[Kiki17]

Episode 7.11 - Iowa

WRITTEN BY: Erica Shelton Kodish
DIRECTED BY: Matt Shakman
AIRDATE: 01/10/2016

Tensions run high as the entire Florrick family is crammed into Peter’s campaign bus with Eli and Ruth on their way to the Iowa Caucuses. Once there, Peter attempts a high-risk political stunt to gain votes for his presidential bid.

Cast List and Stills

[Eternityroad]

We wonder how many plates were broken rehearsing the opening scene of Alicia's breakdown!
As hideous a character she plays I have revered Margot Martindale's work ever since I saw her performance in August: Osage County. I am wondering how different this show would be, for good or ill, if JM weren't a producer.

[Gelfling]

We wonder how many plates were broken rehearsing the opening scene of Alicia's breakdown!

I know, right? "A whole lot" is my estimation but I could be wrong

As hideous a character she plays I have revered Margot Martindale's work ever since I saw her performance in August: Osage County.

She's amazing

I am wondering how different this show would be, for good or ill, if JM weren't a producer.

It would be very different, no doubt. Not just saying this because of the massacre of the A/K storyline but a lot lot of things that don't really make sense.

[Raira]

What Eli did was horrible, we all agree with that, but Alicia has to face the person she is really angry, that is herself. From what we know so far about her, she would have taken the same decision to support Peter . Eli just made this decision for her and now she has someone to blame . I see two options for her : Embrace the " good wife " that she is, who will never leave her husband, and try to be happy that way , or leave it all behind , MAKE A DECISION.

Was this another season with a political race meaningless?

[Kiki17]

but Alicia has to face the person she is really angry, that is hersel

Been waiting for this for a long time. Eli was just another space-goat for her.

MAKE A DECISION.

SAYING THIS FOR 7 YEARS NOW!

Was this another season with a political race meaningless?

Looks like it.

Gosh I can't even say much because all I have is disappointment with this show. Is sort of sad but I am also ready to let go, I am counting down the episode this show is over.

[Gelfling]

Embrace the " good wife " that she is, who will never leave her husband, and try to be happy that way , or leave it all behind , MAKE A DECISION.

I really thought this season would be the one where she stopped playing coy because, damn, they don't need to keep their damn love triangle going now, do they? But no, it's still floating around aimlessly.

What Eli did was horrible, we all agree with that, but Alicia has to face the person she is really angry, that is herself.

And so she should be! I was never a shipper of any kind in that show but if she was waiting for Will to tell her he loved her to leave her husband, WTF?
If she didn't know he was in love with her, then she has a major issue reading people because she was the only one.

So he said it and somebody deleted the message... does that really change anything? It's not as if she had been the one giving him an ultimatum and she thought he'd flaked on her.

[TJChurch]

I don't really know since Eli's admission how Alicia will handle it overall, or how I might want her to handle it, since I have long thought of him as working for Peter (similar to Cary for a while) & not Alicia at all (outside of her race against DHPierce last year)... Curse, that changed when he told Margot Alicia was the important one.

Haven't really though of MM much whether I watch her or not... Like Metcalf on Bang, think of her only being available due to other show on same Net failing, & (in MM's case especially) wondering if there isn't someone better for part out there.

As for this episode specifically, three thoughts:

1] LOVED seeing Mo Rocca back in some politics-related use.

2] Also loved return of Chris Sieber, & use in multi-talents & key part at end, after he got wasted all that time alongside the Olsen twins.

3] When Peter's Mom asked about what came from Iowa, I racked my own brain & also came up empty... But wonder if show/network won't get response(s) from state reps or something?!

[Kiki17]

of any kind in that show but if she was waiting for Will to tell her he loved her to leave her husband, WTF?

Right?!?!!? Like seriously. The thing she didn't want to or was ready to that the leap of faith.

If she didn't know he was in love with her, then she has a major issue reading people because she was the only one.

I think she knew, but she just couldn't reciprocate. But now that he is dead is like he becomes this perfect man.

So he said it and somebody deleted the message... does that really change anything? It's not as if she had been the one giving him an ultimatum and she thought he'd flaked on her.

I really think in the long run it doesn't matter. Is not like A/W didn't happen. I obviously get how it could have mad a difference but at this point does it really matter? I am not sure.

