The Good Wife Recap: A Precious Commodity

by


This show usually saves it's meatier episodes for later on in the season, but having an episode like "A Precious Commodity" this early in the season has to be a good sign. It was the television equivalent of Oscar-bait (so... Emmy bait?) and I have a feeling it'll catch a few fish. Keep reading to freshen up on last week's episode before this Sunday's showcase. Red Vine?

From the get-go, Ms. Baranski is on her A-game. To the surprise of several critics, she was the only regular cast member nominated for an Emmy for her work on season 4. She's excellent with subtle, straightforward acting, but it was terrific to see her juggle a storyline that let her show her ample range. Immediately after her interview with Mandy Post, Diane struggles to smother her guilt and make her way over to Will's office to confess. Before she goes in, it's as if the scene is played in slow-motion. But it ain't. Diane's realized what she's done and she's just added up all the collateral damage that's to come. Perhaps what she's more nervous about, however, is absent-mindedly sabotaging Will's career. She admitted to his literal crimes on the record, but she tells him about it right away. She talked about fearing his disbarment. She talked about the money. He's furious. He can't even summon the respect to confront her so he just storms off. Seconds later, Diane gets the message that she doesn't need to give the interview anymore. This happens, of course, minutes after she's already suffered through it for a second time. That look on her face after she learns she just bypassed her integrity for nothing is chillingly poignant.

Meanwhile, over at the Governor's office, la familia Florrick is doing the press rounds. Anne, an unsurprisingly intrusive journalist, probes Peter's personal life by asking Alicia about their living situation and their impending vow-renewal. Ms. Florrick is as circumspect as ever because the lady actually learns from her mistakes. The rumor mill in Chicago is impressive: Anne knew the Florricks were taking exactly one week off to wed again in Hawaii. How vague! She also inquires about Marilyn Garbanza. Peter and Eli escorted her out of the Chicago offices because she's hot and blonde. Unfortunately, she's also good at her job so several people are curious as to why she was dismissed from Peter's Ethics Commission. They ask Marilyn back and promise her unfettered access to the Governor. She doesn't hesitate to abuse it. She discovers the building where Alicia's new firm will be is owned by a member of Peter's staff. Since she bought it at a reduced price, it represents a conflict of interests. She brings this up with Eli, but he dismisses her. She then speaks to Peter, who also refuses to deal with the issue. He does, however, consider some serious flirting.

The case of the week presents a compelling take on abortion. Kathy and Brian Eisenstadt are a wealthy couple who have hired a young surrogate, Tara, to carry their child. After two amniocenteses, their Doctor has concluded that the baby has an 85% chance of having Patau Syndrome. If the child is born and has Patau Syndrome, it'll only survive a couple of days and will be burdened with intense developmental defects. Throughout the episode, Tara is convinced the baby doesn't have the disorder because she "can feel him kicking". Tara is not a Pre-Med major. After the Doctor suggests abortion, the Eisenstadts generously agree to wholly pay for the baby's termination and Tara's surrogate fees. Tara is still in her second trimester, which means she can still abort. She misses her appointment and confesses to Alicia she doesn't want to terminate. She likens the baby's 15% chance of survival to her 10% of getting into DePaul, which she got into. Tara is not a Pre-Med major.

The couple fires Alicia after she admits to prioritizing the surrogate's interests. Tara is in breach of her contract, which stipulates she should abort if the baby has any significant birth defects. It's intriguing because there is an ethical conundrum when it comes to abortion. Whose decision is it? The mother of the child's or the person who is carrying the child? Tara makes it clear she won't adopt the baby if it is born. She'll have the baby and Kathy and Brian would be forced to raise it, even if it has the developmental condition. The couple sues Tara for economic devastation. The couple has spent over $500,000 on the surrogacy. After the couple's new lawyer speaks up to her, Alicia decides to take on the case pro bono. David Lee latches on to the case in the hopes of manipulating the case to sue the hospital. He's convinced the hospital that performed Tara's amniocenteses was careles and caused the baby's likely birth defects. Tara's OB/GYN confirms that after the first amnio, Tara had spotting.

