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Chris HarnickNews Editor, HuffPost TV

GET UPDATES FROM Chris Harnick Like 91 One Of 'The Good Wife's' Best Episodes Ever Posted: 03/24/2013 10:45 pm Follow

TV Recaps , CBS , Reality-Free , John Noble , Stockard Channing , The Good Wife , The Good Wife Death Of a Client , The Good Wife Death Of a Client Recap , The Good Wife Recap , The Good Wife Season 4 , TV News
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Note: Do not read on if you have not yet seen Season 4, Episode 19 of CBS' "The Good Wife," titled "Death of a Client."

"The Good Wife" killed John Noble and turned his death into one of the best episodes of the series. Ever.

In "Death of a Client," Alicia's night on the town with Peter at the Shamrock Dinner is ruined by the news of Matthew's ("Fringe" star Noble) murder. The police question Alicia about Matthew, a previously unseen client until now. Their interaction in the episode is 1. Adorable and 2. Told through flashbacks. It's a departure for "The Good Wife," but one that works well in terms of the pacing and tone of the episode. Noble's character was quite eccentric -- would you have him any other way? -- and Alicia described him as very litigious. The police lied to Alicia and said they found her address in the GPS of the murderer's car in an effort to get her to break attorney/client privilege. Sneaky cops. It's that willingness to sue that ended Matthew's life. It wasn't the CIA, a crooked cop or the phone company that did him in, rather it was the owner of a barking dog he previously sued. "Have you ever met a dog lover?" Kalinda asked. It was a court-less episode with no real case, which was quite the treat and a very needed change of pace.

"This is America. You can sue anybody!" John Noble was delightfully entertaining as Matthew. There was just the right amount of him. He wasn't overwhelming by any means. The last scene with him and Alicia was the sweetest.

When Alicia thought her life was possibly in danger, she asked her mother Veronica (the wonderful Stockard Channing) to take her kids to safety. They didn't get very far and ended up in a bar. It was there that Veronica started revealing family secrets, which was great. The kids didn't annoy me for once and whenever viewers are given more insight into Alicia's past, the more I appreciate the character. According to Veronica, Alicia was quite the wild child. Also Zach slept with Becca (!) and uber religious Grace is dating that kid. "The more you know." Can't wait for more Alicia/Veronica interaction. Also, can we get Stockard Channing to stick around more? Please and thank you.

Over in election land, Matthew Perry returned as Mike, the Republican candidate for governor. He was up to his old tricks (lying) and being a big ole schmuck. "Die choking on your own blood, please," Alica said to him. After lying to the cardinal about why Alicia left with the police, Peter punches Mike in the bathroom and makes it look like he fell after drinking too much. The cardinal didn't end up endorsing either candidate, to the delight of Eli.

Meanwhile, in dangling plot thread news:

Cary grabbed Kalinda's hand and, earlier in the episode, she was at a bar with a woman.

Alicia seemed pretty conflicted with letting go of Will, but this could be it. "We're keeping each other from moving on ... It's passed and I'm pretending it's not. I'm being selfish. I mean, even talking about it here, I'm being selfish. I'm back with Peter. Now this has to end," she told him holding back tears.

Amanda Peet is still around, lusting after Will.

And the most important one ... Will Diane become a Supreme Court Justice!? I mean, you drop that possibility in front of me and then you leave it there? How rude, "Good Wife." How rude. Peter approached Diane about being his nominee for the spot ... could she leave Lockhart/Gardner behind? I'm leaning toward no, but I'd love to see her say yes. I'm just not sure how they'd keep her around and in the mix if she did.

"Death of a Client" was a wonderful episode of "The Good Wife." Why can't they all be like this?

Gasp count: 2.

"The Good Wife" airs Sundays, 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

Loading Slideshow"Death of a Client"

"Death of a Client"

"Runnin’ With The Devil"

Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma.

Kalinda (Archie Panjabi, right) reluctantly agrees to train Robyn (Jess Weixler, left) when Will and Diane decide to hire a second investigator at the firm

Kalinda (Archie Panjabi, right) reluctantly agrees to train Robyn (Jess Weixler, left) when Will and Diane decide to hire a second investigator at the firm.

"Runnin' with the Devil"

Jess Weixler as Robyn, who is being reluctantly trained by Kalinda to be a second investigator at the firm.

"Runnin' with the Devil"

Audra McDonald as Liz, Alicia’s law school classmate and current courtroom foe.

"Runnin' with the Devil"

Alicia (Julianna Margulies, right) speaks with her old law school classmate – and current courtroom foe – Liz (Audra McDonald).

