The critics are not letting that contentious finale scene between Alicia (Julianna Margulies) and Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) slide easy.

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The much-awaited scene which was to mark some form of closure between the two characters, who had a falling out in the second season and hadn't shared screen space since, has been a disappointment after a recent revelation. Margulies and Panjabi did not shoot the scene together, it was doctored and spliced after each of the actresses filmed it separately with stand-ins to help them work it out.

It has indeed felt like cheating the fans of the show, and the critics are voicing their concerns across the board. Here are some of the responses:

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I felt like an idiot. I felt duped. More importantly, I was disappointed, as a fan of the show and of these two actresses for whom I have huge admiration, whose work I have championed. I have no idea what beef exists between the two - nor do I care. But if ever there were a time for everyone to put aside their differences and make a decision in the best interests of the show - and for the sake of the fans who keep the show on the air - it was then.

"It was one scene. We all work with people we don't like. (Think about the poor souls who had to act opposite a certain CSI: Miami actor for the better part of a decade.) But you grin, bear it and get the job done. That's what needed to happen here." -- Michael Auselio, TVLine

"The Good Wife's stars can't be bothered to film in the same room these days." -- AV Club

"It's a bizarre creative choice, no matter which way you cut it, but that's in keeping with a Good Wife season that's felt as if it's been primarily driven by bizarre creative choices." -- Vox

"But it's frankly sad that after two years, they couldn't even film a brief "pay-off" scene for real. At least it was miles better than last week's comical bar flashback." -- TVGuide

But in all the uproar, Slate's June Smith stepped in as a voice of reason for the show, defending the choice, which has been attributed to a personal feud between the two actresses:

"Superhero movies aren't the only dramas that use green-screen work, and it seems naive to grumble about it. I suspect that many of the complaints are a pretext to establish that the author is aware of the rumored feud between Margulies and Panjabi, but since no one-not even well-connected Ausiello-knows the cause of the hostilities, The Good Wife team deserves praise for keeping a lid on its personnel issues."

The finale, entitled 'Wanna Partner?' aired on CBS on May 10.

Watch the scene:

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The good wife, CBS, Television