated plan"? I think if they wanna quit, I need a 52-week notice!

 

[Debbie S]

I was wondering about this when I read that Matt Czuchry had signed on for The Gilmore Girls revival series (Netflix). Sigh...I guess all good things must come to an end, so better the series go out on a high note rather than (eventually) sinking into ratings obscurity.