That sounds so wrong. Julianna Margulies is gorgeous, and that much is always obvious, but they definitely make her look very severe on the show. They straighten and spray her hair, they put her in those lawyerly outfits, and they rarely give her a good reason to smile. It’s what makes this much-discussed key art so jarring:

Hot diggity, Mrs. Florrick! For comparison, here are some promo images from seasons one and two:

The only recognizable similarity is the font.

Then there’s this fun, sexy promo:

Not only is Alicia leaving her husband, sleeping with her boss, and being an all around BAMF, but she also GOT A HAIRCUT. This is huge. In all seriousness, I am incredibly excited to see this season of The Good Wife. Not just because Alicia’s finally getting some, but because this show thrives on fallout. The entire series is predicated on the fallout of Peter’s scandal. Since that initial reveal, there have been more thrilling developments–the campaign, Kalinda’s betrayal, etc.–but the best part is dealing with the aftermath. With everything related to Will and Alicia, it’s been all build-up for two seasons, and now we’re going to deal with the dirty, messy aftermath.

I doubt it’ll be all rainbows and black lingerie, though, but that’s kind of the fun part, right? The fun part will be watching Alicia and Kalinda try to salvage a friendship–or battle each other. It’ll be watching Eli Gold and Peter and Diane find out about Will and Alicia. It’ll be seeing how Alicia reacts to newcomer Celeste Serrano (Lisa Edelstein) supposedly has a bit of a past with Mr. Gardner.

My money’s on Celeste being someone who’s had sex with Will in a LOT of different positions. (Her last name is the same as a kind of chili pepper–you know she knows how to get busy.) And that will make Alicia feel uncomfortable, because she didn’t know there was more than one way. But she is willing to learn! And she doesn’t want Will to give up on her just because she has to get divorced and catch up on her Cosmos, while Celeste Jalapeno is putting her cleavage in his face and reminding him of all their good naked times.

I love how the writers chose to call Alicia’s attention that indiscretion–in an absolutely gutting moment at her husband’s victory party. And the decision to spend the subsequent three episodes focusing on the reactions of three distinct characters (Alicia, Kalinda, and this week Will) to the same news is just plain brilliant.

But let’s talk about what we talk about best here at Epic Flail: makin’ out.

Yes, as evidenced by the promo for this week’s season finale, Alicia and Will will spend some quality time in an elevator, MAKING OUT AND MAYBE MORE. (Eat your heart out, Booth and Brennan.)

Here’s the extended promo, now with more handsy hands:

I love Will’s line in this promo: “What if we were to suddenly have good timing? Just for … an hour?”

These are two characters who have had bad timing SINCE COLLEGE. Their bad timing hasn’t even been just the usual, “I’m ready, but now you have a girlfriend. Ope, now you’re ready, but I’m married.” Their timing has been so bad, it’s more like, “I called you and left you a desperate voicemail of love, but instead of YOU getting it, your husband’s maniacal campaign manager intercepted it.” THAT is bad timing.

What I love even more, though, is that Will and Alicia obviously act on this “window of good timing,” when in actuality, the timing couldn’t be worse.

Not only does Will still have that crazy girlfriend, but Alicia’s not yet divorced from a man whose initial indiscretion was cheating. Peter’s already alluded to a suspicion that Will and Alicia have already been carrying on, and I have a feeling that’s what nutface Jackie was suggesting when she tried to threaten her daughter-in-law with the reveal of a big secret. Now, you and I know that Alicia and Will have definitely not been having sex, so it would suck HARD for current dalliances to corroborate untrue rumors about the past and ruin our girl’s credibility heading into a mondo divorce trial.

Speaking of which, Alicia hasn’t yet made it clear that she’s committed to a divorce. In last week’s episode, she suggested that this was a separation–and nothing more. Even if her kid-hugging, Peter-bashing, and Jackie-smackdown suggested otherwise, Alicia’s mind isn’t made up. Will a night in Mr. Gardner’s bed convince her to file papers, or will it just make her more confused?

Whether they end up sleeping together or their chemistry only takes them as far as an elevator makeout session, this is clearly going to change the dynamic of the show. It’s what I love most about The Good Wife–its enthusiasm for risk-taking, for telling a story that is so much richer than will they/won’t they. Because good writers know that there’s so much more story to tell once we know that they will … but can they? Should they? How can they? And when the rest of the story is as complicated as Alicia’s is, the possibilities are endless. Imagine how the knowledge of this hookup would affect everyone from super-bitch Grace to manipulative Cary to Diane to Eli to Peter to Tammy to Kalinda.

It’s by no means the beginning of a happily ever after … but at least it means they get to do it.

sorry, you're still carol hathaway and logan huntzberger. maybe next week. // cbs promotional photo

I watched the pilot of The Good Wife because it’s basically the only thing on Tuesdays.  Sure, I could use that time to play with my dog, work on my thesis, or go to bed early, but I find it difficult to sleep without at least a little scripted TV and my nightly dose of Jon Stewart.

As I got toward the end of that first episode, I was ready to give it a solid meh plus a shoulder shrug.  Meh, it’s fine, I thought.  And then, do you know what happened?

Josh Charles winked.  He winked!  And I was hooked.

The Good Wife isn’t particularly innovative or groundbreaking; it’s basically Judging Amy meets Eliot Spitzer.  Alicia Florrick is the disgraced wife of the former state’s attorney, who resigned in the wake of a sex and corruption scandal.  All in all, although that’s the twist that got this pilot made, that’s the topical approach that got this pilot on the air, the political sex scandal backdrop is the least interesting thing this show’s got going for it.  The characters they’re building at the law firm, from hard-to-crack bosslady Diane (Christine Baranski–LOVE HER!) to Alicia’s office equal/rival Logan Cary Agos (Matt Czuchry) to definite future love interest Will Gardner (Charles, and can I just say, this character was beautifully named), are shaping up to be a great ensemble.

Sure, it’s never going to be my must-watch of the week, but it’s definitely my must-watch of Tuesdays.