'The Good Wife' Review - 4.14 Red Team/Blue Team

        On the newest episode of CBS' The Good Wife, office politics come to a head when Will and Diane ask Alicia and Cary to face off against them in a mock trial, only to get more than they bargained for; and Eli tries to avoid losing his role in Peter's campaign to Jordan as he continues his fight with the Justice Department.

        The fourth season of The Good Wife has been a decidedly mixed bag so far. Some plot threads - like the partnership offers and the start of getting the firm out of debt - have lived up to the smart creativity that the show has exuded in season's past. And then, there were others - like Kalinda's husband and some of the case-of-the-week plots - that hit the ground with a resounding thud. Now, with Kalinda's husband and the firm's debt out of the way permanently, the show was able to produce a high quality hour that proved just how intricate and smart the series is.
        Will and Diane vs. Alicia and Cary was a stroke of genius for the episodic plot as it allowed for personalizations across the board. Often times, we get the defense's side and the story from the defendants and victims. But this hour fought hard to show this entire case from every single angle. First, we get Alicia and Cary with the upper hand thanks to surprise, then Diane quickly derails them and Alicia and Cary swiftly emerge victorious in the end. Mix in the very intricate details of all the office politics and things truly become phenomenally because of the clear and personal motivations and plotting. All sides involved have reason to act the way they do and their reactions are what makes this episode so genius. The equality partners don't want to spread the wealth - they will spread the debt though - and thusly the fourth year associates have the ample opportunity to all gather at once. Just the thought of Cary and Alicia going into business together as a new law firm is brilliant. I'm sure we have not heard the last of that idea. If that ever came to fruition, it would alter everything we know about this show - perhaps for the better. The relationship between Alicia and Cary is a lot like the one between Will and Diane in that both have mutual respect for each other and worked best together to overcome similar obstacles. The show also needs a lot more of this relationship and now it is well poised to explore it more fully as Alicia has promised to be the voice of the mistreated associates amongst the partners - thanks to that final push from Cary despite his obvious disappointment.
        The pairing of Eli Gold and Elsbeth Tascioni had the prospects of being one of the show's best pairings yet. This episode surely doesn't disappoint in that dynamic and they along with the addition of Kyle MacLachlan (taking over for Anika Noni Rose) have finally breathed some life into this Justice Department investigation storyline. Elsbeth's crazy quirks are once again hilarious to watch and seeing her do battle with MacLachlan's Josh over the grounds for the wire tap were simultaneously intricate, smart and cunning. This battle is far from over and now for the first time I am eager to see how it will impact the characters involved. 

So what did everyone think of the episode? Wouldn't Alicia and Cary starting their own firm be the most ground-breaking twist this show has ever delivered? Have you finally started caring about Eli's Justice Department problems? How about that Will and Alicia kiss? Share your thoughts in the comments.