Ep 3. Cooked

In the third episode of The Good Wife's seventh season, titled "Cooked," Alicia Florrick (played by Julianna Margulies) continues her campaign for State's Attorney while dealing with the aftermath of a major scandal involving her partner, Cary Agos (played by Matt Czuchry). Alicia's new campaign manager, Johnny Elfman (played by Steven Pasquale), encourages her to reach out to potential donors to increase her campaign funds.

Meanwhile, Cary struggles to adjust to life after being released from prison and is faced with a tough decision about his future with the law firm. He also questions his relationship with Kalinda Sharma (played by Archie Panjabi), who left the show after season six.

As the episode progresses, Alicia becomes embroiled in a case involving a young mother accused of cooking meth in her home. The woman insists she is innocent and was set up by her ex-boyfriend, but Alicia must navigate the legal system to prove her client's innocence. She quickly learns that the case is far more complicated than it initially appears, and a surprise witness throws a wrench into her defense strategy.

Throughout the episode, Alicia must balance her professional life with her personal struggles, including her strained relationship with her husband, Peter (played by Chris Noth), who has his own political aspirations. She is also forced to confront her own biases and assumptions as she defends her client, a low-income woman who has been unfairly targeted by the legal system.

"Cooked" is a tense, fast-paced episode that explores themes of justice, morality, and personal accountability. It showcases the show's signature mix of legal drama and character development, as well as the complex relationships between its core cast of characters. The episode also sets the stage for future plotlines, including Alicia's continued campaign for State's Attorney and the evolving dynamics between the characters in the aftermath of Cary's prison release.