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Talk Back: "The Good Wife"

Were you just as surprised as I was by how much you enjoyed CBS' new legal drama The Good Wife?

I'll admit that I didn't have the highest of expectations for The Good Wife, which stars Julianna Margulies, Christine Baranski, Josh Charles, Matt Czuchry, Chris Noth, and Archie Panjabi. Despite its high wattage cast, it's not the type of series that I would ordinarily tune in to. But I have to say: I was sucked in pretty quickly to the action.

Part of the series' appeal has got to be Margulies, who plays wounded politician's wife Alicia Florrick, whose husband (Chris Noth) is imprisoned after a sex scandal raises questions about his abuses of power in office. Alicia has got to be the best role that Margulies has played in years as well as the most charismatic. (It almost erases the bitter sting of short-lived FOX legal drama Canterbury's Law.)

But now that the pilot episode has aired, I'm curious to know what you thought of the first installment of The Good Wife. Did you like Alicia's drive and determination despite the mockery she endures at the hands of her younger co-workers and disapproving female "mentor" (Baranski)? Did you gasp at the sight of so many talented actors in one place? Did you find that the series offered a slightly new take on the tried-and-true courtroom formula by grafting on a ripped-from-the-headlines scandal/relationship story and focusing on a character--a woman returning to work after raising a family--that's not often the subject of drama series?

And, most importantly, will you tune in again next week?

Talk back here.

Next week on The Good Wife ("Stripped"), Alicia represents a stripper who says she was raped at the bachelor party of a prominent businessman.

Comments

glennameredith said…
Yep, I liked it. Legal dramas can get pretty tepid, but the story kept on moving and was likeable inspite of the very predictable, victorious outcome for the heroine. Not a problem. I'll watch it again.
Tamara said…
Oh no! I missed it!
rmiriam12 said…
I really liked it too, and I usually hate procedurals. This one definitely has potential.
Anonymous said…
My husband and I were pleasantly surprised by the show last nite. It home with me (woman in a man's profession with "mentors" (ha!)) and was entertaining.
will watch it again next week
Anonymous said…
Not the best but also not the worst. Has potential and i will tune in just to see how it grows. Cast is good (where i have seen the guy the older one) the younger one i know is from Gilmore Girls.

Love when Alicia told the new DA "you have never make a woman angry"

JP
McD said…
I also got sucked in, and set the DVR to tape all new episodes - something I've only done with HIMYM, Big Bang and Glee. Really liked it!
McD said…
Oh wait - and Lost! I have the DVR set to always record that (and I won't talk to the hubby while watching.)

Sorry - just had to add that :-)
Beckacheck said…
If you missed it and you have Time Warner Cable (and maybe others) you can watch the first episode of "The Good Wife" On Demand (at least in NYC, where I am). That's where I'm going to be watching it.
I hope they put up all the episodes, as they air, because I never watch CBS live. I had thought I would have to wait for the DVD and was very glad to find it On Demand.

So excited about this cast. I have really missed many of them. Carol from ER! Logan from Gilmore Girls! Dan from Sports Night! and others I've liked (all except for Chris Noth - ick. But I'll watch anyway. I suppose if the character is supposed to be slimy, off-putting, vaguely sinister, and too good for his wife - then it's great casting!)
hellloitslate said…
I also didn't plan on watcher&/or liking The Good Wife, I really enjoyed it and continue to keep watching. For a pilot it was really very good; I've never been Margulies' biggest fan but I really like her in this role.
Beckacheck said…
Okay, I checked back here after watching "The Good Wife" On Demand, and it was really good. Great casting from top to bottom. Even the kids, the mother-in-law, the assistant - it looks like they will have many good options and great places to go with the story.
Also, there's a lot of layers there - they trusted the audience to catch a glance or a wince, without spelling everything out and banging us over the head. Impressive for a network show. I will definitely be tuning in next week.

By the way, I'm embarrassed to realize that, in my previous post, I said that Chris Noth appeared "too good for his wife." I meant to say that his wife seems too good for him - I hope that my intention was clear from context.
Not so important, but the error bugs me. :o)

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