S06.E05: Shiny Objects

[pennben]

 

We're seeing Alicia grow from this naive housewife to a more-than-competent professional and politician in her own right.

 

I don't think Alicia was ever naive, I think she was in a position where she didn't have to deal with lots of stuff, so she didn't....until she had to.

[CaptainCranky]

In the beginning this was one of my favorite shows currently on TV but the plots and characters have become so convoluted that it's becoming difficult to watch.

 

Yeah I'll keep watching it but the constant multiple crisis every show and the character portrayal has ruined for me what was an top notch TV show.

[Inquisitionist]

We're seeing Alicia grow from this naive housewife

 

Alicia graduated from Georgetown Law (purportedly at/near the top of her class, IIRC) and practiced law for a year or two before Grace's birthday.  Why she was ever a "naïve housewife" baffles me.

[photo fox]

Not to mention, she was the wife of the SA. Didn't the politics and the realities of Peter's job ever come home with him? In RL, maybe it wouldn't. But in the show's universe, running for and serving for SA is a huge deal that takes over your life and sucks your whole family down into a rabbit hole of lies and intrigue. So how could she be so completely and totally unaware of the grittier side of political life?

[kwnyc]

I think that was Alicia & Peter's deal: she'd stay home with the kids, and be a backstop/asset/photo op in Peter's career. As pointed out, Alicia's never really been naive, but she's someone who chooses not to know things until she is officially presented with them.

 

I wonder if one of the reasons Alicia is still SO angry with Peter (and yes, justifiably because he wrecked the established family structure and cheated on her) is because he essentially took HER job away: the one that was about being his partner & helpmeet without having to know about/do ugly political things. When Peter lost his way (or got caught at it), she was forced to reinvent herself after losing a position she liked & was good at.

 

If the scandal hadn't happened, presumably Alicia would have kept her focus on the kids until they left the house, and then gotten into some kind of work that was useful to Peter as a rising political star.

 

If the Kings are so interested in showing us Alicia's fantasy world, I wouldn't mind a glimpse into what the world would have looked like for both Peter and Alicia if their marriage hadn't wrecked.

 

And because we're seeing Alicia evolve into a truly, overtly political animal, I wonder if the endgame (for the series) isn't her losing her own compass and having great success as an elected official. (After all, she's not nearly as "damaged goods" as Peter, at least not yet, and could conceivably ride her own wave into statewide or national office: Senator Florrick, Secretary of [insert cabinet post here] Florrick] and Peter could only watch).

[Noreaster]

Agreed that it's a stretch that Alicia was presented as naive and unaware of the dark side of law and politics.  But it makes for better storytelling and we gotta suspend some disbelief for TV.  

 

I'm a big fan of what they're doing with her character. We're seeing growth.  Last season, I remember feeling incredibly frustrated with her self-righteousness as she continued to cross over to the dark side (the betrayal-of-sorts of Lockhart/Gardner, more heavily using her husband's influence to win clients like Chum Hum, etc).  Alicia couldn't admit to herself that she was doing unethical things to achieve her goals.  Now, she is starting to accept, in fact embrace, the necessary evils of the real world.  Alicia is becoming more like the series' other strong characters of Diane, Will, and Peter.  

 

All that said, I agree with others that we need to see the show spend some time on the other characters. I hope we see some episodes focused on Diane and Cary.  Alicia's storyline is not enough to sustain 22 episodes a year.  I really like the Finn character but the show is not doing much with him.  They need to bring in another strong male to fill in the Will gap.  Eli and Peter are good in their supporting roles, but we need someone else who can stand up to Alicia in the courtroom or even in the election (not the one-dimensional evil Castro).  

 

[Happytobehere]

I truly hate Saint Alicia. She is beyond the pale. I am surprised at this point that they haven't had God himself come down to fawn all over her. She is awful and at this point, I actually prefer Peter to her.

Why is Taye Diggs employed. No acting skills whatsoever.

The continuing Cary/Kalinda thing makes him look like a world class chump who deserves what happens to him. Is his penis all that drives him because Kalinda has been nothing but a problem in his life since the beginning, yet he keeps this foolishness up.

This is literally the second episode I have ff through. The show's expiration date is just about up with me.

[beeble]

Why is Taye Diggs employed. No acting skills whatsoever.

 

 

Have you looked at the man? I don't care if he speaks English in the episode.  He is truly one of the most beautiful people ever.

 

Not that I'm shallow…

[Kromm]

Why is Taye Diggs employed. No acting skills whatsoever.

