Scandals, when involved with politics, are a severe shock when released to the press. The invasion of privacy alone is what creates the thrill and eagerness to find out what is going on and who is involved. With “The Good Wife,” a new drama on CBS, a scandal involving a politician is a huge factor, which starts an ignition to a marvelous pilot that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
“The Good Wife” tells an intriguing story of a demoted politician named Peter Florrick, played by Chris Noth (“Sex and the City,” “The Glass House”), who is involved in huge corruption and a sex scandal; and his wife, Alicia Florrick, played by Julianna Margulies (“ER,” “The Sopranos”), who is forced to go back to her old job as a defense attorney while her husband is in jail, so that she can provide for her son and daughter.
The pilot to this riveting series opens with a press conference involving Peter and Alicia as she stands by his side in obligation, while he explains his situation to the press. With cameras flashing at a constant, there is a flashback of Peter’s sex scandal, revealing a graphic display of his incriminating act. The show fast forwards six months later to Alicia’s first day on the job as a defense attorney, in which she is assigned a case involving a retrial of a woman who is accused of murdering her ex-husband.
The courtroom scenes are well performed, effectively taking the viewer into the case. As a viewer, you will feel the intimidation of Judge Richard Cuesta, played by David Paymer (“The Fix,” “Checking Out”) – his tough as nails attitude and witty personality will keep you anxious to find out what will happen next.
Julianna Margulies makes a fine return to television. Her charisma and lovely smile will light up the screen as the audience will fall in love with her personality from the start. Her character is smart and witty – she shows her talent as an actress and proves that she can still attract attention, as “The Good Wife” has the highest ratings on television. Not to mention, Ridley and Tony Scott, as executive producers, have immensely influenced the show’s success so far.
The writing for this show is impressively smart. Both Michelle and Robert King do a great job on creating a plot that is similar to the modern-day in which we live in today. The scandal involving Peter Florrick is similar to the Elliot Spitzer scandal, especially the opening scene of the show where the press conference took place. That alone gives the audience a story they desire, in which they can experience a part of the embarrassment and shame that each of the politicians go through while explaining their actions to the media.
With that said, “The Good Wife” is a show worth watching for those who enjoy drama, with distinct potential for success. With its riveting start, it seems that each episode will get better and that viewers will be anxious to see what will happen next.
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