CBSIf Alicia Florrick was writing a memoir about what happened in The Good Wife's season seven premiere it could be called "Alicia Florrick: Down and out in Chicago." She's tainted goods and just looking to make some dough.
The Good Wife season six ended with Alicia saying goodbye to her former BFF over some shots, telling her husband not to run for president and being approached by Louis Canning (Michael J. Fox) about partnering for a new firm. She'd been cast out by Diane (Christine Baranski), Cary (Matt Czuchry) and David Lee (Zach Grenier, also why can I never just call him David? It's always David Lee) and floundering. All the lingering questions were answered and all the subjects tackled, except for Kalinda. No mention of Kalinda, but there was a bar scene—a very different bar and a very different bar scene than fans are used to. This is The Good Wife 2.0? 3.0? What are we on now?
The Good Wife packed a lot into the hour, so let's break it down by character.
ALICIA FLORRICK
Alicia just wanted to make some cash money, guys. But she didn't know what she was doing: Enter new BFF Lucca Quinn. Too soon to call her a BFF? Fine. New very good acquaintance Lucca Quinn, played by new cast addition Cush Jumbo. Lucca took pity on Alicia and helped her out, giving her some of her cases and the two quickly called in favors. She also got her first big case, helping Agent Carter's Bridget Regan with an inheritance case that just so happened to be against Lockhart, Agos and Lee. Fishy! With a series of experts, a wonderful new judge played by Jane Curtin, a Roomba and some help from Lucca, Alicia was sort of victorious—they decided to settle the inheritance 50/50, including the $8 million painting.
Alicia is still hurting from the scandal and the loss of both her firm and State's Attorney seat, she's rebuilding and finding herself as she goes, as evidenced by her conversation with Louis and being the apologizer. Does she want to work with him? No. Does she want cases? Yes. Alicia has been in the gray area before, this isn't new. It looks good on her. Viewers are treated to a trademark Alicia at the bar scene, but there's no tequila and this wasn't that classy bar she frequented with Kalinda. This was a dive bar and Alicia had white wine. Lucca had a beer and she danced! This to me was a message to fans that the old chapter has closed and a new one has begun.
PETER FLORRICK and ELI GOLD
With Alicia's blessing, Peter's running. And he didn't want Eli Gold as his campaign manager. Yeah, that didn't go over well. After a fabulous blowup by Eli (and a makeover), the two parted ways. But they're back together already! Sort of. Eli is scheming to be Alicia's chief of staff. This did not sit well with the fantastic Margo Martindale's Ruth Eastman who's now steering Peter's campaign. Look for lots of frosty interactions between Ruth, Alicia and Eli. Of course Eli has a plan. He's Eli Gold! He's going to undercut Ruth at every turn and that's exactly how it should be.
CARY AGOS
His girlfriend (or whatever the heck Kalinda was to him) is gone. His former law partner (Alicia) is gone. So where does Cary stand with Lockhart, Agos and Lee? That's what he wondered too, so he started paying attention to the younger associates. He paid so much attention to one dude, the guy thought Cary was gay and looking for some loving. Cary recoiled at his touch. I wouldn't mind a little Cary gay twist, thanks very much Good Wife writers.
DIANE LOCKHART
There was a criminal lack of Diane in this episode. Criminal! When she was on screen, she looked fabulous as per usual. Was that a new brooch? It looked like a new brooch. Her brief interaction with Alicia was sizzling. More please. But also more of them having martinis together.
This was by far not the worst episode, nor was it the best episode of The Good Wife, but it started setting the stage for what's to come.
Gasp count: 1
Some other things:
"Let the devil teach you how to say, ‘Watch it.'"
"You just lost your greatest asset and made your worst enemy."
"I'm not sure they'll like the real me." Oh, Saint Alicia.
Margo Martindale is just great. I can't wait for more of her.
The Good Wife airs Sundays, 9 p.m. on CBS.