Yeah, I know it's a minority opinion, but I agree with you.  He's like a block of wood. (but I guess a good enough looking block of wood that most people don't care)

[NutMeg]

just watched the episode, and did not like my lovely Tassioni being made to look like a fool - she is supposed to work the courtroom masterfully, always, and I don't like this development. I was so rooting for her against team Alicia just because. [some posters above made very interesting points about how her mind works, and all, and I would be fine with it if her behaviour in court hadn't been so much lesser that we have come to expect from her] 

 

Same with Diane - she's smart, she's savvy, she wouldn't click on that suspicious thing - how more suspicious could it have looked!?

 

So basically, with Tassioni and Diane being reduced to half-blumbering idiots, I'm left rooting against the main character and mourning the demise of the great many female characters we've had here in the past - Kalinda was excellent in her scenes with the Russian hacker, but we know she's out soon, and with Alicia quite unsufferable who's left to like? Peter, I guess... Oh vey :-(

 

I don't think, as a rule, that the main character should have a say in the scenario. Off topic, I think SJP's growing input in Sex and the City did a disservice to the franchise, for instance. I fear we are seeing a similar situation here. Hope I'm wrong, but not holding my breath. 

[kia112]

Yeah, I know it's a minority opinion, but I agree with you.  He's like a block of wood. (but I guess a good enough looking block of wood that most people don't care)

 

In his movie roles (that I've seen), he's super charming.  Liked him in Ally McBeal, hated him in Private Practice and I have no opinion of him in this show yet.

[Kel Varnsen]

Yes. I know time was of the essence, but WHY aren't they involving the police, FBI, CIA, Homeland Security? Some governmental agency? By doing so, I think-not a lawyer here- that the judge would be forced to allow extra time (maybe? Perhaps?) due to the seriousness of what was happening? How do they know that it wasn't their opponent (not the lawyers, but the company)? Alicia's husband is the bloody governor! Didn't they think that he can get someone to come in immediately?  What good are her connections, if she doesn't use them for a real issue? I think politicians will be gravitating to trying to prosecute (or make this part of their platform) regarding these types of crimes. They have no IT security specialist in ALL of Chicago that they can call in? As much as I love Kalinda, a person cannot be expert in everything. If hacking was so damn easy, way more people would be trying to scam way more people. 

Speaking of connections, their number one client is basically Google. If anyone has the expertise and computing power to fix the problem it's those guys. Call them up and ask for a favour. Blame it on an intern or something so your new senior partner doesn't look like an idiot.

[OjaiHoney]

Eli's line about being in a Bruckheimer movie was the best part of this episode. And usually I LOVE Elsbeth and her quirkiness but for some reason it was just odd and unsettling.

 

Worst part of the episode was Kalinda. She's becoming a one note character.

[webruce]

Elsbeth Tascioni was having some hard times concentrating on the case. Seeing cartoons and weird combos in her mind. She never seemed to have this many problems doing her job. Sure she had some weird thoughts or little things gave her ideas, but this time she was really out there. Alicia was worried about her helping Reyna Hecht at first. She had to fill in Dean about Elsbeth. Josh Perotti blocking the suit against Camille Vargas sex discrimination case was a twist at the end. Honorable Greg Brochard had problems in his court. Alicia seemed to know how to manipulate Elsbeth's thought process after a bit. We also see that Josh Perotti is there and he wants Elsbeth.
I have Aspergers but I don't see all that stuff Elsbeth did. Sometimes I laugh about a certain scene or joke way to long. But I don't see clowns of penguins just because I hear about it or see a picture. I do miss social ques and not always get jokes, but not see a anvil fall on Wile E. Coyotes head unless I want it to. I may look at something a differeet way,but not that different.

Diane and David Lee talking over the lease of his office space was interesting.

The highjacked computer story line was interesting. Diane not knowing to not press the key seems a bit odd. But it happens, way to much in the world. Carey Zepps and Kalinda were working on that case. Cute calling the hotline. Kalinda using Lana Delaney, in more ways then one, to get information about the case. Lana admits shes gay. I think Kalinda and Lana together kind of turned on Cary Agos. Just the way he looked when they were talking. Nice to that all helped cover the ransom. Diane's email going to her old address at L/G/C was funny. She had to talk to David Lee to try and solve it. Him threatening to tear up her email, made me giggle. The tracking down of Mr Black had a few twists like Mr. Alex Kellner and almost ending it there. Kalinda finally talking to "Mr Black", Boris Ivankov in Russia, and him thinking she could not do anything. Her "Anti-Putin" Virus got to him,lol. Made him give in.
The cockroach and the dripping water on Diane's chair,(Just move it), show they have much more to fix in the building.

