S07.E07: Driven

[AzraelKay]

I still enjoy this show but some things just drive me crazy, one of which was the fact that no reporter ever seemed to know that Peter and Alicia weren't living together.  I don't think a week of staying at her apartment would do it either, although at least it was finally addressed.

 

Also super annoyed by the "deposition" scenes.  I don't know what the hell kind of deposition that was but there seemed to be no court reporter; there was no clear beginning and end of the deposition of each party, just some sort of round robin where the lawyers tossed out questions to plaintiff, then defendant 1, defendant 2, back to plaintiff, etc.  Also, the expert that came in as an additional witness would not be sitting in the room while the others were being deposed.  And Cary was not only objecting (most of which are not allowed my state but may be in Illinois), but basically testifying by making interjections ("What my witness meant to say was....").  I'm not a stickler for realism on all the legal procedures, because, less face it, that would be boring, but some things are just so off.

 

Random thoughts:

 

Alicia either needs to move or her apartment building needs a new doorman.  People are always just showing up at her door at the worst possible times.

 

If Vanessa Williams was tired of political scandals, why would she even THINK of backing Peter- who had a sex scandal and whose wife was JUST involved in an election scandal?

[Tara Ariano]

In case you missed it, here's the Previously.TV post on the episode!

 

The Good Wife Finds Herself In A DILF Sandwich
Alicia also has a case involving a driverless car, but that's a lot less interesting.

[candle96]

Yea I figured that was some sort of combination of campaign staff and governor staff. That said I was amazed that a news outlet finally figured out that Peter and Alicia aren't a real couple. How many years have they been getting away with that for?

The funny thing is that Alicia also makes no effort to hide their separate lives from pretty much anyone she meets. Luca, Jason both seem aware of the situation and she's known them for about 5 minutes. Everyone at the old law firm seemed aware of it, too. You'd think someone in her life might give that scoop to a reporter. 

[Kel Varnsen]

What was the point of making Cary and Diane racist idiots last week? 

 

 

Yeah, I don't see any way that it wouldn't be the companies fault.  I figured they only tried to pin the blame on him is so that they can say there is nothing wring with the car, it was human error.  But the fact that it didn't stop on its own still means there is something wrong with the car.  In real life, there would have been no discussions, the company would have offered the woman a huge chunk of money provided she agreed not to discuss the case.  

 

Glad I wasn't the only one thinking about this. It seems like this has happened more than a few times, where to close the case in the time allowed, they completely forget about logic. In this case I couldn't understand how unauthorized programmers making changes to the car meant that the company was responsible but somehow an unauthorized driver and driver error meant that the company wasn't responsible. 

[TV Diva Queen]

I love the character of Jason, and am happy to have him on my screen since we never see Diane's husband any more. I always find 'rough around the edges' look sexier than the suit type. I never found Will sexy, though do find Peter sexy to a certain extent but that is because I like his personality.

 

Another UO, but I love MIchael J. Fox's character of Louis Canning. The bemused expression on his face for much of the deposition had me laughing out loud. And on an unrelated note, MJF did not seem to have any of his often shaking side effect of his meds last night. I wonder if he is on different meds now? In any case I am always thrilled to have him on my screen and hope he continues to be for many years to come.

 

So why exactly did Peter have an entourage at Alicia's apartment? I get that the governer's mansion is in Springfield but would Peter not have offices somewhere in Chicago as well? If he and Alicia were still together with her working in Chicago would he seriously be bringing a dozen people home with him every night that he was in town? Strange.

 Yes, the Governor does have Chicago office space.  Its called the James R. Thompson Center and the Gov's offices are up on 16.  

[riverheightsnancy]

Totally agree with the posts above, in what world would a regular person roll into a (relatively) small apartment with THAT many people? In addition, Alicia would get booted by her HOA. Imagine living on that same floor. Do you know how many times they would be going up and down in the (seemingly) ONLY elevator in the building? Doesn't Peter still own their old house? That is huge, why doesn't he meet there or somewhere else? This is why campaigns (of his size) rent out space, they can't be using random apartments. The fact that the show wants us to buy that Alicia is working out of her apartment is ridic too. If she were a lone gun, who took a casual case here and there, ok. But she has a PI, and a co-counsel and Grace as a secretary. If I were a neighbor, I would be complaining constantly or looking to move. 

