The highly anticipated season two premiere of The Good Wife started on RTÉ Two last week with aplomb. Julianna Margulies and the rest of the crew were back with a vengeance and I decided it was about time I sussed out what all the hype surrounding this legal drama is about.
On seeing Chris Noth (Sex and the City’s Big) in the opening scene, things got interesting. Not only did he steal our hearts as Carrie Bradshaw’s dysfunctional lover in his SATC days but he caught our attention as the complex Mike Logan in Law & Order. Now he’s playing Peter Florrick in The Good Wife, Alicia’s (Julianna Margulies) husband and shamed politician. Can that man do no wrong?
Julianna Margulies herself will always be known for her role as George Clooney’s love interest in ER, for which she rightfully won numerous awards for. However I think she’s really found her calling in The Good Wife. Alicia, the wronged woman character is given a whole new meaning with her strong performance and sassy attitude. Having spent many years at the good wife, Alicia is now ready to take the world by storm as one of the best lawyers in town.
After ten minutes watching this show you are completely hooked, well I was. Last night’s double bill saw two completely different plots thrown into the mix. It’s almost like a mature, grown-up, slightly less inane version of Ally McBeal, except there’s no piano bar downstairs where they all hook up.
The first episode of last night’s double bill surrounded a masseuse, Lara White. After accusing the Nobel Peace Prize winner Joe Kent of sexually assaulting her in his hotel room, the firm Stern, Lockhart & Gardner had to decide whether or not to take the case. It could have been potentially damaging for the company but also potentially rewarding. After a tension filled episode, where each character played their parts beautifully, especially Diana (Christine Baranski), the episode came to a somewhat disappointing end. While the firm managed to locate another woman who had also been subjected to an assault by Kent, Ms. White left the firm with the attitude that the bad guys always win.
The storyline was all set up, what would happen the firm if this went wrong? How would Peter’s career suffer as a result and how would the minor characters handle the pressure? Peculiarly, they copped out of exploring any of these questions, instead preferring to take the easy route back to where they started. I can safely say this didn’t wet my appetite for the next installment.
The second episode was slightly more interesting. Mainly because of the fact that Michael J. Fox was guest starring and the ending wasn’t designed to frustrate viewers.
Playing up to his disability in his appearance, Fox really brought the Ally McBeal sense to the set. After a mother died from using anti-depressant drugs, Fox set about assuring the jury’s eyes were on him and his condition instead of the witnesses.
Unfortunately, while Alicia and her crew thought they had bagged themselves a good settlement, in true dramatic style, Fox came back and let them know that he received over a million dollars in bonuses for haggling them down to 35 million. You win some, you lose some.
It’s definitely a grower and maybe after a few more episodes all the characters will become clear. Is it just me or are there quite a few crime, law and police dramas around at the moment; Law & Order, CSI and Criminal Intent? But with a plethora of Emmy nominations under its belt this year, The Good Wife must be doing something right.
Sarah Carty