Alicia and Peter(and Eli) had problems when she wanted Finn to introduce her for her States Attorney coming out announcement. But Peter stepped up on the end and let Finn announce her first. Then he did 2nd and he stood behind her like she did him. Good Job Peter!

Edited November 11, 2014 by webruce

[DrSparkles]

Elsbeth Tascioni was having some hard times concentrating on the case. Seeing cartoons and weird combos in her mind. She never seemed to have this many problems doing her job. Sure she had some weird thoughts or little things gave her ideas, but this time she was really out there. Alicia was worried about her helping Reyna Hecht at first. She had to fill in Dean about Elsbeth. Josh Perotti blocking the suit against Camille Vargas sex discrimination case was a twist at the end. Honorable Greg Brochard had problems in his court. Alicia seemed to know how to manipulate Elsbeth's thought process after a bit. We also see that Josh Perotti is there and he wants Elsbeth.

I have Aspergers but I don't see all that stuff Elsbeth did. Sometimes I laugh about a certain scene or joke way to long. But I don't see clowns of penguins just because I hear about it or see a picture. I do miss social ques and not always get jokes, but not see a anvil fall on Wile E. Coyotes head unless I want it to. I may look at something a differeet way,but not that different.

Thank you for this! I have sped-watched seasons 4, 5 & first half of 6 :)  Seas 6 I dvr'd but of course the last half is missing due to whatever running late earlier in the evening. So I am doing a combo of dvr material & CBS all-access (which sux in terms of intuitiveness IMO). Last night I was watching shiny objects & the last 15 minutes or so I didn't get to see (can't get all-access activated for that one). I'm sure as shit not paying $2 for 15 minutes via Netflix either! All of this is to say, did they ever explain why Elsbeth was seeing things like she was? And did I miss anything else critical :)

[webruce]

No they didn't explain it. But it seemed that the next episode her visons weren't as strange. Also after her and Josh had sex on her desk she cleared up and thought things out a lot better, IMO. maybe someone else can enlighten you, but I don't remember anything else that stands out at end. Well Trey Wagner and his cousin dies on a car accident after kalinda had gone to where he was hiding and talked him into testifying. Also Frank Prady had told Alicia that he decided to run for office. She told him she knew he had decided before her interview. Supposedly Alicias team gave info. to James Castro on Prady. Alicia wasn't aware of it.

Edited December 2, 2014 by webruce

[Talking Tom]

I can only watch this show now via On Demand. It's just getting too unbelievable. The little hot to trot CIA/FBI/INTERPOL private investigator is tired. The cool Black man drug dealer, Cary who has one facial expression for the last month, and the loud-mouthed P.R. guy with the ultra-smart daughter...

No acting Taye Diggs. And then there's the Good Wife and Peter. Make up MY mind. Do you love me or not?  Are you a sleaze again or what? It's the writer's who are schizophrenic. This is like a bad episode of All My Children. 

[webruce]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLbHC1nCP5Q Elsbeth and Josh.

[millennium]

I am new to this series, but up to speed because I binged the first five seasons over the past few weeks.

 

This episode left me shaking my head.   Season Six seems like a complete departure with everything that went before.   The setting and cast of characters has shifted to accommodate the exodus from LG, so that's a big change.  But also the characters seem to be acting, well, out of character.

 

Even the secondary characters are getting an unwelcome makeover, courtesy of the previous episode, Oppo Report, with the ret-conning of the Zach and Nissa story, Owen and the gay porn star and Alicia's mother beating a child in public.

 

It's like the departure of Josh Charles shook the writers to the core and left them flailing for ideas.

 

I am disappointed at the introduction of another election storyline.   I want Eli Gold and his wheedling to go away and never return.   He was a grating but tolerable character for a few seasons, but now he seems to serve no practical purpose other than to give Alan Cumming an excuse to be on the show.

 

I don't like that Finn ASA and wish he'd vanish too.   All Castro lacks is a mustache he can twirl. 

 

Elspeth ... why would they do that to her?    That isn't Asperger's -- it's schizophrenia. 

 

Michael J. Fox is underutilized lately.

 

Is there any series Kyle Maclachlan can't worm his way into?

 

Cary's the best character of the show but this season makes him look defeated.   He's tossed in jail, outvoted in the office, and cuckolded by Kalinda (who could have been the other best character in the hands of better writers).

 

I guess I'll finish out the season but this show seems to have lost its way.