Ep 21. A More Perfect Union

After more than a year since their separation, Alicia Florrick and her husband Peter start to consider the possibility of getting back together. Meanwhile, Will Gardner and Diane Lockhart are trying to handle a case that involves a couple suing the state over the inability to get married due to legal restrictions on same-sex marriage. This case lands them in front of Judge Abernathy, who has a personal bias that makes the case personal for all the parties involved.

The episode starts with Alicia receiving a call from Peter in which he asks to have dinner with her to discuss something important. Despite their strained relationship, Alicia agrees to the meeting. When Alicia arrives for dinner, she is surprised to see that Peter has already ordered her signature drink, which he remembered from their time together. Alicia is flustered by his actions but calms down later when they start talking. Peter mentions how the campaign is taking a toll on their children, and he thinks they should get back together for the sake of their family. Alicia is taken aback by this statement but agrees to think about it.

Meanwhile, Diane and Will are representing a gay couple who want to get married, but the state laws don't allow it. Diane argues that it is a violation of their client's constitutional rights. Will believes they're not likely to win as Judge Abernathy, who will be presiding over the case, has a personal bias against same-sex marriage. He warns that Abernathy might try to derail their case by finding technicalities to dismiss it. However, the case of a man who marries a horse, which Abernathy allowed, contradicts his conservative views, and so Will and Diane decide to use this as leverage.

During the case proceeding, Judge Abernathy lives up to Will's predictions and tries to derail the case. Will and Diane seek to use the horse wedding case, but Abernathy tries to block it. They then ask for a mistrial. However, Abernathy denies it because it damages his reputation. This makes Will and Diane more determined to fight the case. Later, they find out that Abernathy had an affair with the opposing counsel in the horse wedding case. Will sends the evidence to the state bar association and threatens to use it against Abernathy unless he rules in their favor.

Back at the Florrick residence, Alicia talks to her daughter, Grace, about Peter's proposal. Grace, who has had enough of the campaign, encourages her mother to put herself first for once and not get back together with Peter. When Alicia goes back to work, she is pleased to find out that her old flame, Will, has also considered dating her. However, they both decide that it's not the right time for a relationship.

As they continue to work on the marriage equality case, Will and Diane eventually get a favorable verdict. However, before they even leave the courthouse, a New York court had already ruled against the same-sex marriage laws. The legal victory for Will and Diane's case is short-lived, but it earned them and their firm national attention for their moral leadership.

The episode ends with Alicia turning down Peter's proposal, leading him to consider leaving the campaign to fix their marriage. Diane and Will's firm, now under the spotlight for their moral leadership, thinks of ways to use the attention to their benefit. Meanwhile, Will and Alicia put their romantic aspirations on hold for the meantime until their lives stabilize.

In "A More Perfect Union," the writers deliver an emotional episode that sees key characters considering major decisions about their lives. The episode is a well-written legal drama that speaks to the times and addresses the marriage equality issue. The acting is top-notch as Julianna Margulies delivers another memorable performance as Alicia, while Christine Baranski and Josh Charles prove to be excellent support.