I love Ruth this episode where she talk about this fate, etc.

[Alwayshappy]

Just finished watching the episode. While I still enjoyed the episode, I must admit that it was one of the weakiest episodes of the show. I don't think any citizen of Iowa will be happy after watching this episode...with the way how they portrayed Iowa this episode...horrible.

The prenup storyline was okay, but it didn't save the episode. It seems like the producers realised viewers liked the new characters (Lucca and Jason)...since they are now sidelined aswell. Hope that doesn't continue in the coming weeks.

Best part of the episode? The beginning. That fight was well acted (even though I find it weird that Alicia is THIS upset, considering Will told her how he felt on multiple occasions after that voicemail...so yeah, she knew how he felt and yet choose to stay with Peter anyway - nothing would be different imo), so props for that.

[TJChurch]

Originally Posted by Alwayshappy (View Post) Just finished watching the episode. While I still enjoyed the episode, I must admit that it was one of the weakiest episodes of the show. I don't think any citizen of Iowa will be happy after watching this episode...with the way how they portrayed Iowa this episode...horrible. The prenup storyline was okay, but it didn't save the episode. It seems like the producers realised viewers liked the new characters (Lucca and Jason)...since they are now sidelined aswell. Hope that doesn't continue in the coming weeks. Best part of the episode? The beginning. That fight was well acted (even though I find it weird that Alicia is THIS upset, considering Will told her how he felt on multiple occasions after that voicemail...so yeah, she knew how he felt and yet choose to stay with Peter anyway - nothing would be different imo), so props for that.

I was just telling a relative who doesn't watch that I was shocked about them saying such things about Iowa on a national show... But based on opinions I've read here, maybe they figured they couldn't anger many fans any more than they already have.

As for the beginning, I may have thought that was the weakest part... The best part to me was the fact that there was anything outside the "Iowa" stuff (since that was the only episode title & description stuff on the onscreen guide before the show aired).

Also, answering the question posted in previous posts, does Eli deleting the message change anything? As a male & one who has NEVER been a "shipper" for any show I've watched, it might surprise you to read/hear me saying "Yes", IMO... He's gone now, & none of them necessarily could have hastened or stopped that, & the relationship did happen, but any voicemail I get (that actually is meant for someone in my family) gets a response from me, whether it's a call back or simply some other action. Whatever the reaction on my part, that eventually leads to further occurrences by at least 1 person... Due to the same death, there is nothing Alicia, Will, or Eli can do about that possibility now.

[Gelfling]

2] Also loved return of Chris Sieber, & use in multi-talents & key part at end, after he got wasted all that time alongside the Olsen twins.

I was wondering if we'd see him again and I'm glad they managed to sneak him in. He's such a versatile and hilarious actor. Maybe they can have him on if they do a musical episode finally

even though I find it weird that Alicia is THIS upset, considering Will told her how he felt on multiple occasions after that voicemail

I know, right? It's like she discovered something she didn't know

Also, answering the question posted in previous posts, does Eli deleting the message change anything? As a male & one who has NEVER been a "shipper" for any show I've watched, it might surprise you to read/hear me saying "Yes", IMO

I get that she's angry. Just the invasion of privacy and the sheer feeling of having been manipulated is enough to make anyone angry, let alone a woman who felt for so long that she was not in control of her own life.
What I have trouble believing is that her choice to support Peter would have been different if she had listened to the voicemail then.
And I still don't get why they are bringing it back now after all this time, when nothing can ever come of it

I really think in the long run it doesn't matter. Is not like A/W didn't happen. I obviously get how it could have mad a difference but at this point does it really matter? I am not sure.

Yeah at this point, you wonder if they aren't just trying to anger the shippers to get a few twitter/tumblr mentions or something because that's really the only thing that can happen from that.

I don't think any citizen of Iowa will be happy after watching this episode...with the way how they portrayed Iowa this episode...horrible.

Maybe they were hoping for 3 million angry tweets about it too but there were a lot of cheap shots honestly.

[karma7]

I've just been half-heartedly following the show this season. But since it lumbers on in it's comatose fashion, I tune in now and then to see if it's perked up.

So Eli fessed up about the deleted voice-mail, and we expected some good drama from that. What we got, aside from some totally OTT pointless smashed crockery, was an homily from Margot advising Alicia to let the past go and be happy. Okay, then.

