At this point, all we have is hope.

In the finale, I'd like to see Cary make some sort of reasoned, ethical decision about his future—say, by getting involved in the Innocence Project (where he supposedly worked after law school). He has all the more motivation to go this route after his own imprisonment. (Never mind that the writers turned him into a…

I wouldn't say it's exactly the gender issue, so much as a focus on style (Diane's pitch about being a firm with "personality"?) over substance. Still, I like to think of Cary as a "load-bearing wall."

It also presents a funny, unexpected way in which Peter has adapted to Alicia's desires (all those years of drinking her wine, poor thing!) in contrast to the more obvious ways she has adapted her life to fit his ambitions. Not that it's an equal comparison (drinking wine versus giving up your career and standing by…

Okay, clever TV writers, this week's title was too apt for its own good: the drone is unmanned; Diane (ridiculously) is trying to "unman" the firm (Alicia physically displaces the pants-free Howard); Peter feels unmanned because Jason has usurped his territory/relationship with Alicia (but I can't believe Peter let…

*Especially* if he had to threaten someone, I think! But while it's always fun to watch Eli throwing his weight around (for his candidate, for his daughter, or just for the hell of it), I think it's more interesting to witness his vulnerable moments. (Why his arc with America Ferrera was so sweet—because he felt…

Ha — you're right! They even wear matching ties. I love how that's the first thing Elspeth comments on — and also my first visual impression of the scene (whoa, are they dressed alike? wait, no, it's just the tie).

This paranoia about a female, Amazonian-style takeover of the firm is bizarre. And why would Cary (at least this robot clone substitute for Cary) consult Lucca? He knows she's Alicia's friend and ally—has he forgotten she's a woman too? 'Cause if there IS a plot afoot, it might give Lucca a leg up—anything being…

Here's to awkward moments of male non-bonding:

I think "dating" is overstating it, but I agree. Plus she went dancing with Cary—and we all know that he needs more friends!

I love Alan Cumming's fluctuating expression (and his acrobatic eyebrows) after he's forgiven: anxious, bewildered, relieved, overwhelmed… Of course we forgive you, Eli!

Yep, the plot with "Thicky Trick" (which yes, was amazing!) was a direct echo of the Sir Mix-a-Lot/Coulton/Glee controversy. Here's a good synopsis of that case—with catchy audio clips!—if anyone's interested: http://www.onthemedia.org/s…

Yes to all this (Alicia's Rochesters; Jane's core of self-awareness/self-respect/integrity)! In contrast, major decisions of Alicia's life are initiated by others: she starts her (first) new firm because Cary is feeling rebellious (I miss that Cary), runs for SA under pressure from Eli, and performs tricks in public…

Agreed. Ruth is the one who freaked out when Alicia touched Jason's arm. Sure, her response is to shut down Alicia's "what if's" (we all have romantic fantasies, but they're just fantasies; real people are messy and flawed and commit mail fraud), but since it's her job to sell Peter & Alicia as a perfect couple (and…

Funniest bit was the King Lear debate between Lucca and David Lee (let's evaluate Howard's lucidity based on a Shakespeare quote!).

Yeah, during the plate-smashing scene I suddenly thought, wait, where's Grace? not at the apartment tonight?

The opening and closing scenes felt the most emotionally real to me: Alicia finally letting herself lose control (temporarily, in private), then having to decide whether to open or close the door to Jason. (We're left wondering: who, if anyone, is she close enough to confide in? Will she always shut the door?) Then,…

I was wondering about that. Isn't it breach of contract or some such?

1. What the rape-fantasist's wife said about successful people leading highly compartmentalized lives? Yes, Alicia, we're all looking at you.

I am uncertain about the emotional stakes in this whole Alicia-Jason build-up. The situation with Will was so compelling (and so fraught) because they already depended on each other as friends and as colleagues, so adding sex/romance to the mix both intensified and complicated those other roles. (Last season, the…