The Good Wife Review: Ping Pong

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I felt like I was watching an Olympic ping-pong match during tonight's The Good Wife

On "Boom De Ya Da," whether it was the West Nile/foreclosure story, the mediation or the Justice Department investigation, whenever it appeared the situation was going in Lockhart/Gardner's favor, something would occur to shift it back to their opponents. 

T.R. Knight as Jordan Karahalios

The main case of the girl getting West Nile disease due to poorly maintained pools at foreclosed properties was quite a timely one. I've seen plenty of bank-owned homes that have fallen into disrepair over the last few years.

Instead of court, the story covered the depositions, negotiations and gamesmanship that occurs before the suit ever hits a courtroom. The back and forth was both exhilarating and exhausting to watch play out. Just when one side seemed to have a winning card to play, the other side would counter with their own move. Did the mosquito come from the foreclosed property's pools? No. Yes. But how did the girl get infected?

Oh, what? She was responsible for the disease because she entered the property illegally? Uh oh. With that one, I thought Lockhart/Gardner's case was done and over. I was impressed by Will's move that the bank was still responsible despite his client's trespassing.

Ultimately, what was happening in Chicago didn't matter at all. It was Alicia's diligence in Minnesota that paid off and a reveal entirely unrelated to the case that settled it. I'm not sure I could ever be as patient as she was with the continually late, postponed, and canceled depositions of the CEO.

Was Alicia wrong to basically blackmail the CEO into a settlement? Given his delay tactics and dishonesty, she did what had to be done for her client. The bank did not maintain the properties they owned and were responsible for the conditions that lead to the victim's illness. Though, if the situation were reversed, would it be a different story? Probably.

While this case was going on, Will and Diane had to deal with an upset Clarke. He wanted to remove the named partners from their leadership roles due to the stealth move to prevent the merger. They all had to argue their position before a mediator.

This wasn't all that interesting, but it provided an update on where the firm was regarding their financial condition, timing and options. And, most importantly, revealed that a new creditor bought the firm's outstanding debt.

The mediator decided that Will and Diane could keep their positions, but they have earned only $23 million of the $60 million they need with only five weeks left. They are counting on the new creditor having faith in the firm's ability to recoup the debt and giving them an extension.

Then the bomb dropped! Louis Canning is the firm's new creditor. That is quite a wrinkle for Will and Diane. But it seems to me that they should have done better research into the company buying their debt. Wouldn't it have been a conflict of interest for Canning to represent a client against a firm he has an interest in? I'm intrigued to find out all the details behind what Canning did and how he was able to do it without Will and Diane finding out.

Lastly, the firm is dealing with the Justice Department investigation into Eli's political campaigns. I hate this storyline. I miss the old, snarky Eli and his brilliant political manipulations. His role this season has been lackluster and/or annoying.

The addition of Wendy Scott-Carr to the case just makes it worse. Is she out for revenge? Or is this really about justice? If the investigation is a political move -- ugh! Though, that doesn't mean I want Eli to be guilty either. 

The only positive to come out of it is the addition of T.R. Knight, as Jordan Karahalios, a new political advisor. He brought out some of the Eli of old. I'm looking forward to seeing how these two brilliant, but very different campaign managers are able to work together.

From bad to worse! Even though Lockhart/Gardner won a $12 million settlement and the mediation, the overall viability of the firm is deteriorating. Canning has made his next move to take them out with the Justice Department piling on. With only five weeks left, the financial status of the firm will be questioned again. How will Diane and Will get out of this mess?

Boom De Ya Da Review

Editor Rating: 4.6 / 5.0
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Carla Day is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow her on Twitter and on Google+.

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