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 drama series that follows Alicia Florrick as she navigates her personal and professional life after a public scandal involving her husband. The series explores themes of infidelity, politics, and justice through the lens of a lawyer re-entering the workforce.
The show is structured around both season-long political arcs and individual cases that resolve within single episodes. This format allows for continuous character development and plot progression alongside self-contained legal dramas. The narrative often involves back-and-forth legal victories and challenges in court, adding tension to each case.
The series features a cast of characters who frequently shift alliances and professional relationships, particularly between different law firms. This dynamic element affects both the personal and professional lives of the characters, creating ongoing interpersonal drama. The show maintains a cynical yet witty tone, often highlighting the distressing aspects of the legal and political systems.
Why you might be searching for The Good Wife
People search for 'The Good Wife' to find a legal drama centered on a woman rebuilding her life after a political scandal. The show is known for its intricate legal cases and the complex personal journey of its protagonist, Alicia Florrick, as she balances motherhood with a career in law. Key terms like 'politics' and 'defense attorney' often lead viewers to this series.
What reviewers are saying
One viewer initially watched this show on a streaming service and was compelled to subscribe to CBS All Access when the series was no longer available, demonstrating their commitment to finishing all seven seasons.
Read the full reviewA reviewer found that while they enjoyed the series overall, the plotting in later seasons began to feel repetitive, especially regarding shifting professional relationships between characters.
Read the full reviewThe legal drama often followed a pattern where one side would gain an advantage, then the other would introduce new evidence, creating a series of reversals that became predictable to one viewer.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about finding and identifying movies
You can stream *The Good Wife* on Paramount Plus (Premium, Essential, Apple TV Channel, Amazon Channel, Roku Premium Channel). It's also available with ads on The Roku Channel, and you can purchase it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. Additionally, the full series is on Netflix. Since October 2024, Pluto TV also has a free ad-supported channel dedicated to *The Good Wife*, with selected seasons available on demand. The show also re-airs on the Start TV channel.
*The Good Wife* is not based on a single true story, but its creators were inspired by real-life political sex scandals involving figures like Eliot Spitzer and John Edwards. They aimed to explore the experiences of wives who stand by their husbands during such public crises.
There are 7 seasons of *The Good Wife*.
*The Good Wife* was critically acclaimed during its run, with many considering it one of network television's "last great dramas." Critics praised its acting, legal drama, and insights into social media, politics, and law. While some later seasons received mixed reviews, earlier seasons were highly regarded, with Time Magazine naming it one of the Top 10 TV series in 2010 and 2011.