BWW Preview: Fresh Starts and a Full House When THE GOOD WIFE Returns

THE GOOD WIFE and I have been on a break. Sure, many of us spend the Northern summers on hiatus from our favorite TV shows, but for me, this break went a little deeper. Usually, in these warmer, television-tumbleweed months, I'd pick an earlier season of THE GOOD WIFE to linger over, and in the lead up to the fall premiere, I'd find myself re-visiting the prior season's final episodes. For six seasons, I've been that fan. Spending the summer hunting for spoilers, locking in a (private) viewing party for the premiere date, and obsessing over the pre-season teasers when they were finally revealed.

I was that fan.

Until I reached the split screen debacle Season 6 finale, and realised that, to quote my recap back in May, with some odd plot choices, and the loss of both Will and Kalinda, THE GOOD WIFE "has become more like an old friend these days, someone I used to know so well."

So I took a four-month break. No King interviews, no twitter searches, no forums (and I only once tried to see whether they were filming in my New York neighbourhood). In fact it wasn't until I started to prepare for this piece that I paid any attention at all to the upcoming season. And guess what? I am excited for THE GOOD WIFE all over again. I don't want to be on a break anymore!

In fact, I can't wait for the October 4th return of my 'old friend', and here are just a few of the reasons why Season 7 has brought me back around:

It's Alicia Time!

When we first met Alicia Florrick she was on her own. Starting again. This early Alicia was equal parts entitled and unsure, and this contradiction brought a little lightness to the character, despite the revolving door of drama she faced. Julianna Margulies gives great comedy (in my opinion!), and if the sneak peeks of Alicia scrambling in bond court are anything to go by, we're going to have some fun watching our Good Wife build herself back up again.

With Alicia starting her own law firm, we're also going to see the character away from the lens of those who so often defined her. Will and Kalinda are gone. Diane and Cary are presumably her new foes. She's given up on playing THE GOOD WIFE to Peter.

Who is Alicia away from these people? When she's free of them?

This was always her story, and I think this is the year she'll tell it.

New Players

In another universe, Will Gardner is still alive, and he and Alicia regularly make out on rooftops. In this universe however, Josh Charles is gone, and I have accepted this fact - well, as long as there are no more fake-Will moments. Ever. Likewise, I have accepted that Archie Panjabi is off doing other wonderful things (hopefully face to face with her fellow actors).

THE GOOD WIFE has always been filled with great guest stars and recurring players, but at times there has not been enough screen time to make the most of the talent at hand. So with both Charles and Panjabi gone, Season 7 has room for some truly great new players to make their mark. We're getting Margo Martindale as Peter's new campaign manager, Ruth. Jeffrey Dean Morgan as our eye candy Jason, Alicia's new Private Investigator. The awesomely named Cush Jumbo as Alicia's next maybe-friend, Lucca. Peter Gallagher as a debonair Lockhart/Agos/Lee ally. And Vanessa Williams as a love interest for Eli (stay tuned for when we get to define her as more than that. I'm on it!).

The Kings have proven themselves willing to drop a storyline, or head in a new direction if something unexpected occurs, so even as these new characters settle in and find their place, no doubt there will be further casting surprises ahead.

I'll always miss Will and Kalinda. But love the ones you're with, I say.

One Word. Seven.

Rumor is, THE GOOD WIFE was always conceived as a seven-series story. By way of proof, fans note how the Kings introduced the series with one-word episode titles, increasing in number with each season until Season 5, when the title length went back down to three, and so on, until by Season 7, we're back to one-word titles again. We're back, in a way, to the beginning.

A final season brings with it a kind of sincerity, and a seriousness. There are no long games as a series winds down. Or at least that's what I'm hoping, if this really is our final year with THE GOOD WIFE. I'm hoping that we get to see and learn more about Alicia Florrick than ever before, and I'm hoping she gets to where the Kings always wanted her to go.

I'm also hoping that we get some kick-ass political commentary by way of each case of the week. THE GOOD WIFE has always had something to say about how the judicial branch of government works - and in the current climate, we've never needed our 'Saint' Alicia's voice more.

A Chorus Line

This last one's for me - but if you're over 21, feel free to join in! For almost every Broadway show I saw this year (and that's a LOT!), there was at least one performer listed in the Playbill who had made an appearance on THE GOOD WIFE. Sure, we've had some major Broadway stars these past six years (including half of the regular cast!) but chances are, that case of the week also features a member of your favorite show's chorus line.

So even though I've never played a TV drinking game, I've decided to down one shot for every time a Broadway Baby shows up on THE GOOD WIFE. It's a celebration of my two favorite things coming together - well, my three favorite things, perhaps!

It's also a way of keeping the tequila-between-friends tradition alive. An homage to those that have come before, as much as a celebration of all that lovely newness ahead.

Will you be tuning in for the Season 7 premiere? What - or who - are you most looking forward to seeing?

THE GOOD WIFE returns to CBS on Sunday, October 4 at 9PM.

Photo Credit: CBS

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