What I’m Watching: The Good Wife

The Good Wife: Season 5, Episode 19 “Tying the Knot” (B-)

I’ve always praised the fact that so many actors return to reprise their roles on this show, and two-time Emmy nominee Dylan Baker is always a welcome face. Yet there’s a point at which having Colin Sweeney stand trial for murdering a woman in his home becomes purely repetitive and lacks any lasting impact. There was a twist in this episode, of course, which was that it was his new bride, Renata, who was standing trial instead, but that was made all the worse by Diane helping to make Alicia look like a faulty witness on the stand and in turn cast doubt on Renata’s guilt, compounded even more by Renata thanking Alicia for helping her have the experience of murdering someone so that she could fully appreciate her marriage. There’s a limit to what is no longer believable but still fun, and I think this crossed it. I couldn’t figure out where I recognized Laura Benanti, who played Renata, from, and further research revealed that it was from her recurring role as southerner Shelby on “Royal Pains.” This case really dominated the episode in a manner that this show doesn’t tend to employ (even Kalinda was merely seen on screen and did nothing of substance), involving Finn in the proceedings at hand as Alicia saved his job and even unintentionally got him a major endorsement from Peter. I don’t know what the Governor is up to, and Eli is going to have an aneurism before long if Peter keeps operating by directly contradicting his every recommendation. Seeing Owen again was fun, but otherwise I don’t think much came of the photo of Zack with the bong, though maybe it will have some significance in future episodes.