I had it all worked out: I was going to go on a pretty well thought out rant about the most recent episode of The Good Wife, talking all about how a show that I have loved for the past four+ years has just likely sealed its fate for me and ensured that this season five will be the last I tune in, even though just a couple of weeks ago I was thrilled to hear it had been renewed for season six.
Instead, I had to come home and do a whole bunch of homework that I’d been neglecting, and now I really need to go to bed, since I will have to be up in about six and a half hours. So, here’s the shortened version of that rant: (And, be forewarned, there’s a major spoiler ahead.)
As I mentioned, I’ve been watching The Good Wife for several years, since it premiered, in fact. And I love it. Even though this season has caused me some angst, and though the last couple of episodes I’ve had to view sporadically, and I’ve sort of been annoyed with the direction it was heading. And, truth be told, I’ve sort of been annoyed by Will Gardner, the male lead of the show, and a verifiable cutie pie.
Even this week, I was pre-occupied with something while the show was on—more homework I think. Whatever it was, I was only keeping half an eye on the show. But when the shots rang out in the courtroom, it got my full attention. And when Kalinda and Diane both started desperately trying to get to Will’s courtroom, I got a pit in my stomach. I knew then, or at least had an inkling. And when they showed that lone shoe lying in the floor, then moved to the still, shoeless foot, I declared out loud, “If they kill Will, I’m going to quit watching.” And then, when they showed Will, on the floor, shot, bleeding, barely alive, I knew I was losing a friend. It was a surprise—a shock—but in those few moments leading up to the terrible reality, I already knew.
So, by the time Diane and Kalinda finally found his lifeless body back in a curtained room of the E.R., I was already numb. Much as the characters were.
And now, I am torn between being amazed by the way this huge turn of events was kept secret to provide that oh-so-rare moment of true surprise (since apparently it’s been in the works for close to a year now), and totally peeved that I didn’t have some warning to prepare me.
And, while I understand the idea of people needing to move on to other things, as was apparently Josh Charles’ desire, as a long-time fan, I am also completely saddened that the fundamental make-up of the program has been changed in a split second. Because, while the show is clearly about Alicia Florick, the best stories have always been about Alicia Florick and Will Gardner. And, yeah, even though she’s supposed to be “the good wife” to her wandering and questionable politician husband, I’ll admit that I’ve always assumed Alicia and Will would finally find a way to be together forever. That’s how it was supposed to happen. I had it all worked out, if only somebody would’ve asked me.
So, I will watch the remainder of this season, and I will work through my grief for Will as the characters do, and I will give them a chance to convince me that the shots in that courtroom weren’t really the death knell for this show. Personally, I don’t think they have much of a chance; in the long run, I think they’ve probably lost a viewer (and maybe a bunch of them), but I will see if they can succeed.
And, for the record, just in case they realize the tragic mistake that’s been made, and would like to correct it somewhere down the road, I’ve got that all worked out, too. I’ll be waiting for somebody to ask me this time.
