In a sea of medical and criminal procedural shows dominating airwaves, the arrival of CBS’ knockout legal drama (circa 2009) was welcomed by television buffs around the world. With a fantastic cast, spearheaded by ER star Julianna Margulies,
In a sea of medical and criminal procedural shows dominating airwaves, the arrival of CBS’ knockout legal drama (circa 2009) was welcomed by television buffs around the world. With a fantastic cast, spearheaded by ER star Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife, stunned the harshest of critics, found a global audience and even delighted the television industry enough that they rewarded it with several Emmy nominations and a few award wins (over the years).
At a time when network dramas are overshadowed by cable and now streaming services like Netflix, The Good Wife not only survived but sustained itself with thrilling, real-life inspired plotlines that dealt with issues of race, the convergence of technology and state-surveillance, political rhetoric and so much more.
On Sunday night though, the illustrious history of the show earned it a goodbye slot on the occasion of the official broadcast of the Superbowl during which CBS made it official with what’s been described as a “commemorative commercial” - The Good Wife is in its final season. The next few episodes in the pipeline will serve as the show’s last hurrah.
Rumours of the show’s potential end first surfaced when creators Robert and Michelle King announced their departure from the show after finishing the current, ongoing seventh season. CBS, however, hinted at the possibility of the show surviving without them. But then Julianna Margulies hinted at her departure from the show come April.
The decision of letting the show end with its creators attached has been welcomed by critics. David Sims, in a piece for The Atlantic called the show “television’s most audacious delight” and agreed with the decision of ending it as he wrote: “It’s a legal drama wrapped in a political thriller balanced on well-drawn romances, an ensemble piece with one of the best casts on television, centered around a dynamic lead performance from Julianna Margulies. But it’s time for it to end.”
Since the show reached a pinnacle in season five, it’s time for fans to see this story come to its eventual conclusion. But if it’s any consolation, the creators of The Good Wife have another show in the pipeline.
