The premise of The Good Wife was immediately intriguing to me- a good woman done wrong by her corrupt husband and her battle to maintain her dignity, protect her children and build a new life for them and herself. They had me hook, line and sinker. I've been a fan from day one.
The acting, cast and scripts have been consistently superb. The cliff hangers never fail to take my breath away. (Will!) Even so, today I deleted TGW from my DVR playlist. And though I have been thoroughly entertained with every single episode, I had to do it.
There are many reasons, including the trivial treatment of and the ridiculous and trite references with regard to Christianity. Additionally, the attorneys who blithely represent the worst of the worst; drug dealers, murderers, liars, thieves and worse, don't seem to have any hesitation about making a living (and a good one at that) by defending and protecting those who prey on those weaker and less "connected'.
How different this story might have been had at least one of the great characters had any misgivings about those issues. In the beginning, I had hoped that Alicia would find her way back to happiness and that she would bring some goodness to the ruthless partners in the law practice she joined. I wished that she would be a roll model for her children, she who had for so long been in the shadow of a husband who failed to value the treasure that was their family.
I guess I kept hoping that at some point, good would win out, at least once in a while. It didn't happen. Still I watched faithfully. So, what was the tipping point for me?
Honestly, a big part of it was a conviction that has been tugging at my heart for a while- a sense that I spend far too much of my precious time watching too much television in general. Then, I watched what was my final foray into TGW.
It wasn't one thing. It was an accumulation of things. When Alicia agreed to run for State's Attorney knowing full well that her campaign seed money was "generously" provided by a ruthless drug king pin, I wondered what had happened to her. Alicia's life is no longer admirable or hopeful or wistful. She is a mess, out of touch with her children and with no loving relationships outside of her workplace. She has no support system. She's a rock. She's charming but, with no warmth, regret or hope. She's strong and controlled and beautiful on the outside. But, she's empty on the inside.
Frankly, I realized that I no longer like Alicia. Instead, I pity her. Furthermore, there's not one character on the show I would want to be friends with. While they are fascinating from a distance, they are individually and collectively out for themselves. Loyalty only comes into play when it relates to their professional endeavors. There is no caring. No compassion. No goodness. None. Good isn't winning out over evil.
Alicia has turned into her husband, Peter, and I cannot bear to watch it anymore. I'm saying goodbye to the Good Wife because she isn't anymore.
Grateful for the wake up call. I can do better.
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