Legal shows are a dime a dozen in the modern television landscape. From Law & Order and Matlock to streaming dramas like Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer or Hulu's Reasonable Doubt, there is a law-focused show for just about everyone. As a result, it can be hard for shows to stand out or make their mark on the genre. Fortunately, The Good Wife franchise never had that problem.
The Good Wife and its subsequent spinoffs offered a refreshing take on the legal world. They introduced dynamic characters that audiences instantly fell in love with and incorporated storylines that touched on a variety of important topics. The Good Wife franchise also blurred genre lines, offering us a masterclass in courtroom drama, comedy, and political satire.
Here is every Good Wife show ranked from worst to best.
3. Elsbeth
Elsbeth is a comedy-drama that follows Elsbeth Tascioni (Carrie Preston), an eccentric attorney who works with the NYPD to solve cases and take down cold-blooded murderers. The character first appeared on The Good Wife and on The Good Fight.
Elsbeth is quirky and fun. The character was a standout in the first two shows, so it made sense to build a show around her. She brought a unique, playful energy to the "run-of-the-mill" legal procedural format, which felt new and exciting at the beginning of the series.
However, as the show has progressed, Elsbeth's quirkiness has become clownish. Her personality used to be grounded in her logical legal prowess, achieved through years of work experience. But now, going into season 4, Elsbeth has become a sort of caricature. It's unfortunate because it delegitimizes what made her special in the first place and reduces her to a jester-like character.
2. The Good Fight
The Good Fight picked up one year after the events of The Good Wife and followed series regular Dianne Lockhart (Christine Baranski). After a scam wiped out her savings, Dianne and her goddaughter Maia were forced out of Lockhart and Lee. Desperate and determined to rebuild their lives, the duo joined Reddick, Boseman, & Kostlad, a preeminent law firm with a few familiar faces.
The Good Fight took a similar approach to The Good Wife, exploring the ins and outs of the legal system. However, The Good Fight was more of a political satire than a legal procedural. It wasn't bound by network standards like its predecessor, so it was more provocative. For example, it explored the chaos of Trump's first term and the implications of large societal movements like MeToo.
The Good Fight got a little ridiculous towards the end of its run, but it was a solid show in its first few seasons.
1. The Good Wife
The Good Wife followed Alicia Florrick (Juliana Margulies), a former lawyer who underwent a very public sex and corruption scandal involving her husband, Peter. As she worked to rebuild her life, Alicia rediscovered her love for the law and resumed her career as a defense attorney.
The Good Wife combined intriguing courtroom crises with messy personal drama. It was about a woman rediscovering who she is while balancing the pressures of motherhood. The show thrived on its ability to fictionalize the realities of modern life while subverting stereotypes associated with female-led dramas.
Hence, the show's ability to spawn two successful spin-offs.
Elsbeth, The Good Fight, and The Good Wife are all available to stream on Paramount+.
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