[KaveDweller]

Doesn't Peter still own their old house? That is huge, why doesn't he meet there or somewhere else? 

 

Because they wanted to prove to the media that he was still living with Alicia.  

[lucindabelle]

Why does this woman not own a vibrator? Why do the writers repeatedly have her grab Peter just to manage desire for someone else? She's over 40. Alicia should have managed orgasm maintenance as part of general life skills by now.

 

She's actually 49. And looks amazing. A friend of mine was an extra recently on the show-- they set it in Iowa at a Bernie Sanders rally and told everyone to wear bright colors (New York prejudice alert).

 

Anyway, friend said JM is TINY up close. Like scary tiny, like 000 tiny. Makes sense since camera adds pounds and she looks on the thin side even on TV.

 

Vanessa Williams is 52, so these two could have been in college together, senior and freshman, but VW looks 10 years older than JM. Just find this striking.

[aguabella]

They mentioned during the episode that Peter had been campaigning in Iowa so I assumed that was his campaign entourage.  Nope, I can't see the IL governor with such a large group.  Felt a little early for him to have SS protection, although I believe that Trump/Carson rec'd it during the last week or so. 

 

Yes, the IL govs have Chicago offices.  Alicia makes no secret of the living situation so 1 week for Vanessa Williams' benefit?  Okay, show.

 

MJF has mentioned that his shaking is primarily a side effect of medication.  So, perhaps it's a positive sign, if he doesn't require as much.  In any event, I'm over the Canning character and hope they move on.  At this point, everything, absolutely everything on TGW feels like a retread.

 

The shady, smarmy PI feels like the male incarnation of Kalinda,  Yes, (almost) every male must be a potential JM love interest

 

Strange depo seating arrangement - very tight.  What happened to the LG large conference room?  FAL didn't take over their entire suite? 

 

Noticed the lack of a court reporter, too but sometimes, albeit rarely, depos are filmed and subsequently transcribed.  No camera, however, was present in the conference room, IIRC.  Objections may be made for the record (some jurisdictions) and adjudicated later, e.g. if/when one party moves to exclude that evidence.  But, that's real-life, snail's-pace litigation - not a quickie, made for television COTW.

 

Anyone else wonder WTH Alicia's doing, sitting on some Chicago elections board.  Say, what?  Voting machines?  Who would appoint her?  Even if we assume both she and Peter are finished with local / IL politics ...

Edited November 18, 2015 by aguabella

[Rhondinella]

From Tara's Particle:

 

Wait, we're ending on a cliffhanger, and it's THAT? When Alicia almost opened up her mini taco box for Jason?

 

 

Heh.  I'm totally seducing my husband tonight by offering him my mini taco box.

 

I've never been a fan of JDM before--I think the ridicularity (what, it is too a word!) of his storyline on Grey's Anatomy soured me on him early on and it was hard to overcome.  But . . . . dear Lord that cocky grin turns me to butter every time!  And that's even WITHOUT the glasses.  Have mercy!

[mansonlamps]

Hilarious how they put a lampshade on how the Florrick's sexcapade had nothing to do with love.  "Sex is always better when there's no love involved."  Really, Alicia?  Sucks to be you, then.

 

God, right?  This was one of the stupidest, most trite lines since Erich Segal came up with "Love means never having to say you're sorry."  And that was a long time ago.  Barf.

[shapeshifter]

Why does this woman not own a vibrator? Why do the writers repeatedly have her grab Peter just to manage desire for someone else? She's over 40. Alicia should have managed orgasm maintenance as part of general life skills by now.

I can only guess she wanted to make an honest woman or man out of Peter when he goes before cameras and says, "I did have sex with that woman--er, ah, my wife!"

Just kidding, but there are all sorts of reasons of power trips that could cause Alicia to instigate the sex at that moment. Peter just seemed to go for it the way a much younger man would. Maybe he takes one of those once-daily viagra-type pills?

