Ep 5. Hitting the Fan

As the fifth season of The Good Wife reaches its halfway point, the show delivers one of its most explosive episodes yet with "Hitting the Fan."

The episode begins with the law firm of Lockhart Gardner thrown into chaos when it is revealed that Alicia Florrick, one of the firm's top attorneys, is leaving to start her own practice alongside two other attorneys. The news hits hard, with rivalries ignited and alliances shattered as everyone struggles to come to terms with the upheaval.

As the episode progresses, the tension only intensifies. Alicia faces accusations of acting unethically, and her former colleagues pull out all the stops to undermine her efforts to get her new business off the ground. Meanwhile, the firm she's left behind is thrown into disarray as they scramble to deal with the fallout from her departure.

One of the standout aspects of this episode is the way it handles the fallout from Alicia's departure with a sense of realism. Rather than depicting the aftermath of the split as a tidy affair, with each character quickly adjusting to their new circumstances, the show instead shows the messy, gritty side of corporate divorce. There are no easy answers, and everyone is forced to make tough choices as they navigate the fallout.

Throughout the episode, the tension is palpable, with each scene building to a crescendo. The plot is expertly crafted, with each twist and turn adding to the mounting tension. There's a rawness to the emotion on display that's rarely seen on network television, with each character pushed to their breaking point as they try to come to grips with the new reality.

Throughout it all, the show's talented cast shines. Julianna Margulies delivers a career-best performance as Alicia, showing a range of emotions as she grapples with the consequences of her actions. Chris Noth is similarly impressive as Peter Florrick, Alicia's estranged husband, whose political career is thrown into jeopardy by the scandal. Other notable performances in the episode come from Christine Baranski and Josh Charles, who are both excellent as the warring factions within the law firm.

Overall, "Hitting the Fan" is a masterclass in how to handle a shakeup to a show's long-standing formula. It would be easy for The Good Wife to slip into meandering soap opera territory, but instead, the show opts for a tense, dramatic approach that pays off in spades. With strong writing, exceptional acting, and a willingness to take risks, this episode stands as one of the show's finest hours.