BY RYAN C. SHOWERS
THE GOOD WIFE: "Red Zone" (Season 6, Episode 8)
"Red Zone" is an episode that, if done on another show, would be considered a "filler" episode. But because Robert and Michelle King know how to resourcefully write and plan a series, "Red Zone" is presented as an episodic entry to the State's Attorney's race storyline. The episode is tightly constructed into a standalone episode. It dissects a characteristic of Alicia slightly alluded to in the past but never fully expanded upon: entitlement. One could argue that all of the core characters on "The Good Wife" are entitled, but entitlement could be most abundantly found in our heroine. But "entitlement" as we know it is not something that makes Alicia a bad person but rather something embedded her Alicia's personality.
Lacking the meat of one of the season's big episodes, "Red Zone" creates opportunity to shine in other areas. For instance, this episode is has some impeccable directing, planning, and blocking, as well as clarity into character's emotional lives therein upping the ante with development of some key supporting players, specifically Matt Czuchry and Archie Panjabi. "Red Zone" is Czuchry's best episode of the entire six seasons to date. The anger is there, his being ailed by Kalinda "cheating" on him is there, and the fear of being wrongfully persecuted is certainly there. I never thought Czuchry had it in him to be so emotionally spot on. And Panjabi is given the best script Kalinda has seen since season two, maybe season three. It seems evident that Kalinda is in for a killer season.
"Red Zone" sees the faces of two extremely talented guest stars, Rita Wilson and Michael J. Fox. Seeing Wilson flesh out Viola's more friendly side with Diane was rewarding to those who have seen her spitefulness since season one. And of course, Wilson is fabulous when she gets to hammer Viola's nasty, sarcastic, vindictive tendencies as well. Fox has gotten the crappy end of the stick this season after such a detailed run in season 5. His two appearances prior to episode eight have been slighter, but this is his most profitable coming so far this season. The Kings said during press for "The Line" that he would only appear in three episodes this season, so this may be farewell to Mr. Canning especially when considering his deteriorating health and that slightly affecting final scene between Canning and Alicia.)
The episode excelled in smaller areas, too. The "case" of the week (though this season, "The Good Wife" has strayed away from that procedural set-up) involves sexual assaults on college campuses. What a laudable move on behalf of "The Good Wife" to raise awareness and recognize that this is a widespread social problem. Alan Cumming and Steven Pasquale are quite the comedic duo; each actor complements the other well and they play off Margulies to great results. Margulies herself did not have her best episode this past week, but her chemistry with Matthew Goode is electric, palpable, and effortless. Each week Finn and Alicia are becoming the most personal relationship on the show and that's something I could not be more thrilled about.
Grade: A-
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