"Runnin' with the Devil"

Jailed drug dealer Lemond Bishop requests that Alicia (Julianna Margulies) work with his other lawyer, Charles Lester (Wallace Shawn), but soon begins to suspect his motives.

"Going for the Gold"

"Red Team/Blue Team"

"Boom De Ya Da"

Democratic strategist Frank Landau (Mike Pniewski, right) forces Eli (Alan Cumming, left) to work with a second campaign manager.

"Boom De Ya Da"

Eli (Alan Cumming, right) is forced to work with Jordan Karahalios (T.R. Knight, left) a savvy campaign manager.

"Boom De Ya Da"

Alan Cumming as Eli Gold.

"Boom De Ya Da"

Eli (Alan Cumming, right) is forced to work with Jordan Karahalios (T.R. Knight, left) a savvy campaign manager.

"Boom De Ya Da"

T.R. Knight as Jordan Karahalios.

"Boom De Ya Da"

Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick.

"Boom De Ya Da"

Eli (Alan Cumming, right) is forced to work with Jordan Karahalios (T.R. Knight, left) a savvy campaign manager.

"A Defense of Marriage"

Alicia (Julianna Margulies, left) and Zach (Graham Phillips, right) are in for a long evening when both her and Peter’s mothers are in attendance.

"A Defense of Marriage"

Peter (Chris Noth, right) speaks with his mother’s caretaker, Cristian (Yul Vazquez, left).

"A Defense of Marriage"

Stockard Channing as Veronica, Chris Noth as Peter Florrick.

"A Defense of Marriage"

Jackie (Mary Beth Peil, right) speaks with her caretaker, Cristian (Yul Vazquez, left).

"A Defense of Marriage"

Alicia’s (Julianna Margulies, left) mother, Veronica (Stockard Channing, right) shows up requesting moral – and legal – support.

"A Defense of Marriage"

Jackie (Mary Beth Peil, left), has a tense conversation with Alicia’s mother, Veronica (Stockard Channing, right).

"A Defense of Marriage"

Alicia’s mother, Veronica (Stockard Channing) shows up requesting moral -- and legal -- support.

Here Comes The Judge

Nick’s (Mark Warren. right) latest actions make Kalinda (Archie Panjabi, left) suspicious.

Here Comes The Judge

Nick’s (Mark Warren. right) latest actions make Kalinda (Archie Panjabi, left) suspicious.

Here Comes The Judge

Nick’s (Mark Warren) latest actions make Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) suspicious.

Here Comes The Judge

Alicia (Julianna Margulies, left) and Diane (Christine Baranski, center) help during a hearing to determine if the judge on Will’s (Josh Charles, right) latest case should be removed for bias.

Here Comes The Judge

Laura (Amanda Peet, left) must scramble when Will accuses the judge (Judd Hirsch, right) in their case of being biased.

Here Comes The Judge

Will (Josh Charles, center) runs into Judge Creary (Judd Hirsch, right) and Giada (Karen Olivo, left).

Here Comes The Judge

Laura Hellinger (Amanda Peet. left) questions Will (Josh Charles, right) during a hearing to determine if the judge on Will’s case is biased and should be removed.

Here Comes The Judge

Judge Dunaway (Kurt Fuller) hears arguments on whether another judge should be removed from a trial.

Here Comes The Judge

Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick.

Here Comes The Judge

Alicia (Julianna Margulies, right) and Laura Hellinger (Amanda Peet, left) argue whether or not Judge Creary (Judd Hirsch, center) should be removed from hearing a case.

Here Comes The Judge

Josh Charles as Will Gardner

Here Comes The Judge

Alicia (Julianna Margulies, left) and Diane (Christine Baranski, right) help during a hearing to determine if the judge on Will’s latest case should be removed for bias.

Here Comes The Judge

Amanda Peet as Laura.

Here Comes The Judge

Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart

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Follow Chris Harnick on Twitter:www.twitter.com/chrisharnick

FOLLOW TV Like 15k Get Alerts #ad_bottom_article_text {margin-bottom: 15px} TV Recaps CBS Reality-FreeNote: Do not read on if you have not yet seen Season 4, Episode 19 of CBS' "The Good Wife," titled "Death of a Client.""The Good Wife" killed John Noble and turned his death into one of the best epi...Note: Do not read on if you have not yet seen Season 4, Episode 19 of CBS' "The Good Wife," titled "Death of a Client.""The Good Wife" killed John Noble and turned his death into one of the best epi...