The Good Wife Season 6 Episode 19 Review: Winning Ugly

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Many viewers had been wondering where The Good Wife was headed with Alicia running for political office and away from the law firm she helped create. Now we know. 

The Good Wife Season 6 Episode 19 was filled with twists and turns that ended with Alicia Florrick getting the rug pulled out from under her and the landing was hard and painful. 

It started with the accusation of voter fraud. I’ll admit that I didn’t take that story line very seriously. This is Chicago. Isn’t voter fraud an issue in almost every election? I expected this twist to last maybe an episode or two and be resolved in Alicia’s favor. Boy, was I wrong. 

The debate over having a recount was depressing, if only because a recount sounded tedious and exhausting for both Alicia and for viewers. What happened next was horribly disheartening, but it was far from boring. 

The entire story had me wondering if there’s any room for honest people in politics. It was clear why the Democratic party was asking Alicia to step down. She wasn’t a cheater but she needed to fall on her sword to protect those who were. For someone with as much integrity as Alicia, there was no choice. 

I was thrilled when Peter encouraged her to fight. Peter Florrick is one of those characters I both love and hate. This was a moment to love him…but now I’m not so sure and I’ll get to that in a minute.

Everyone practically bowed down to Spencer Randolph. Even Alicia looked upon him as a savior, that’s why it was so incredibly painful when he stabbed the knife in her back. He was in the party’s pocket and willing to sell Alicia out “for the greater good.” Of course there was no good in any of this. Not for Alicia and certainly not for the people or the political process. It was as though the devil himself had taken over and it was hard to watch.

As this episode began with Alicia watching the news coverage, I couldn’t help but think about how Alicia spends far too much time looking haggard and miserable. Obviously that’s not going to change any time soon. 

Now back to Peter…was he actually on Alicia’s side? Was he as devastated as she was by the this turn of events or could he have known exactly what he was setting in motion when he told Alicia to let Randolph fight? Am I being paranoid because so many people have turned against Alicia Florrick? I’m honestly not sure if Peter is an ally or an enemy, supportive spouse or devious cuckolded husband looking for revenge? He could easily be either. 

Alicia’s drama almost overshadowed what was going on back at the firm. Diane and Kalinda came forward about the faked meta data and once again, all roads led back to Lemond Bishop. As Finn explained in this The Good Wife quote

I worked in that office. Bishop could cure cancer and wipe out world hunger and they'd still want him.

Finn

I felt the worst for Diane who had done nothing wrong and ended up starring down a prison term. 

Cary was right, Kalinda obviously had some sort of a plan but was it turning on Bishop? And what’s Cary’s plan when anyone who turns on Bishop can’t expect to live long? 

Everyone was miserable in this episode, even Grace who was immersed in her mother’s emails to Will. I wish Alicia would have spent more time talking to Grace about that. Perhaps explained how much she really cared for Will and that the relationship meant something to her and that it wasn’t something she felt the need to explain to the gossip mill. 

At this point, all Grace knows is that her mother had an affair with her boss and lied about it. I think a little more perspective would help her process what has to be a confusing situation. 

In the end, I think Eli summed it up succinctly for everyone…

Life...sucks.

Eli

I didn't expect the twists that came about in this episode and I'm looking forward to finding out what the show has in store for us next. 

Check back next week for our review of The Good Wife Season 6 Episode 20 and if you can’t wait for more, you can watch The Good Wife online now right here at TV Fanatic. 

Winning Ugly Review

Editor Rating: 4.6 / 5.0
  • 4.6 / 5.0
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User Rating:

Rating: 3.3 / 5.0 (48 Votes)

C. Orlando was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.

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The Good Wife Season 6 Episode 19 Quotes

You win the election. You think it's over. It's never over.

Alicia

This is a press witch hunt. They like building people up so they can knock them down. Now it's Alicia's turn.

Peter