I was both excited and concerned coming into the sixth season premiere of The Good Wife. Excited because they were coming off their best season yet and concerned because they were coming off their best season yet. It would be an understatement to say that season 5 was a game changer. We saw who was essentially the male lead of the show killed off, the firm that we’ve been rooting for the entire series become the enemy, and every character change drastically in one way or another. Alicia said it best in the season finale: “it’s been a weird year.” However, all those excitements and concerns were put to rest when a different, but still phenomenal series premiered last night.
In “The Line” we are thrown into a case that has an interesting character at its emotional center. From the beginning of the series, Cary has been the relatively straight character. Not to say he is a boring character, it just seems that the writers never saw an opportunity to use the character in any capacity outside the legal side of the show. However, this episode tests Cary’s resilience outside the courtroom. Turns out life isn’t so pretty on the other side of the law. We’re quickly learning that Cary may not be as strong as we originally thought. There was a degradation of his put together facade when he was faced with an arena that he isn’t used to or fearful of.
The most satisfying part of this episode is that Cary’s arrest, which happens before the opening credits, seems like such a gimmick. The Good Wife is a show that is based in such realism, so when something somewhat outside the norm occurs you know that something is up. It’s the same way I felt with Will’s death. It came off as jumping the shark, but it turned out to be just another step in what is an education of Alicia Florrick. Cary’s arrest came as a test for Alicia to see if she could handle the firm and decisions on her own. It’s also going to further complicate Diane’s transition into Florrick/Agos. With a name partner incarcerated and firm funds being tied up with his bail, it may be difficult to convince clients to come into the firm ($38 million worth, as Diane has said 57 times).
Cary’s arrest has an interesting tie to the rest of the series. Lemond Bishop has been an interesting character in that he makes nearly everyone he interacts with question their morals. The characters on The Good Wife are educated, successful, and wealthy people, who believe what they are doing is being done for the greater good. However, when you mix a man who has a corrupt business but also brings you revenue beyond your imagination, they’re morality is questioned. Are they bad people? Everyone down to Kalinda, whose morality seems so self centered even questions what she’s doing.
A side story line (which brought us a very… adult moment involving panties, or lack thereof) involved Eli’s attempt to get Alicia to run for state’s attorney. Her answer? Not in hell. However, Eli continues and discovers that she can in fact win. Let’s keep an eye out.
This episode is a wonderful reminder that this is a show about adults by adults for adults. The writers don’t attempt to baby their audience. They cut the bullsh!t and give us story. That’s why The Good Wife is such a successful network television series. This episode doesn’t really give us any clues about the rest of the season, usually the Kings are careful to bury those deep within the episodes, but it’s clear that The Good Wife is back at it.
Hey, I'm Karl, founder and film critic at Smash Cut. I started Smash Cut in 2014 to share my love of movies and give a perspective I haven't yet seen represented. I'm also an editor at The New York Times, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and a member of the Online Film Critics Society.
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