The Good Wife– Recap & Review – Executive Order 13224

photo: cbs

The Good Wife
Executive Order 13224

Original Air Date: Nov 6, 2011

Patricia Morris Buckley – Sr. Staff Writer
pmb@thetwocentscorp.com

It seems as if The Good Wife is trying to give us Good Advice every episode. Last week, we learned not to look for skeletons in your ex’s closet, because some may involve you.

This week, we learned to put your cell phone on vibrate when having a late lunch quickie with the boss. Why is that? Read on…

When Diane calls Will, not knowing that he’s in a hotel with Alicia going over “briefs,” she suddenly hears Alicia’s very distinctive ring tone (Grace saying “hey mom, pick up the phone”). So, I guess the secret romance ain’t that secret anymore.

And you would think that romance would protect her, right? Wrong. Remember when Alicia was asked to pick a new junior associate and it turns out that she was set up? And the same happens in this episode, but we’ll get to that later.

Diane and Alicia are defending Danny Marwat, a military contractor who is suing the government, claiming tortured him. But here’s the problem: Much of information for the case comes under ruling of “military secrets.” When the Lockhart/Gardner team learns that Danny hasn’t told them some of the truth (he did meet with an enemy leader, but for medical aid, he claims), they drop his case.

But then the government turns around and makes it a criminal case by invoking Executive Order 13224, so they’re all dragged back to court. It takes cunning and all the junior associates working around the clock on documents full of redactions (that new hire, Caitlin, saves the day), do get the case dismissed.

But during the case, Alicia is told to report to a cupcake-loving government monitor who uses her to find out what the client knows – breaking attorney-client privilege legally! — and what’s going on the firm’s other Middle Eastern employees. If she doesn’t comply, she faces eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Ouch! And we soon discover that all the firm will do to back her is give her an attorney, one that has the firm’s best interests in mind, not her’s.

So Alicia hires Peter’s old attorney, Elsbeth Tascioni, who has severe ADHD but is also a brilliant lawyer. And Elsbeth saves Alicia’s butt! I love this character and hope we’ll see a lot more of her. This is such a different character than the one Carrie Preston plays on True Blood.

Meanwhile, Cary is promoted to Deputy State Attorney and he and Peter go after Will for a crime Alicia’s squeeze committed 15 years before. They’re both sure their motives are fine (yeah, right…). Pretty soon, Alicia’s going to find out that little secret and she isn’t exactly acting like Will’s a true boyfriend. Did you notice?

Will Alicia and Will stay together? How is Diane going to use her new-found information? Did you like the character of Elsbeth? Give us your TwoCents…