Edited November 19, 2015 by shapeshifter

[lucindabelle]

I only guess she wanted to make an honest woman or man out of Peter when he goes before cameras and says, "I did have sex with that woman--er, ah, my wife!"

Just kidding, but there are all sorts of reasons of power trips that could cause Alicia to instigate the sex at that moment. Peter just seemed to go for it the way a much younger man would. Maybe he takes one of those once-daily viagra-type pills?

You know, that's a good point.

Most men Chris Noth's age aren't that able that quickly... interesting how all kinds of posts on JM and her age and how she looks and this is the first I've seen on the credibility of this point.

I was involved with a man in his 50s when i was in my 20s and yeah. Not so quick. When I got involved with someone age appropriate I was all wow, this is what I've been missing...

[wendyg]

ISTR Michael J. Fox saying in an interview some time ago that he times his medications appropriately - that's probably also part of what the staffer saw.

[NutMeg]

How much of the usual shaking (by Canning) is actually MJF's symptoms,and how much is for the character? I got the impression that Canning turns it up when he's in court to get sympathy from the judge and jury. But this week he was only in the depo room and could relax and not pretend to be worse than he is.  I don't think MJF's shaking (on his meds) is nearly as bad as  he portrays Canning's to be.

A friend of mine shares that illness. As he explains it, he enjoys moments of relative "calm" (i.e. no shakes) and while in public (he' a big fundraiser) tries to make the most of it. Then the shakes starts again, after barely 5 to 10 minutes (it used to be longer but the time frame is getting shorter and shorter) and he HAS to sit down because he cannot otherwise. He can talk fine, but he cannot stand, or walk, or move in any "normal" way. He knows when "calm" is coming, he feels it coming and smiles "now I can go about", and we all envourage him to, but it lasts for too short a time.

 

BTW he was diagnosed at 40, and has been working with MJF's foundation since.  

[Day2Day]

Why does this woman not own a vibrator? Why do the writers repeatedly have her grab Peter just to manage desire for someone else? She's over 40. Alicia should have managed orgasm maintenance as part of general life skills by now.

  I'll drink to that !!   and....   Mona Lisa Alicia.... NOT !!!!  She's just not that hot !!

[needschocolate]

Hilarious how they put a lampshade on how the Florrick's sexcapade had nothing to do with love.  "Sex is always better when there's no love involved."  Really, Alicia?  Sucks to be you, then.

 

 

I wish Peter would have replied, "Now you finally understand why I slept with all those prostitutes!"

[albaniantv]

Honestly, even if it makes me ageist, if we have to have sex and/or love on TGW, I'd rather see who the kids of Alicia and Peter and Eli get interested in. At least they probably wouldn't all be tangled up in politics, competition, rancor and pay back.

[pennben]

I'd love for once if anyone who was interested in Alicia, said "nope, I'm out you're married". It's beyond the point of ridiculous now.

[wendyg]

Lucindabelle: it's much more likely that they asked for bright colors because that's what looks best/most interesting on TV. Nothing to do with NY prejudice (and in any case, the writers are all in LA).

 

Re the self-driving car case (I'm trying to meme "autocar" for that): the show actually picked what is quite a big issue and that to date does not have a solution (which may be why they glossed it over at the end). A number of states have now passed laws allowing these vehicles to operate on public roads - not sure how many, but I know they include California, Nevada, and I think Florida. A friend who attended the California hearings said that it was quite clear to him that no one wants to accept liability. Software manufacturers traditionally have none for any of their products, as you can see quite clearly if you read the license. (There is some interest among security people in changing this situation) and they made that argument. Car manufacturers took the view that they didn't design their automobiles to be driven by software but by humans; the amount of modification done to this vehicles in their view relieved them of liability. It's actually a very interesting legal conflict and will apply to many other types of robots as they are deployed. Car hacking has also been much in the technology news, and that, too, is a big issue: people think they buy cars, but they're really buying a cluster of up to 50 computers on wheels. So while the show didn't provide a solution, I think it did a nice job of highlighting the issues.

