What I’m Watching: The Good Wife

The Good Wife: Season 4, Episode 6 “The Art of War” (B+)

There are few things I love more than characters that don’t usually interact getting the opportunity to spend some time together, and that made this episode’s opening scene extremely worthwhile for me. Seeing Nick, Judge Kuhn, Mandy, and Maddie in the same room was a blast, and it’s representative of just how efficient this show is that it can handle so many plotlines at once and do justice to them all. Eli yelling at Clarke for giving away his office was entertaining as well. Kristin Chenoweth’s return appearance was brief and generally unsubstantial, though it looks like she helped Eli get Mandy booted from her job and his life. Unfortunately, Maddie predictably informed Alicia of her candidacy, prompting some serious resentment and vindictive feelings from Peter, who wasn’t amused by her offer to become her lieutenant governor since she thinks she’ll clearly win because she has money. We all thought that Matthew Perry’s Mike Krestava was going to be Peter’s number one opponent, but now he and Eli have someone new to fight. I’m glad that Jackie’s new male nurse is working out well, since having her happy solves one problem. I was pleasantly surprised to see the underrated Amanda Peet as Captain Hellinger, and this case was among the most riveting the show has featured recently. Bucky’s tactic was also fascinating, readily admitting, against his client’s wishes, that he was guilty but emphasizing that he was officially a soldier at the time of the assault. I’m not sure which spoke louder, Bucky’s refusal to shake Ricky’s hand or Judge Kuhn stepping in to stop him from talking to Captain Hellinger.