Episode Report Card Jacob Clifton: A+ | 56 USERS: A YOU GRADE IT Don't Talk Too Loud
By Jacob Clifton | Season 5 | Episode 14 | Aired on 03.16.2014
So on the one hand, take it seriously because it's unflattering to America that we treat people with acute medical conditions such that they gotta dress like bears and call people dirty Jews as their job, but on the other hand, take it not so seriously because the word "Jew" to him is not really about Jewish people, like exist in reality, but more like a codeword for the fairly simple concept of, "I am fucked in the head."
As a member of a particular minority for whom some words do carry a lot of real-world danger behind them, my rule of thumb is this: It's only hate speech if they're punching down. And almost anybody who uses words that way is probably punching up, at somebody that isn't even you, and it takes less than a second to know which thing is happening.
Will: "Elsbeth, thanks for meeting me out here, where there aren't lawyers."
Elsbeth: "I know! Just mean bears calling you weird slurs!"
Will: "I can tell that you're upset by that because your illusions that life has cartoon bears in it has just been shattered, and I'm sympathetic because you are wonderful, but focus on what I am saying, okay?"
Elsbeth: "As soon as I warn all these tourists there is an evil anti-Semitic bear!"
Will: "Okay, listen. I've been subpoenaed by Nelson Dubeck of the Office of Public Integrity, he's pressuring me to get to Peter Florrick."
Elsbeth: "If you testify against Governor Florrick, you risk disbarment because of privilege, but if you don't, you risk contempt. It's that One Percent Doctrine."
Will: "That darn what?"
Elsbeth: "That darn bear! Oh, one percent. If you're even one percent vulnerable, you're vulnerable. Who got you this video? Was it Kalinda? I love Kalinda."
Will: "I know you do, honey. The three of us are like a crazy family."
Elsbeth: "Say no more. I am going to take care of this Dubeck guy. I'm feeling a bit vulnerable because of that mean bear, but you know what? I'm gonna use it."
LG
They're playing soccer in the office, since Mom & Dad are in New York, which makes this whole scene and transition utterly perfect. Of course it's not just Alicia playing Wendy to a horde of Lost Boys, it's every partner at every firm. And of course Kalinda is sitting in the middle of it like a bored fifth-grader complaining silently about how boys are stupid. It's terrific.
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