What I’m Watching: The Good Wife

The Good Wife: Season 5, Episode 13 “Parallel Construction, Bitches” (B+)

It’s been two whole months since this show has aired a new episode, and it’s great to have it back. The complexity of its many layers is best exemplified by the two monitors’ use of multiple warrants to be able to listen to the conversation between Alicia and Eli having to do with Peter and Will. As usual, this episode utilized a handful of familiar guest stars, including the return of Wallace Shawn as Charles Lester, the personal lawyer for one Lemond Bishop, whose illegitimate business threatened to get him into real trouble. Giving Alicia, Cary, Clarke, and Robin four different times that they would be transporting cocaine (or rather, pancake batter) was a very smart ploy that ultimately just led to more confusion. Jack Davenport got a rare chance to go back to his “Swingtown” roots and play a good guy rather than the seedy director he portrayed on “Smash” as the AUSA who resigned when the wiretap situation got sticky. Two other familiar TV faces, Matthew Rauch of “Banshee” and Eric Bogosian of “Law and Order: Criminal Intent,” were on hand to play governmental roles, and Bogosian’s Office of Public Integrity agent is sure to stick around for a while to make Peter’s life miserable. Marilyn’s betrayal was swift but clearly motivated by Eli’s calculated dismissal of her and Peter’s ignoring of her. Will, on the other hand, seems less willing to take down his sworn enemy, but I imagine he’s still going to find some way to make Peter pay for Alicia’s sins.