The Televangelist: ‘The Good Wife’ Season 3, Ep 20
Alicia is back to being a good wife, but is it all a fake?
- CBS.com
- “The thing is, I’m pure evil”
After another annoyingly lengthy hiatus, “The Good Wife” finally returned for its remaining three episodes with an offering last night that was more about posturing than anything. There was a boring Case of the Week with low stakes (and shades of the Amanda Knox trial), the Life and Death of the Gold’s Marriage: Part 2, and some tired flirtation between Will and ex-coke user Callie (of the “we’re just two beautiful messed up people in this messed up world. Let’s get messy!” variety) Yawn.
The real thrust of “Pants on Fire” (let’s pause for minute to take in that title, for one) came from the return of Matthew Perry’s horrifically manipulative character Mike Kresteva. Thanks to his machinations (read: lies) regarding Alicia and the Blue Ribbon panel, he gave himself a big push of momentum to take on Peter in the Governor’s race. Alicia decides to support Peter again, first because of revenge (so it would appear) though she tells Eli it’s because she truly believes in Peter as a politician. Is it not also because she has benefitted from Peter’s position of power many times over the years? Whatever her motivation, and it’s not likely simple, the episode ended with Alicia in the same place she was at the beginning of the series - standing dutifully by Peter’s side, supporting her man, and playing the role of the good wife.
As the cameras flashed on Alicia’s face we saw the same uncertainty we did before, though this time one could argue that Alicia is in more of a position of power in her own life and with Peter. Furthermore, is Alicia sincere in where she stands? Or is it just that the enemy of your enemy your friend? Peter has, thankfully, been written as a more complex and three-dimensional character this season than before, and I actually would look forward to Alicia and Peter working out how to piece a life back together. After all, Alicia has been so focused on keeping the children close to her that she didn’t even realize her hypocritical accusations against Peter (though really Jackie) about living in their old house with the kids, keeping the other parent at bay. For the first time she genuinely seemed to regard that as unfair. Her relationship with Peter has been more than just cordial lately, and it has been refreshing to see (not for you Team Will supporters though, I know, I know).