Ep 22. Hybristophilia

The Good Wife season 1 episode 22, titled "Hybristophilia," delves into the complicated and morally ambiguous world of sexual attraction to criminals. The episode begins with Alicia Florrick, the titular good wife, being assigned to defend a woman named Celeste Serrano, who is accused of murdering her husband. Celeste's defense has hired a jury consultant, Heather, who reveals to Alicia that she suffers from hybristophilia, a condition in which someone is sexually aroused by criminals or their crimes.

As Alicia prepares her defense for Celeste, she is forced to navigate Heather's constant interference and channel her own complicated feelings towards the case. Despite her initial reluctance to take on Celeste's case, Alicia becomes invested in proving her client's innocence. However, as she delves deeper into the case, she can't ignore the disturbing similarities between Celeste and her husband and finds it increasingly difficult to maintain her objectivity.

Meanwhile, Alicia's husband, Peter Florrick, is facing his own set of issues as he prepares to run for public office again after a scandal forced him to resign as the State's Attorney. Peter is dealing with a hostile media and a campaign consultant who wants to bury the negative aspects of his past. As Peter begins to spiral under the weight of his own insecurities and guilt, his relationship with Alicia becomes strained.

As the case comes to a head, Alicia is faced with a difficult decision that forces her to reckon with her own sense of morality and her complicated feelings towards her client. The episode ultimately explores the ways in which our desires can lead us down morally questionable paths and the way in which our own experiences and flaws can cloud our judgment.

Overall, "Hybristophilia" is a thought-provoking and compelling episode that forces viewers to grapple with difficult questions about the intersection of desire, morality, and justice. The episode is buoyed by strong performances from the cast, including Julianna Margulies as Alicia, who brings nuance and complexity to her often-conflicted character. With its exploration of complex human emotions and social issues, "Hybristophilia" is a standout episode in the first season of The Good Wife.