Edited November 20, 2015 by wendyg

[MakeMeLaugh]

I don't know why but I loved everything about the sex scene. I didn't see it coming, and laughed at Eli's flusteredness and at both Peter and Alicia's matter-of-fact response to him. I loved it all.

I hope Vanessa Williams has more time on the show-- she was pretty much a passive reactor in her scenes to what was going on around her.

I get no spark whatsoever between Alicia and Jason. His character seems to be polarizing and I'm in the creepy camp. I have only seen the actor in this show so not talking about the actor. Speaking of Justified (oh we weren't? Why, I am always talking about Justified), Sam Elliott stole every episode he was on.

The driverless car plot was so tedious.

[dinkysquid]

Jason and Alicia have zero chemistry. Why does he always look like he needs a shower and a shave? And is it just me or does he always seem to have this creepy, leering grin in his face when he looks at her? It is so unsettling! Give him sunglasses and a trench coat and it's easy to picture him hanging around a schoolyard. I wish they would have paired her up with Finn. At least he didn't look like he should be on the sex offenders list!

 

Alicia and Peter getting it on: Um....why?

 

Agree about the apartment, aka, Grand Central. A building that (supposedly) swanky doesn't have a doorman? Nice to know that some crazed former client could just come a-knockin' any old time.

[lucindabelle]

Lucindabelle: it's much more likely that they asked for bright colors because that's what looks best/most interesting on TV. Nothing to do with NY prejudice (and in any case, the writers are all in LA).

 

 

Nah, my friend who is an extra said they told them other things that made it clear they think that's how Iowans dress. I believe the word Walmart was used.

 

Writers have no bearing on costume choices or props or anything else. That's all done by ADs and designers.

 

I love NY, don't get me wrong, but that old New Yorker cover about a New Yorker's perspective is very true.

[kwnyc]

 

Truthfully I found her sexuality more alluring when she said, "Wanna get laid?" and knocked back that drink like a grownup.  Rawrr.

 

And Peter, not being a dummy, said "yes." The two of them, after all these years, still have chemistry. She just can't quit him. ;-)

[needschocolate]

Agree about the apartment, aka, Grand Central. A building that (supposedly) swanky doesn't have a doorman? Nice to know that some crazed former client could just come a-knockin' any old time.

 

And when that crazed former client comes a-knockin' Alicia will answer the door without checking the peephole.  

[ElectricBoogaloo]

The best thing about this episode was when Jackie announced she was engaged to Howard and Peter and Eli totally freaked out but Alicia just laughed her ass off.

 

I also loved Vanessa Williams' WTF expressions while talking with Howard and Jackie.

 

Noticed the lack of a court reporter, too but sometimes, albeit rarely, depos are filmed and subsequently transcribed.  No camera, however, was present in the conference room, IIRC.

There was a camera between Diane and Cary. You can see it in some of the closeup shots of Diane, but you can also see the entire tripod in the long shots (like when Lucca and Alicia enter the conference room with the coder guy and apologize for being late).

[Day2Day]

Jason and Alicia have zero chemistry. Why does he always look like he needs a shower and a shave? And is it just me or does he always seem to have this creepy, leering grin in his face when he looks at her? It is so unsettling! Give him sunglasses and a trench coat and it's easy to picture him hanging around a schoolyard. I wish they would have paired her up with Finn. At least he didn't look like he should be on the sex offenders list!

 

.

PERFECT !!

 

 

 

Alicia and Peter getting it on: Um....why?

 

 

  It's OLD... let it go, and get her a vibrator !!

[Hanahope]

Noticed the lack of a court reporter, too but sometimes, albeit rarely, depos are filmed and subsequently transcribed.  No camera, however, was present in the conference room, IIRC.

 

There was a camera between Diane and Cary. You can see it in some of the closeup shots of Diane, but you can also see the entire tripod in the long shots (like when Lucca and Alicia enter the conference room with the coder guy and apologize for being late).

 

Maybe it depends on the state, but I believe in most states, only the court reporter can swear in/put under oath, the witness that allows the deposition transcript to be used as evidence in a hearing or at trial.

 

Course, that's just the least of the complete BS this show has when depicting depositions.  But yeah, obviously makes for much better TV since IRL, depos can be pretty boring.