The most asinine thing happened at the end. As the results of the Caucus rolled out.....(By the way, was it necessary to drag in Zach and Grace for no real purpose?).....and the campaign is stunned by Peter's loss, Eli shares a profound insight. They had the wrong candidate; it should have been her. What?! She failed at business, she was turfed from her firm, she lies about the status of her marriage, she lacks the courage to follow her heart, she lost in her run for State's Attorney, she has never held any sort of office. By what stretch of the imagination is she at all qualified to be POTUS. The mind boggles that this increasingly insipid writing is still on the air.

I think I am now sort of interested in its camp value, i.e., to see how bad it can get.

[Gelfling]

an homily from Margot advising Alicia to let the past go and be happy. Okay, then.

I know, right? That was inspiring. Now we know why they brought back that deleted voicemail... not.

Personally I think they caught SVU syndrome and every plot line is driven by one goal: to get JM back in the awards seat again. She's done crying, she's done happy, now let's see if angry gives her a good reel

The most asinine thing happened at the end. As the results of the Caucus rolled out.....(By the way, was it necessary to drag in Zach and Grace for no real purpose?).....and the campaign is stunned by Peter's loss

Heh shocker! A man convicted for using public funds to pay for hookers, possibly taking bribes, who did jail time, cannot seem to be holding an actual office for more than a few months before he's off on the campaign trail looking for a better gig, can't keep his ass in a seat long enough to make real political experience and who has a notoriously (by now it has to be) fake marriage... is no match for HRC

Didn't see that one coming

Eli shares a profound insight. They had the wrong candidate; it should have been her. What?! She failed at business, she was turfed from her firm, she lies about the status of her marriage, she lacks the courage to follow her heart, she lost in her run for State's Attorney, she has never held any sort of office. By what stretch of the imagination is she at all qualified to be POTUS.

I guess the same stretch that had Peter even backed by anyone to run. But again, if you remember everything is there to make Alicia look like a super-hero, a lot that doesn't make sense will get illuminated in a different way.

"Logic? What logic? Who cares? Alicia is awesome, isn't she? Am I right? Am I right? Anyone? Oh ****. Let's try harder then."

[TJChurch]

2 basic responses:

1] I didn't see it as the kids being "dragged in for no purpose"... Especially since either/both of them made the group count (Why? For what? Who knows or cares?) after that other lady (who was dragged their for no purpose, IMO) disappeared. Also, I personally enjoyed seeing both kids instead of just Grace working for the firm Alicia sometimes has & sometimes doesn't at home, especially since he was mentioned so much during her position run, but not actually shown/legally allowed to appear & defend himself (that I recall) with all that abortion stuff during Alicia's run... If you're calling the show "The Good Wife", make it less about the husband's career (jumping from potential VP to potential P), but don't forget both kids.

2] I sincerely doubt they were hoping for that many angry responses... But that many responses might not be such a horrible thing, since it'd mean that # of people still watched. (Maybe hoping negative word-of-mouth would spread across the state, & @ least get that many viewers.)

Oh, & on a side-note, I don't recall the character, but just saw this article...

Carrie Preston Has Some Wise Words About The Good Wife's Future | E! Online

[sunshinedan]

Originally Posted by karma7 (View Post) She failed at business, she was turfed from her firm, she lies about the status of her marriage, she lacks the courage to follow her heart, she lost in her run for State's Attorney, she has never held any sort of office. By what stretch of the imagination is she at all qualified to be POTUS. The mind boggles that this increasingly insipid writing is still on the air.

I think what Eli means is not pushing Alicia being POTUS.Ruth should play the GOOD WIFE card. Use Alica more.That's what made Peter being elected for SA and governor.Even if Eli wants Alicia to be POTUS, this is not happening immediately.

The opening scene is great,intense ,the directing is good. Alica's heart is broken like the pieces of plates.
I like the talk between Ruth and Alicia. "You can't control your fate" which echos back Alicia's "I want to control my fate" in 5.14
Jackie and Howard "I hope we have some time together' " I promise".But for Alicia,she will never have time with Will. Seems a reflection to me.

Kudos to JM's performance, even with sun glasses,we still feel the emotion.