• CBS
• NEITHER RIGHT NOR SMART: Do NOT make me cut you

In my review of "Hell On Wheels" this week, I mentioned that though the show has introduced a large cast to start the series, which will probably benefit it in the long run, it would possibly be a better idea to focus a bit more on the main protagonist to start (especially since he is definitely the favorite character). "The Good Wife" shows how this approach works a few seasons in, once the main character may no longer be the most interesting person, and the world that has been built around them begins to overshadow them. This happened with "Grey's Anatomy" - can anyone honestly say Meredith Grey is their favorite character? The problem with focusing on one character without developing any others has been the creative downfall of certain Showtime series like "Weeds" or "The United States of Tara," or even "Dexter." But on the other side of that, grand ensemble pieces (such as - yeah I'll say it - "The Wire," and also what "Hell On Wheels" seems to be toying with) can start out leaving the viewers feeling jarred and unable to connect with any one character. "The Good Wife" may have begun by introducing us to Alicia and her point of view during the political scandal of her husband, but as the show has grown it has expanded into so many other areas that Alicia - who to me is the absolute Meredith Grey of the series - has nearly been relegated to a "series regular" rather than the show's star. And I, for one, am ok with that.

You see, "The Good Wife" is quite a bit like that food pyramid problem that Eli dealt with in "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot." Alicia is the bread, anchoring the triangle. But now some of the other players - Cary, Eli, Diane - are getting more space (as the vegetables and fruit, or what have you), taking away some of bread's share. I'm not going to carry this analogy any further, but I think you get the idea. After last week's questionable "Law & Order" ripoff, "The Good Wife" returned to its A-game, giving Eli more time to play with another great guest star (Amy Sedaris) while dealing with a very current issue (the food pyramid and, even more pressing, pizza being declared a vegetable). We also saw the return of military court, one of the weirdest and most fun places the show chooses to vacation from time to time. But even aside from the great moments the court provided, there was a dark and sobering lesson at the end of it. Lockhart Gardner lost (always nice, to keep it realistic) because their client was certainly guilty - she was ultimately responsible for the deaths of twelve civilians, six of whom were children. This is something the show always does well: balancing politics. Though it poked some fun at the almost absurd rigidity of the military court, at the end of the episode it allowed the court to demonstrate genuine compassion for those who were needlessly slaughtered, and the desire to bring to justice those who abused the military's power under the guise of national security. Like most of the show's legal issues, it's a deeply complicated one. But by giving time to both sides, it handled it justly.

While the fierce military judge put a whining Will in his place quickly and easily in her court, Diane did the same thing to him in hers. "Stop it," she said regarding his affair with Alicia. "Even if it wasn't wrong, it's not smart." Peter, though, was very smart. I speculated last week that the special prosecutor might be Glenn Childs (I was hoping for it, actually), but though I was initially disappointed to not see Titus Welliver back on my screen, I was impressed with Peter's decision-making. Hiring Wendy Scott-Carr as the Special Prosecutor was the perfect move, as she easily explains to Cary and Dana. She will appear objective, which I have no doubt she will be, but at the same time is fiercely talented and capable. I'm hoping that we'll see more of Wendy and not just more of Cary and Dana telling people "Wendy said ..." as the show tends to do with its bigger guest stars (that is, hide them). But as juicy as this investigation could prove to be (and it will force a hand between Will and Alicia, especially since next week it looks like Alicia probably missed Grace's calls because she was with Will), its marred slightly by the Cary/Dana/Kalinda triangle. It could be possible that for once Kalinda is getting played, which would be a nice twist in the short term but ... to what ultimate end? Moreover, Kalinda is wasted by just going around attempting to seduce people. She and Eli are fun together, and more of her helping him with cases would be a welcomed respite from her sexual exploits.

Overall, "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" was a fractured episode. There were three almost entirely independent plots, from the COTW to the COTS (Case of the Season - against Will) and over to Eli and his food lobby. But unlike last week, all of them were enjoyable. It was like watching three small vignettes, but I didn't really mind. In the end they all do connect, and I am particularly interested in seeing the bond between Eli and Diane strengthen. As I mentioned earlier, next week in two weeks things will really boil over emotionally as Grace disappears (I'm almost positive her tutor is involved, and I'm also sure she'll be totally fine), and it's a good bet that Alicia and Will are either "found out" or Alicia is pushed to make a decision about her future with Will (current bets - since Will is a betting man - do not forecast sunny skies for the couple). But I've had my fill of that bread. Bring on the veggies!

Musings and Miscellanea:

— So Zach just broke up with that other girlfriend and is now officially dating Eli's daughter? I hate how the show just gets rid of dangling plots and characters without exposition.

— I am sort of surprised Grace called her grandma a bitch, even though Jackie is no saint. Alicia is also definitely feeling the pressure from her kids that they suspect Jackie was looking for something because there was something to find, though.

— Did anyone else think that the teacher they brought in as a witness to start the episode looked like the late Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy?

— I loved everything about the Eli story this week. It may have had nothing to do with the rest of the plot, but it was terribly entertaining.

— Will: "I said, 'you take it, she hates me.'" Military Judge: "You wound me, sir."

— I liked the meta-joke about having the same Judge: "Are there any other judges in the military?" - Will

— I also like Hicks, their helper. "Sex and the City" fans may recognize him as Carrie's Hampton's fling Dr Bradley Meekus from Season Two (yes, I never forget a face!)

— "I could never be a defense attorney. I don't like guilty people" - Wendy Scott-Carr.

— Someone pointed out to me that the show titles are the same length as the season number. Season One had all one-word titles, Season Two had two, etc. The more you know!