Would The Good Wife go federal?

No argument here, that was definitely an interesting case on this week’s episode of The Good Wife. Picking up on a whole bunch of real world relatable plot points, the story of the digital currency that threw the Treasury Department into a tizzy was a good one.

First of all, I was very impressed with Jason Biggs as Dylan Stack. Of course it’s a little sad that Mr. American Pie has been reduced to guest spots on network procedurals, but be that as it may he did a good job as a lawyer who was trying to avoid going to jail for refusing to reveal the identity of his client, the creator of Bitcoin.

Is this actually something that has happened or is currently going on? I know that digital currencies exist, although I’ve never heard of one that’s mobile beyond the website it’s been created for. Or is that what Facebook is attempting to do? I have no idea; I have no personal experience with those things.

But just a thought to share with Alicia, who mentioned having bought a bitcoin at the end of the episode only to find that it didn’t feel real: presumably real money — in the range of twenty-five dollars — disappeared from her bank account or was charged to her credit card when she bought the bitcoin. How did that not feel real?

Regardless of Alicia’s experience, the idea that bitcoins are designed to be mined is genius. Just like gold, jewels, or oil, the idea behind bitcoins makes the currency seem like an item with inherent value that appears in “nature” and that can be collected on a first come, first serve basis. In a way it’s brilliant, especially if it really can be used all over the Internet.

But the idea that you can use it in a brick and mortar institution like a hotel actually made me see it less like a currency, and more like frequent flier miles, as Lockhart/Gardner argued. Because it’s not tangible, the ability to use it in a “real” establishment makes bitcoin seem more like a voucher or a coupon or something. Weird how that works, but it’s true.

I really enjoyed watching the case evolve within the courtroom and out. I also really enjoyed the return of Gordon Higgs (Bob Balaban). It would be a stretch to have the Treasury department coming back over and over again — which is why maybe Alicia could go work there — but the show would do well to bring Balaban back. He’s great.

Everything else? No thanks. Will’s story is totally uninteresting, and Kalinda’s involvement in it only makes the plot all the more boring. If the State’s Attorney can bring Will down, will Alicia finally leave the firm and go work somewhere else? Because that’s about the only thing that’ll make me want to continue watching that nonsense.

Things on the home front are ridiculous. Is Alicia really jealous that Zach seems to have found love when she either couldn’t or hasn’t? That’s the only reason I can think of to explain why she’d have a problem with Zach and Nisa’s (Rachel Hilson) relationship. Jackie, on the other hand, has a different issue with it. I wonder … would she rather he date a black girl or a Jewish one?

What else … Kalinda trading Will for Alicia? The mere fact that she’s being put in that position is dumb enough. Is it possible that Will being taken down will take down a whole bunch of people in the State’s Attorney’s office, AND Kalinda? Because that would be super.

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Jan 17, 2012 @ 08:00 EST5EDT