The Good Wife (2009)
Alicia Florrick boldly assumes full responsibility for her family and re-enters the workforce after her husband's very public sex and political corruption scandal lands him in jail.
Details
First Air Date
9/22/2009
Last Air Date
5/8/2016
Network
CBS
Rating
8/10 (603 votes)
Status
Ended
Production Companies
CBS Productions, King Size Productions, Scott Free Productions
About The Good Wife
The Good Wife is a legal drama that begins with Alicia Florrick returning to her career as a lawyer after her husband's public scandal. The series explores how she navigates her personal life, which includes themes of infidelity and her husband's political career as governor, alongside her professional role as a defense attorney. The show frequently presents cases that are resolved within a single episode while also developing a longer-running political storyline.
The series often features a cynical tone, but some find the narrative witty and tense. It touches on themes of justice and politics, frequently placing characters in distressing situations as they deal with the fallout from the initial scandal and the challenges of the legal profession. Over its seven seasons, the show maintains a focus on the complexities of Alicia's journey as she redefines her identity and career.
Why you might be searching for The Good Wife
People often search for *The Good Wife* by recalling specific elements like a woman whose husband's affair is discovered, her re-entry into law, or themes around a governor and his wife dealing with political and sex scandals. The series' focus on a female prosecutor and courtroom drama also stands out, with some remembering precise scenes such as a character walking into a bistro to discover infidelity or her interaction with a maid.
What reviewers are saying
One viewer found the series compelling enough to subscribe to a new streaming service to continue watching, noting that while later seasons remained enjoyable, the plots sometimes felt repetitive, especially the constantly shifting professional relationships among characters and the predictable legal case formulas involving frequent reversals.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about finding and identifying movies
You can stream *The Good Wife* with a subscription on Paramount+ or Paramount+ Premium. It's also available to buy or rent on platforms like Apple TV Store, Google Play, and Prime Video. You can also watch it through Paramount+ via Prime Video or Roku. In the UK, it is available on multiple streaming services and free options like Channel 5.
While not a direct adaptation of one specific event, the creators of *The Good Wife* were inspired by real-life political sex and corruption scandals, such as those involving President Bill Clinton and Senator John Edwards. They aimed to explore what happens to the wives of prominent politicians after such public misconduct, particularly focusing on how these often lawyer-wives restart their careers.
There are 7 seasons of *The Good Wife*, with a total of 156 episodes.
*The Good Wife* was critically acclaimed during its run, with several critics calling it network television's "last great drama" and praising the cast's performances. It holds high average Tomatometer and Popcornmeter scores on Rotten Tomatoes.