6.03 - "Dear God" The Symbolism Here is Overbearing (But I still love it)
Last week, after a lot of hard-fought struggles on multiple fronts, Cary Agos made bail and returned to Alicia & Co... but the battle was clearly just beginning, as S.A. James Castro was making his efforts to bring Cary down with Lemond Bishop in the swan song of his time in in the State's Attorney's office. Kalinda was left with Bishop, who insisted on her telling him which of his men happened to be the criminal informant on Cary's case, and finally we saw Diane and several cohorts from L/G jumped ship in an official capacity to F/A, much to Cary's initial dismay. Meanwhile, in the political realm of matters, Eli schemed in the background to have Alicia on hand as his new campaign to run for S.A.
Something Something seeds being sown
In what was quite an on-the-nose case of the week, one of the clients who did not abandon Cary in his moment of incarceration happened to have an ongoing case with his neighbor over seed patent infringement.
I found this case to be intriguing on some level given that the grain industry in the last 30 years has apparently turned into quite the legal battleground, between those who have the super-seeds that farmers are expected to use, and the farmers who plant, harvest, and sell product without ever owning the seeds they sow. To me, it's a strange, new, and soulless dynamic in U.S. agriculture that is as relevant as a bitcoin or scabbit-inspired episode, as it affects all U.S. citizens in some form.
This case personalizes and diminishes the extent of this issue by placing the blame between 1 farmer/entrepreneur and his friend/neighbor's alleged misuse of the former's seeds. Allegedly, he didn't buy the plaintiff's seeds originally, and used seeds that spread via wind patterns, replanted them year after year, and never paid for them.
Through an extensive amount of legal change-up and interesting change of pace through moving the case to a Christian-based arbitration setting, (hey look, it's Robert Sean Leonard!) we found a situation where basic Christianity-linked imagery of seed-sowing overlaid an ongoing U.S. legal, economic issue. Cue the knowing wink from TGW writers and producers. I don't know how they are allowed to get away with such intricate and yet cheeky ideas. Instead of having the plot bogged down with Bible scripture excerpts being bastardized for use in a legal case, (we see how lawyers cope when logic of the courtroom doesn't apply in a theological setting, and it's messy), in the end reason wins out as the plaintiff and the defendant speak plainly over their lawyers to discuss what's really happening.
You might be wondering why I am focusing so much on this case in my review: I think that it was an exceptional moment when we hear both sides of this very realistic possibility: the "super-seeds" Alicia's client sold did their job extremely well, and overtook the defendant's land at the expense of the seeds he used to cultivate. It might have been infringement, but it was something the GMO seeds were supposed to do, and it was occurring at the defendant's expense, while the plaintiff's seeds were already to a point where he had a monopoly on the market.
In the end, the two neighbors came to an agreement without (and at the expense of) their lawyers. An interesting end to the case of the week.
This case personalizes and diminishes the extent of this issue by placing the blame between 1 farmer/entrepreneur and his friend/neighbor's alleged misuse of the former's seeds. Allegedly, he didn't buy the plaintiff's seeds originally, and used seeds that spread via wind patterns, replanted them year after year, and never paid for them.Through an extensive amount of legal change-up and interesting change of pace through moving the case to a Christian-based arbitration setting, (hey look, it's Robert Sean Leonard!) we found a situation where basic Christianity-linked imagery of seed-sowing overlaid an ongoing U.S. legal, economic issue. Cue the knowing wink from TGW writers and producers. I don't know how they are allowed to get away with such intricate and yet cheeky ideas. Instead of having the plot bogged down with Bible scripture excerpts being bastardized for use in a legal case, (we see how lawyers cope when logic of the courtroom doesn't apply in a theological setting, and it's messy), in the end reason wins out as the plaintiff and the defendant speak plainly over their lawyers to discuss what's really happening.
