The BEST episodes of The Good Wife

Every episode of The Good Wife ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Good Wife!

The Good Wife is a drama starring Emmy Award winner Julianna Margulies as a wife and mother who must assume full responsibility for her family and re-enter the workforce after her husband's very public sex and political corruption scandal lands him in jail.

Last Updated: 12/2/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
Hitting the Fan
star
8.51
1760 votes

#1 - Hitting the Fan

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/27/2013

A desperate battle to retain clients begins when Cary and Alicia's plan to leave the firm is exposed.

Directors: James Whitmore
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Dramatics, Your Honor
star
8.31
1558 votes

#2 - Dramatics, Your Honor

Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/23/2014

Alicia enlists Cary as her lawyer when Nelson Dubeck approaches her to participate in a deposition regarding his investigation into election rigging. Meanwhile, Will continues the difficult defense of Jeffrey Grant as he faces off against a new prosecutor who proves to be a formidable adversary.

Directors: Brooke Kennedy
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The Decision Tree
star
8.15
1461 votes

#3 - The Decision Tree

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/1/2013

Alicia is shocked to learn that a former client bequeathed her millions, but Lockhart/Gardner quickly contests the will on behalf of the deceased's wife. Meanwhile, Diane asks Kalinda to look into Damian's background. Also, Eli and Marilyn are concerned about Peter being seen with Alicia's more disreputable clients at the Florrick/Agos holiday party.

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What's in the Box?
star
8.13
1500 votes

#4 - What's in the Box?

Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/28/2013

When Zach thinks he has witnessed vote tampering, Will, Alicia and Diane race to a series of emergency court proceedings on the night of the gubernatorial election. An unexpected source offers to help Cary start his own firm.

Directors: Robert King
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Closing Arguments (2)
star
8.11
2114 votes

#5 - Closing Arguments (2)

Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/17/2011

Despite their tense relationship, Alicia and Kalinda rush to prove their client's innocence in a murder trial. The timing may finally be right for Alicia and Will to pursue their relationship.

Directors: Robert King
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A Weird Year
star
8.08
1373 votes

#6 - A Weird Year

Season 5 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/18/2014

An open feed from a camera mistakenly left on after a teleconferenced deposition between the lawyers of Florrick/Agos and Lockhart/Gardner reveals a threat to the firm that Alicia and Cary never saw coming. Meanwhile, the fate of Lockhart/Gardner hangs in the balance as Louis Canning vies for a larger role. Also, Alicia entrusts Zach's high school graduation party to Jackie and Veronica.

Directors: Robert King
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Another Ham Sandwich
star
8.07
1827 votes

#7 - Another Ham Sandwich

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/29/2012

With her investigation complete, Wendy presents her evidence against Will to the grand jury in hopes of sending him to prison for bribery. Eli and Stacie Hall square off once again.

Writer: Leonard Dick
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Je Ne Sais What?
star
8.06
1706 votes

#8 - Je Ne Sais What?

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/13/2013

Will, Diane and Alicia help Elsbeth Tascioni when she is arrested. Eli and Jordan give Peter conflicting pieces of advice.

Directors: Jacqueline Hoyt
Writer: Matt Shakman
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Hail Mary
star
8.05
1067 votes

#9 - Hail Mary

Season 6 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/4/2015

Cary hires a prison consultant to prepare him for incarceration while the team at Florrick/Agos/Lockhart does everything in its power to help him. Alicia practices for the State’s Attorney candidates’ debate.

Directors: Brooke Kennedy
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Everything Is Ending
star
8.01
1507 votes

#10 - Everything Is Ending

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/29/2013

Alicia works to prevent the execution of a convicted murderer as she plans her exit from the firm with Cary. Eli helps Peter put together his staff.

Directors: Robert King
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Red Team/Blue Team
star
7.99
1591 votes

#11 - Red Team/Blue Team

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/17/2013

Office politics come to a head when Will and Diane ask Alicia and Cary to face off against them in a mock trial, only to get more than they bargained for. Eli tries to avoid losing his role in Peter’s campaign to Jordan, as he continues his fight with the Justice Department.