After getting a particularly distasteful call from Mandy Post to factcheck her article, Will asks Kalinda to rummage through Diane's cases to find any incongruences. It's unlike Diane to be sloppy with her work, but it shows Will isn't holding back. He meets with several of the equity partners, including Alicia, to discuss Diane's exit package. They mostly agree to oust her because her interests no longer include the firm. It's all kind of ironic because she's paying the prize for revealing another partners crimes. Clients are upset because of the allegations about Will taking a client's money a few years back (which are true), but it's Diane who's in trouble for spilling the beans on his hiccup. The partners set up a committee to draw up Diane's exit package and it includes Alicia (reluctantly), Will, David Lee, and Howard Lyman (you know, the guy Diane personally invited back to the firm as an equity partner). The scene where Will tells Diane they're kicking her out is short and first-rate. There's a mostly inaudible bit that proves how absurd this development is. Will basically tells Diane she had no right to speak the truth in the context of the interview. After Diane suggests he have the security guards carry her out, Will's bitter suggestion to "go be a judge" chases her out of her office.

Diane rejects the first exit package. She reminds the partners to be more strategic with their offer. If it offends her, she'll let her clients know so they reconsider their business at the firm. Her anger has matured and she's not letting them play her for a fool because, quite obviously, she isn't one. Will already has her replacement in mind, however: Alicia. Cary warns her not to take this managerial partner position because it'll still mean she's working for Will. This is news. I was under the impression Diane and Will were equals. If anything, I would have guessed Will worked under Diane. Speaking of which, after rejecting the partners' second exit package proposal, Will confronts Diane about what she wants. Diane resents how they're kicking her out of her own firm when she has sacrificed her own life to ensure its success. Will doesn't care. He's confident Diane will give in soon. After seeing how much of a jerk Will has been during this debacle, Alicia decides she doesn't want to work under him and she tells Cary they need to get out of L/G as soon as possible. Let's do this, Florrick & Agos!

Guess what? We're still talking about how Grace is hot! Zach shows Alicia the website where Grace is listed as one of the top 4 hottest politicians' daughters (better luck next term, Leah Stark!). I don't know where this is going. At first, I figured it would be mostly in Alicia's head, but it's become disturbing now with Eli and Cary giving Grace inappropriate once-overs. At one point, a stranger shows up at Alicia's apartment looking for Grace. Alicia, fed up with the attention her baby is getting, slams the door on him. Turns out Mr. Stranger was Grace's pastor. He's told Grace what happened and Grace confronts Alicia. She tells her mom she just wants other people to think she's pretty. They hug. On the bright side, Grace is getting good at fishing for compliments!

Back to the case. If the fetus is viable, Tara cannot abort and therefore, she is not in breach of contract. Both of her doctors testify and contradict each other regarding the child's viability, so the Judge rules in favor of the plaintiff based on the Roe v. Wade ruling (Tara is still in her second trimester). Kathy admits she wants Tara to have an abortion because her last child, Caleb, had a major brain disorder and lived less than a year. The judge's second ruling is in favor of the defense because Tara should have control over her own body. The plaintiff unsuccessfully responds by claiming Tara violated other stipulations of the contract. After threesomes are alleged and blackmail is attempted, Robyn finds out the doctor cultured the embryo two days before implanting. This means Tara is in her third trimester and cannot abort. Case closed.

Honorable Mentions

★ Watching Diane deal with David Lee as her antagonist was remarkable. They're usually on the same side, but this situation forced David Lee to talk back to Diane as if she was an opposing counsel. She always answered back with someone twice as clever, luckily.

★ After talking to Marilyn, Peter impetuously decides to expedite their trip to Hawaii forward. Looks like the Governor elect doesn't trust with him with Marylin.

★ "Oh God. Cyd Charisse! Those legs!"

★ Alicia was visibly uncomfortable with Diane's expulsion from the firm. She seems to be the only one left with any respect for Ms. Lockhart. It was fun to see her grow nervous whenever they brought up client-poaching. At the beginning of the episode, Will says he's been busy making unhappy clients feel better. This suggests several clients will readily move over to Florrick & Agos

★ So are Kalinda and Alicia never ever getting back together? I doubt Robyn and Alicia will ever get close to replicating the delicious and fun chemistry Alicia and Kalinda had circa season 2. It was so upsetting to have Kalinda find out about Alicia leaving through Robyn. She misses her friend. Judging by the looks Kalinda threw Diane and Will, I suspect she might warn either one of them about Alicia's plans. My guess is she'll tell Diane.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for the episodes screecap. I hope you like statement jewelry.