You might be wondering why I am focusing so much on this case in my review: I think that it was an exceptional moment when we hear both sides of this very realistic possibility: the "super-seeds" Alicia's client sold did their job extremely well, and overtook the defendant's land at the expense of the seeds he used to cultivate. It might have been infringement, but it was something the GMO seeds were supposed to do, and it was occurring at the defendant's expense, while the plaintiff's seeds were already to a point where he had a monopoly on the market.
In the end, the two neighbors came to an agreement without (and at the expense of) their lawyers. An interesting end to the case of the week.
"You can't live life the way you used to... Or you will end up behind bars again."
After Cary's release on bond, we have multiple, yet short glimpses into the growing pains that occurred at Florrick, Agos, & Lockhart, given that Cary had many (valid) problems with the way things were happening at his firm. These issues were teased capably (without dragging everyone through a continuous argument, and just hitting the high notes) through recollection of events by Cary, then Alicia, and Diane over the course of the episode.
We see that things have hardly died down between the partners in how things should be handled, from their likely expansion (hampered by Cary's bail posting, loss of clients) to meeting the needs of recently added employees. However, whatever struggles they're having in-house, all 3 remain loyal to the F/A brand and to each other in order to provide a united front for Cary's defense to pretrial service officer Joy Grubick, who was writing a report on behalf of the court to determine if Cary was to remain on bail or be placed back in general detention, given that a key witness in his case seemingly went missing the same day Cary was released from detainment.
Grubick, played with grit and candor by Linda Lavin, is framed from the beginning as an antagonistic character. However, after many characters like Clarke Hayden or Marilyn Garbanza have defied early expectations, I figured that she would prove to be more objective/potentially helpful than what Cary or Alicia were expecting when interviewing her.
We see that things have hardly died down between the partners in how things should be handled, from their likely expansion (hampered by Cary's bail posting, loss of clients) to meeting the needs of recently added employees. However, whatever struggles they're having in-house, all 3 remain loyal to the F/A brand and to each other in order to provide a united front for Cary's defense to pretrial service officer Joy Grubick, who was writing a report on behalf of the court to determine if Cary was to remain on bail or be placed back in general detention, given that a key witness in his case seemingly went missing the same day Cary was released from detainment.Grubick, played with grit and candor by Linda Lavin, is framed from the beginning as an antagonistic character. However, after many characters like Clarke Hayden or Marilyn Garbanza have defied early expectations, I figured that she would prove to be more objective/potentially helpful than what Cary or Alicia were expecting when interviewing her.
"Would you do the job well?"
In the midst of everything else happening, Alicia's non-existent campaign apparently blew up in the press, and suddenly everywhere she went, Alicia was being condoned for her candidacy. She, of course, continued to flail at the congratulations and the questions, "I'M NOT RUNNING" practically becoming her motto anywhere and everywhere she went. At this point, I could see Eli taking that quotation and putting it up on a billboard, where people would embrace her further for her resolve, there wouldn't be a nomination, or even a campaign, she'd simply wake up as S.A. Alicia Florrick one morning.
But in the heat of running to Peter after running into people in her office who claimed to have been sent by the Governor, she instead runs into none other than activist Gloria Steinem, who claims Alicia should contemplate running. It wasn't about what Alicia wanted, it was about whether or not she could do the job well.
Now, Alicia's ego being stroked notwithstanding (she had more than 1 moment where she daydreamed Gloria saying ridiculous things like how she'll need a replacement in the feminism fight--uh huh, Alicia, c'mon now...) at this point we as viewers have to ask ourselves...Is Alicia right for this job?
On some level, we as viewers have to realize that Alicia has had it relatively easy for most of her time on this show...She's gained at the expense of almost every character in some form or fashion...What happens if she changes sides and starts having to represent the people of Cook County, in an office bound by moral obligation, under constant public scrutiny, with likely tons of baggage following her to said office? Would she buckle under that kind of pressure? She's barely got her own firm off the ground and she's already brought in Diane and her gang to support the firm financially... What happens if she's suddenly at legal odds with every defense attorney in Chicago?