Directors: Jim McKay (II)
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The Line
star
7.97
1292 votes

#12 - The Line

Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/2014

Despite pressure from Eli, Alicia is determined not to run for State's Attorney. Diane considers joining Florrick/Agos. A crisis threatens to tear the firm apart.

Directors: Robert King
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Oppo Research
star
7.95
1258 votes

#13 - Oppo Research

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/12/2014

Eli asks a respected campaign manager to help Alicia explore the option of running for State's Attorney.

Directors: Matt Shakman
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Outside the Bubble
star
7.94
1460 votes

#14 - Outside the Bubble

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/20/2013

Alicia tries to obtain Lockhart & Gardner files as she prepares to exit the firm. Faced with a sexual harassment lawsuit, the firm hires Elsbeth Tascioni.

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I Fought the Law
star
7.94
1545 votes

#15 - I Fought the Law

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/30/2012

A state trooper targets Zach, putting Alicia on the offensive; Kalinda decides to face her problems; Diane and Will explore the firm's financial issues.

Directors: Michael Zinberg
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The Next Week
star
7.90
1388 votes

#16 - The Next Week

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/10/2013

Zach makes a discovery that leads Alicia and Cary to believe that the firm is spying on them. Will helps one of Alicia's former clients. Clarke Hayden offers financial advice to Florrick/Agos.

Writer: Craig Turk
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The Trial
star
7.89
1175 votes

#17 - The Trial

Season 6 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/23/2014

When Cary’s case goes to trial, a plea deal offer has him seriously considering jail time. A joke between mother and daughter lands Alicia in trouble as her campaign for State’s Attorney is in full stride.

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The Next Day
star
7.87
1441 votes

#18 - The Next Day

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/3/2013

Alicia and Cary represent a client who changed firms and Will and Diane delay turning over the case files. Marilyn tries to give advice to Alicia.

Directors: Michael Zinberg
Writer: Leonard Dick
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The Dream Team
star
7.86
1898 votes

#19 - The Dream Team

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/29/2012

Will and Diane scramble when Louis and Patti team up to bankrupt the firm. Alicia faces conflicted feelings regarding her relationship with Peter. Kalinda's past catches up to her.

Directors: Robert King
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A Precious Commodity
star
7.86
1525 votes

#20 - A Precious Commodity

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/13/2013

Alicia receives a stunning offer that causes her to reconsider leaving the firm. The partners must take action when Diane is put at odds with her colleagues.

Directors: Brooke Kennedy
Writer: Keith Eisner
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Trust Issues
star
7.85
1268 votes

#21 - Trust Issues

Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/28/2014

As the firm deals with an internal legal crisis, Alicia tries to hold onto their biggest client. Diane plots her move.

Directors: Jim McKay (II)
Writer: Ted Humphrey
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The Last Call
star
7.83
1401 votes

#22 - The Last Call

Season 5 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/30/2014

Alicia searches for answers as she tries to make sense of Will’s death in the aftermath of the courthouse shooting. Meanwhile, Diane delivers the somber news to the partners at Lockhart/Gardner who must decide how to move forward.

Directors: Jim McKay (II)
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Blue Ribbon Panel
star
7.83
1707 votes

#23 - Blue Ribbon Panel

Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/25/2012

Alicia is assigned to be on a blue-ribbon panel that is investigating a police shooting, but she soon begins to question the actions of the panel chairman.

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KSR
star
7.83
1233 votes

#24 - KSR

Season 7 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/13/2015

A well respected surgeon is accused of plotting to commit a crime; Ruth suggests that Courtney Paige hire Jason for business in another state, hoping to remove him from Alicia's life.

Directors: Jim McKay (II)
Writer: Craig Turk
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Parenting Made Easy
star
7.83
1914 votes

#25 - Parenting Made Easy

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/4/2011

A routine arbitration turns into a battle of wills between Alicia and Louis, but the pair makes an unexpected connection when a personal crisis interrupts the proceedings.

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