In network television, The Good Wife is truly unique, blending serialized storytelling with standalone plots like none other. The alliances in the background pulled and stretched is unmatched, and the show would be a good fit on cable, although it would probably become less impressive due to existing expectations of cable television. "Silly Season" does not let up the current strand of tension lacing itself throughout each second, and continues to build towards the inevitable resolution of conflicts.
Childs is maneuvering himself as always, but also offers to give Cary a larger role, most likely for Cary's intimate knowledge of Lockhart Gardner and Alicia. We finally see Wendy behind her perfect exterior as she essentially blackmails Alicia into forcing a disparaging flyer to disappear. The end result is that Peter must drop the PAC, and with it, all his money. However, it does improve Peter's image, and Alicia does seem to reciprocate by opening the door in the end. Kalinda's steely exterior is slowly being peeled back, with both Childs and Blake looking into her.
Despite the numerous subplots (and there's several more than the ones mentioned above), "Silly Season" manages to keep forward momentum as an individual episode and as part of a larger arc.
Score: 9.2/10
