The Good Wife

I think the last time I became so completely obsessed with a TV show that I discovered late, was Corner Gas, a Canadian sitcom that I devoured episodes of when it used to run twice a night on WGN. It went on to feature a great Kiefer Sutherland cameo, and--unfortunately--a really underwhelming series finale. Like the old saying goes, "Canadians are lousy finishers." Or it's possible I just made that up. Who knows.

Anyway, a couple of months ago, I discovered The Good Wife. This is probably my favorite show on TV at the moment, and as I said before, I can't believe that CBS mismarketed it the way they did. They may have well just called it Chick Show. Fortunately, people far more open-minded than myself kept the show on the air until I finally came around.

Having now viewed the entire first season via Netflix and the second season to date via BitTorrent, this seems like the rare show that's actually gotten better in its second season after a terrific first one. Like all legal shows, the case of the week plots are still hit-or-miss, but the political stuff is awesome (if we found out tomorrow that Aaron Sorkin was secretly writing all of Alan Cumming's dialogue, I wouldn't be surprised), and the power struggle for control of the firm is great, although maybe a little rushed.

A few thoughts on the show:

-- What kind of law firm brings on just two new associates and then makes them compete for one opening? Okay, fine, I'll suspend disbelief on that count because...well, I guess I have to. But considering that both Cary and Alicia figured prominently in pretty much every major case the firm handled--not to mention, won--in the first season, it strains credulity that Will and Diane still got rid of one of them for budgetary reasons. Especially since the firm also fired at least ten associates and one named partner over the course of the season.

-- Having said that, Cary works so much better as an ADA than an attorney at the firm, I'm fine with it. I hope nothing comes of Diane's job offer in the last episode, because that would be a huge step back. Matt Czuchry might be the best actor on the show, and considering the cast, that's saying something.

-- Josh Charles was in Sports Night, so he can pretty much do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. And he's great on the show. But it's a bit laughable that someone his age is the managing partner of a law firm full of people older than himself. It's also laughable that someone who seems to have slept with every hot woman in Chicago would find himself drawn to a married woman with two teenage kids and a ton of emotional baggage, but whatever.

-- More women should dress like Kalinda. I'm pretty sure I don't have a boots fetish, but it is a really awesome look. (Okay, maybe I do have a fetish. But as long as I don't get the urge to actually try them on myself, I'm not going to sweat it.) Who knew the annoying, vapid sister in Bend It Like Beckham could pull off a role like this?

-- A lot's been made of the chemistry between Archie Panjabi and Scott Porter. Honestly, I don't see it. Their characters work so much better as rivals, if not outright enemies, that it would be a shame if the show went down the predictable romance route. Besides, this would presumably get in the way of more scenes where Kalinda makes out with hot female FBI agents.

-- If there is a weak part on this show, it's Alicia's kids. Like real teenagers, they'll occasionally be funny and entertaining, but for the most part, you find yourself wishing they'd go away.

-- With so many characters, it's hard to give every member of the main cast attention on a consistent basis, never mind, the recurring actors. But it'd nice if they gave Michael Boatman more to do. And speaking of recurring actors, I wish other shows would stop stealing The Good Wife's, as we've apparently lost Martha Plimpton and Mamie Gummer. Look, I know it'll be tough, but no one hire Gary Cole, huh?