BWW Recap: Truth and Consequence on THE GOOD WIFE

This doesn't feel like a penultimate episode. Like the penultimate episode. Mind you I'm watching 'Verdict' with a slight fever and a large dose of feeling sorry for myself. And perhaps I'm in denial. Surely this is just any old episode of THE GOOD WIFE. Presenting a ton of moving parts that will take weeks and months to resolve (with some, inexplicably, let go along the way). That's THE GOOD WIFE we know and love, right?

Except this isn't any old episode. It's the second last episode of THE GOOD WIFE. Ever. And I don't know what I'm feeling (except for fever-hot) ...

Jack and Jill went up the hill

The Florricks must have been some couple back in the day. Good-looking, smart, successful. And so very gender-specific. Peter the manly-man, and Alicia the very good wife.

Thankfully however, this show has been all about subverting the 'good wife' notion, pushing Alicia Florrick out of her seemingly safe, but ultimately dangerous position as Peter Florrick's wife. I say dangerous, because after Peter's first scandal hit (that is, the first time one of his many indiscretions was discovered), Alicia has spent these next years of her life dealing with the emotional and political fallout, with her relationships and career constantly on the line.

It must have been so good before that. To wade through so much muck together, and still be able to sit side by side. Is this how it will end? Back before it started? When Peter was the one Alicia chose?

If you ask me, it was a dumb choice then, and it's a dumb choice now. Even if Peter pretended to like wine to impress Alicia when they first met. A nice writer's touch, no doubt. But I've come too far to soften toward Peter Florrick now. Haven't I?

Jack fell down

Peter might be guilty. Even if he's not, he might be going to jail. He's already guilty of many things, and he admits to most of them, but I'm still out on whether he really did tamper with evidence to get a donor's kid off a murder charge. I believe him when he says he took special interest in this case because it had the potential to be explosive (you got that right, Peter!), and I don't believe Geneva Pine when she testifies against him, though I also don't believe one of my favourite smart women on the show was sleeping with him, and that her testimony was that of a spurned lover.

Sidebar: Angelica! Work, work!

But I do, somehow believe Cary. When he tells Alicia, after delivering damning testimony against Peter in court, that he's only interested in the truth. This isn't about revenge for Cary, and if Alicia was paying attention, she'd know that.

And see, I think she knows that. But the truth can't matter as much when you're trying to keep your husband - the father of your children - out of jail.

The thing with Peter Florrick is anytime he goes down, he seems to pull others down with him: when Diane convinces Kurt to give ballistics evidence in support of Peter, and Kurt's ethics are subsequently (sweetly) called into question by his former protégée (hello again, Ms. Megan Hilty!), Peter even threatens to damage Diane and Kurt's precious relationship.

That's when you know he's gone too far, right? Diane's almost terrified apology to Kurt later in the hour is wrenching, and more evidence of why Alicia should be looking at this couple to see what real love looks like.

And Jill came tumbling after

Because none of Alicia's relationships are exactly stellar right now. She's standing by her husband, and she's trying to make her relationship with her new lover work, but there's just not much room when Peter is, well, in the room.

Besides, Jason is being all sorts of tiresome lone wolf yet again. I don't enjoy this Jason, and I won't be sorry if he packs his knapsack and untethers himself from Alicia next week. Is that controversial? Smouldering looks and laconic speech don't preclude someone from being a coward. The speech Lucca gives Jason about loving Alicia and going for what he wants is yet another Kalinda and Will moment (same script different cast), but this time I don't care so much. Surely Alicia deserves someone who doesn't need that speech in the first place.

At least Louis Canning can admit his love for our girl - in one of the show's best moments ever. We always knew Canning had a soft spot for Alicia, and when she completely deals with his revelation about Geneva's (possible) affair with Peter, Canning lets his affection show. You really did give us a great villain, Michael J Fox!

Speaking of villains, David Lee is having one last round of dastardliness, accusing Diane of discrimination as she takes further steps to build her all-female-led firm. I guess he thinks she's playing that women's card. She is a Hillary supporter, after-all. And we should have known he wouldn't go so quietly - he also lets construction workers come in and start destroying the firm's main floor (sorry, don't even know what the firm is called right now!). Though the destruction of the firm's interior triggers a Will-like 'we're going to expand' moment from Diane, this is ultimately a nod to us viewers: Yes, it's all coming down. It really was just a set. Not real life. Something new will come along to replace this.

Sure. Except that when Peter tells Alicia he's going to plead guilty in exchange for two years in prison, and Alicia then finds out the jury has come back - with ten years on the table - it feels like this is happening to people we know and love. Especially when the screen fades to black and we have one week and one hour left to find out exactly where we leave them.

Next week we say goodbye to THE GOOD WIFE. Even that sentence makes me want to cry. How are you feeling about the end of one of the best shows on TV?

Image Credit: CBS

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