Since its premiere in 2009 The Good Wife has, arguably, continued to be one of the best written shows on television, and this Sunday producers pushed the envelope of lesbian sex on network TV with a frank, vulnerable depiction of girl / girl desire when bisexual investigator extraordinaire Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) used sex to get what she desperately needed from FBI Agent Lana Delaney (Jill Flint).
The ins and outs--as it were—of the Kalinda / Lana storyline border on complicated to nearly impossible to understand for those who don’t regularly pray at the altar of Alicia Florrick and company each Sunday. But even without prior knowledge of the plot, Sunday's steamy scene, in which Kalinda – presumably—finger banged Lana, was the most authentic depiction of lesbian sex on television likely since Bette and Tina’s epic love scene at the end of The L Word pilot – and that was on Showtime.
For background, Kalinda uses sex for pleasure but also often to gain information. Toward the end of season one she engaged in a dalliance with FBI agent Delaney in a storage area that led to more dalliances and to Lana developing a hankering for more Kalinda. But unlike Kalinda’s genuine fondness for fellow investigator Sophia Russo (Kelli Giddish), Kalinda was done with Lana when she got what she needed (in more than one way that is).
Lately, Kalinda’s gotten into a bit of trouble with the IRS, and Lana has happily signed on to Kalinda’s case despite the obvious conflict of interest. While Kalinda could have easily solved her problems by taking Lana to bed several episodes ago, she opted not to stoop to Lana’s manipulative level.
Fast forward to this week’s episode--aptly titled “The Penalty Box"--and Kalinda is in deep trouble as Lockhart Gardner’s biggest, most dangerous mob style client Lemont Bishop has essentially threatened her because the FBI, namely Lana, questioned him over supposed work Kalinda had done for him. And, for once, Kalinda exhibits genuine fear.
Cut to a loud knock at Lana’s door. Kalinda pushes her way in despite Lana’s threats that she has a gun.
“How did you even find me?” Lana asks, and that just illustrates how little she really understands Kalinda. The amazing Ms. Sharma can do anything!
“I’m getting ready for bed,” Lana adds, with the writers’ double entendre intact.
“I can see that,” Kalinda says eyeing Lana with something akin to desire and disgust.
Lana responds by moving closer but saying, “I have to get up early.” Desperate for help, Kalinda decides to go down a road she hasn’t wanted to travel for some time and she places her hand inside Lana’s robe slowing pushing her to the wall.
Putty in Kalinda’s deft hand Lana says, “I chase you for two years and nothing… What? Now you’re into me?”
They kiss and share what Lana must surely think is a tender moment before Kalinda, uncharacteristically vulnerable, gets to the heart of the matter. “You’re gonna get me killed,” she whispers. “You talked to Lemond Bishop, you get me killed.”
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But Lana swears that talking to him was intended to turn merely turn up the heat. “He’s going to kill me Lana,” Kalinda says plaintively. “Stop it.”
And here’s where one has to give credit to the manipulative Lana. Even with Kalinda’s hand between her thighs Lana says she can’t stop the ball from rolling. You’d think she’d at least give it a few more minutes but she says, “I can’t. It’s my job.”
Kalinda pulls away and walks out leaving Lana to ponder the error of not encouraging Kalinda to finish the job at hand.
Later, Lana pays a visit to Alicia, and although Alicia puts forth her best attorney-like argument to get Lana to back off, she won’t be moved. She’s out for revenge on Kalinda.
The upshot of the episode is that Alicia can’t help but feel for her former friend, so when Alicia’s out having a few drinks and Kalinda walks in looking lonely, she turns the bar stool next to her open in Kalinda’s direction, welcoming Kalinda back into her fold. Yeah, the puns are awful. It can’t be helped.
While shows like Grey’s Anatomy, which has lately offered up shots of Callie and Arizona clad in lingerie and in pre-coital make-out sessions and Pretty Little Liars, in which Emily gets more action than the rest of the liars combined, have helped to shatter the lesbians don’t have sex / lesbian bed death myth, congrats to CBS and The Good Wife for such a raw depiction of female desire.
And if that weren’t enough to keep The Good Wife fans engaged, the teaser for next week reveals a badass armed Kalinda.
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