Last night The Good Wife used a court case to remind us that freedom, power, and technological advancement all, always, come at a cost. For many of us, 3D printing is still an absolutely unbelievable phenomenon. So my reaction was very similar to the Judge’s, as he incredulously listened to Mr. Fife exercise his un-censorable First Amendment right to create a 3D technology allowing for the printing of guns. “The modern version of the printing press,” (as he defines 3D printers) will put a stop to dictators, by making it possible for him to e-mail a gun to everyone. As in, everyone in the world. So… that’s an interesting way to exercise the Second Amendment (though he maintains that this is really about freedom of speech and expression).
Florrick, Agos, and Lockhart are representing a man who prints out one of these nifty, 3D printed, plastic guns, and uses it at a firing range, where a malfunction causes him to shoot himself in the back. He’s now confined to a wheelchair, but it’s difficult to prove who is responsible—the individual who printed out and fired the weapon, or Mr. Fife, the individual who invented the software for the gun.
Outside of the courtroom, Alicia finds herself in a number of complex situations. She’s advised to speak against Peter, since Prady has already done so in an attempt to combat her big endorsement (which she “earned” with the big lie about Bishop and the PAC). But Elfman is also planning to start work on a new campaign, on the day of the election. This big gig—and the threat of losing it at the hands of Eli—inspires Elfman to change the game plan at the last minute. Alicia should stay on Peter’s side, he “decides.” But then, a personal insult, impeccably delivered by the other Gold (all hail Marissa, because, “God, handsome men are so weak,”), inspires him to go back to the original game plan. Alicia will speak out against Peter; and things will get ugly.
As of right now, it feels like Elfman is being underutilized as a character. I miss his first appearance, where he sat across from Alicia and represented something—a difficulty, a challenge, or a challenger to her goody-two-shoesness. Let’s hope that final kiss at the end—and yes, it was all very excellent and very rock n’ roll—signifies something more interesting to come.
In addition to the campaign drama, Alicia finds herself in yet another hilariously awful battle with Canning. When Alicia shouted “Canning’s not gonna prank me on his death bed!” I just fell in love with his character all over again. The dedication it must have taken, to make up that sweet story about wanting to donate millions to the family of the little girl whose death made his life possible—it was something of legend. In the words of Mrs. Canning last week, “That’s Louis—always caring for other people.” All that Canning caring got Alicia wrapped up in a pro-Palestinian organization, which could have damaged her campaign and the firm. Canning is just the absolute perfect villain on this show (along with David Lee). But I do believe Alicia won this round with that cell-phone-just-out-of-reach move. There is no torture like the torture of a cell-phone-just-out-of-reach (#FirstWorldProblems).
This wasn’t the only great conflict in the episode, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who enjoyed watching newlywed Diane experience the highs and lows of taking her work home. Kurt’s front-seat, very physical response to the question of how he makes her feel like a 22 year-old? Definitely a high. That awkward moment when your husband refuses to testify for your case, so you have to subpoena him and he’s all giving you attitude in the courtroom, and then after he testifies, he walks right by you like he doesn’t even know you? That would be a low.
Unfortunately, this fun storyline felt a bit strange since we haven’t seen much of Kurt recently. Even stranger, was Kalinda’s random appearance towards the end of “Open Source.” Thanks for solving the case Kalinda… but um… who are you and where have you been this whole time?
There were some clunky moments in “Open Source,” but The Good Wife remains one of the best shows on TV right now. As Alicia prepares to go up against her husband (and vice-a-versa), I’m hoping the next few episodes are as tight, exciting, and surprising as the best this show has offered throughout the season.
Stray Observations:
Very interesting Prady reveal at the end there. Alicia’s atheism has been an issue in this election, but now we’re seeing how Prady’s beliefs as a Jesuit have impacted his campaign (it’s safer for him to appear to be gay, than to appear to be someone who will not remarry because of his beliefs).
Loved Fife’s Noisey quote about the first school shooting with a 3D printed gun. NICE.
Finn VS. Cary is always a good time.
Best Quote of the Episode: “Go after Peter. Kill him. No mercy.”
Shannon M. Houston is Assistant TV Editor & a film critic at Paste, and a writer for Pink is the New Blog and Heart&Soul. This New York-based freelancer probably has more babies than you, but that’s okay; you can still be friends. She welcomes all follows (and un-follows) on Twitter.