Definitely something to think about!
But in the heat of running to Peter after running into people in her office who claimed to have been sent by the Governor, she instead runs into none other than activist Gloria Steinem, who claims Alicia should contemplate running. It wasn't about what Alicia wanted, it was about whether or not she could do the job well.
Now, Alicia's ego being stroked notwithstanding (she had more than 1 moment where she daydreamed Gloria saying ridiculous things like how she'll need a replacement in the feminism fight--uh huh, Alicia, c'mon now...) at this point we as viewers have to ask ourselves...Is Alicia right for this job?
On some level, we as viewers have to realize that Alicia has had it relatively easy for most of her time on this show...She's gained at the expense of almost every character in some form or fashion...What happens if she changes sides and starts having to represent the people of Cook County, in an office bound by moral obligation, under constant public scrutiny, with likely tons of baggage following her to said office? Would she buckle under that kind of pressure? She's barely got her own firm off the ground and she's already brought in Diane and her gang to support the firm financially... What happens if she's suddenly at legal odds with every defense attorney in Chicago?
Definitely something to think about!
"It's a tie."
reported findings of Joy Grubick. Everyone's breath is held as she approaches the bench to read her findings. Once again, props to Linda Lavin, who brings a bit of vulnerability to the moment as she has a difficult time addressing the room in reading her results. She finds that Cary Agos, former Deputy State's Attorney, current name partner at Florrick, Agos, & Lockhart, is a diligent and dedicated individual who did not attempt to intimidate anyone. Cary should remain out of detention for the duration of the trial. (Cue collective sigh of relief from entire room)
Having someone outside the bubble of F/A objectively state something that cleared Cary even of the slightest involvement in all of the ridiculous accusations against him at this point was a moment of relief, which could be seen on Cary's face. We have to celebrate the victories, big and small, at this point! Like I mentioned earlier, I expected that her report would likely be something that could help Cary in the end, but I was really glad I was right. A lot of things have gone wrong for Cary Agos lately.
"Retribution."
After giving more thought to running for S.A., Alicia has a run-in with James Castro outside of the courtroom after the ruling on Cary's bond. Attempting to elicit a response from him after a defeat, Castro turns things around and catches Alicia off guard with a quip about Will Gardner. And it works, as he says all that she's working towards against him is just because of how things went in court that fateful day, and that she and Will were lovers, and the only thing Alicia has on Castro is something personal. Retribution.
Alicia's understandably riled.
She approaches Eli about possibly starting a campaign.
Sidenotes:
- Cary flashing back to a night with Kalinda the night he was released was a short but welcome sign of them being on the same page again, at least for now. (Also, the show continues to push boundaries when it comes to sex scenes on broadcast television...)
- Grace was back for the first time this season, helping her mother with Bible study. She even had a few wise thoughts to pass onto her mother.
- Given what Dean Wilkins said at the end of the episode, do you think there's room for Alicia to become a God-fearing believer at some point? That would be a drastic change, but I never know what to expect from this show anymore.
- So, Kalinda tipped off Lemond Bishop's man that he knew the about the wire tap, and he ran away. I can't imagine Bishop being happy about this. Kalinda, please keep safe! I hope the fallout from that is minimal, but I doubt things will stay alright for her if she keeps poking her nose in Bishop's business.
- Grace was back for the first time this season, helping her mother with Bible study. She even had a few wise thoughts to pass onto her mother.
- Given what Dean Wilkins said at the end of the episode, do you think there's room for Alicia to become a God-fearing believer at some point? That would be a drastic change, but I never know what to expect from this show anymore.
- So, Kalinda tipped off Lemond Bishop's man that he knew the about the wire tap, and he ran away. I can't imagine Bishop being happy about this. Kalinda, please keep safe! I hope the fallout from that is minimal, but I doubt things will stay alright for her if she keeps poking her nose in Bishop's business.
What did you think of this week's episode? Start a discussion below in the comments!
