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The Best Episodes of The Good Wife

Every episode of The Good Wife ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Good Wife!

Alicia Florrick boldly assumes full responsibility for her family and re-enters the workforce after her husband's very public sex and political corruption scandal lands him...
Genre:Drama
Network:CBS

Best Episodes Summary

"Hitting the Fan" is the best rated episode of "The Good Wife". It scored 9.6/10 based on 1962 votes. Directed by James Whitmore Jr. and written by Michelle King, Robert King, it aired on 10/27/2013. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Dramatics, Your Honor".

  • Hitting the Fan
    9.6/101,962 votes
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    #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.

    Director: James Whitmore Jr.

    Writer: Michelle King, Robert King

  • Dramatics, Your Honor
    9.4/101,599 votes
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    #2 - Dramatics, Your Honor

    Season 5 Episode 15 - Aired 3/23/2014

    Alicia asks Cary to be her lawyer when Nelson Dubeck (Eric Bogosian) asks her to participate in a deposition; Will faces off with a new prosecutor while defending Jeffrey Grant (Hunter Parrish).

    Director: Brooke Kennedy

    Writer: Michelle King, Robert King

  • The Last Call
    9.2/101,125 votes
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    #3 - 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.

    Director: Jim McKay

    Writer: Michelle King, Robert King

  • Another Ham Sandwich
    8.9/10901 votes
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    #4 - Another Ham Sandwich

    Season 3 Episode 14 - Aired 1/29/2012

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Leonard Dick

  • The Decision Tree
    8.9/10974 votes
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    #5 - 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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Hail Mary
    8.9/10786 votes
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    #6 - 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. Meanwhile, Alicia practices for the State’s Attorney candidates’ debate.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Nine Hours
    8.7/10904 votes
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    #7 - Nine Hours

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 12/14/2010

    When Alicia gets a vague tip from a courthouse clerk in the appeal case of a death row inmate, the law firm races to secure a stay of execution. Meanwhile, Peter Florrick prepares for his first debate with Glenn Childs and Wendy Scott-Carr.

    Director: Julie Hébert

    Writer: Meredith Averill

  • Red Team, Blue Team
    8.7/10800 votes
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    #8 - 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.

    Director: Jim McKay

    Writer: Michelle King, Robert King

  • A Weird Year
    8.7/10731 votes
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    #9 - A Weird Year

    Season 5 Episode 22 - Aired 5/18/2014

    The futures of Florrick/Agos and Lockhart/Gardner are at stake when the firms consider merging, driving a wedge between Alicia and Cary. Meanwhile, Diane makes a big decision when Louis Canning challenges her role at her firm.

    Director: Robert King

    Writer: N/A

  • Oppo Research
    8.7/10759 votes
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    #10 - 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.

    Director: Matt Shakman

    Writer: Robert King

  • Closing Arguments
    8.6/10859 votes
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    #11 - Closing Arguments

    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, while the timing might finally be right for Alicia and Will to pursue their relationship.

    Director: Robert King

    Writer: Michelle King, Robert King

  • What's in the Box?
    8.6/10770 votes
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    #12 - 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.

    Director: Robert King

    Writer: Michelle King, Robert King

  • The Next Day
    8.6/10733 votes
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    #13 - 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.

    Director: Michael Zinberg

    Writer: N/A

  • All Tapped Out
    8.6/10677 votes
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    #14 - All Tapped Out

    Season 5 Episode 18 - Aired 4/20/2014

    Florrick/Agos takes on the case of an NSA whistleblower, only to learn that the agency has been monitoring the firm as well as Alicia’s personal life. Meanwhile, Diane faces the difficult task of working alongside Louis Canning when he joins Lockhart/Gardner. Also, Alicia goes after the State’s Attorney when he attempts to make Finn a scapegoat in the Jeffrey Grant case.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Winning Ugly
    8.6/10693 votes
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    #15 - Winning Ugly

    Season 6 Episode 19 - Aired 4/12/2015

    When potential voter fraud is discovered in the State’s Attorney election, Eli and Alicia take steps to stop a recount by enlisting the help of a well-respected civil rights lawyer, Spencer Randolph. Also, Diane learns she unwittingly submitted false evidence in Cary’s case.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Alienation of Affection
    8.5/10750 votes
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    #16 - Alienation of Affection

    Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 1/8/2012

    Lockhart-Gardner faces trouble when a recently divorced couple claims they influenced their separation for their own personal gain.

    Director: Michael Zinberg

    Writer: N/A

  • The Dream Team
    8.5/10735 votes
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    #17 - The Dream Team

    Season 3 Episode 22 - Aired 4/29/2012

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

    Director: Robert King

    Writer: Corinne Brinkerhoff, Meredith Averill

  • Death of a Client
    8.5/10794 votes
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    #18 - Death of a Client

    Season 4 Episode 18 - Aired 3/24/2013

    When an erratic and litigious client is murdered, Alicia is convinced to waive attorney/client privilege to help the police when she learns that the killer may also be targeting someone close to her. Also, Peter and Mike Kresteva vie for an influential endorsement and Diane receives a stunning offer.

    Director: Robert King

    Writer: Michelle King, Robert King

  • Everything is Ending
    8.5/10849 votes
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    #19 - Everything is Ending

    Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 9/29/2013

    Alicia must focus on the firm’s efforts to prevent the execution of a convicted murderer while she secretly plans her exit from the firm with Cary. Meanwhile, Eli helps Peter assemble his staff in the governor’s office.

    Director: Robert King

    Writer: N/A

  • Outside the Bubble
    8.5/10749 votes
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    #20 - 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.

    Director: Félix Enríquez Alcalá

    Writer: Michelle King, Robert King

  • The Line
    8.5/10824 votes
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    #21 - 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.

    Director: Robert King

    Writer: N/A

  • Trust Issues
    8.5/10715 votes
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    #22 - 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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Doubt
    8.4/10934 votes
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    #23 - Doubt

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 4/6/2010

    Alicia and Will defend a college student accused of killing her sorority sister while under the influence of a sleep aid. At the same time, they also deal with their growing sexual tension and Diane and Kurt McVeigh continue their flirtation.

    Director: Félix Enríquez Alcalá

    Writer: Michelle King, Robert King, Barry M. Schkolnick

  • Great Firewall
    8.4/10756 votes
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    #24 - Great Firewall

    Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 3/1/2011

    The law firm of Lockhart, Gardner and Bond sues a social networking site on behalf of a Chinese dissident, who posted an anonymous blog about democracy in China, and was jailed and tortured by the Chinese government when the site failed to protect his anonymity and turned over his IP address. Meanwhile, Eli gets a tip that he hopes will drive Childs out of the race, and Will and Diane hope to wrestle the firm away from Derrick Bond once and for all.

    Director: Nelson McCormick

    Writer: Michelle King, Robert King, Leonard Dick

  • In Sickness
    8.4/10751 votes
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    #25 - In Sickness

    Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 5/3/2011

    Lockhart/Gardner defends a patient in a liver transplant case against rival attorney Patti Nyholm; however, the case takes a turn when Patti is fired from her law firm and asks Lockhart/Gardner to represent her. Meanwhile, Alicia deals with emotional fallout from Peter's one-night stand with Kalinda.

    Director: Félix Enríquez Alcalá

    Writer: Robert King, Michelle King