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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!

Binge this in 4d 15h•Peaking at 8.8/10

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 in jail.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Good Wife Season 5 Episode 5 - Hitting the Fan
    8.8/10(2166 votes)

    #1 - Hitting the Fan

    S5:E5

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

    Director:James Whitmore Jr.
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  2. The Good Wife Season 5 Episode 15 - Dramatics, Your Honor
    8.6/10(1687 votes)

    #2 - Dramatics, Your Honor

    S5:E15

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

    Director:Brooke Kennedy
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  3. The Good Wife Season 5 Episode 16 - The Last Call
    8.6/10(1200 votes)

    #3 - The Last Call

    S5:E16

    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
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  4. The Good Wife Season 6 Episode 11 - Hail Mary
    8.5/10(842 votes)

    #4 - Hail Mary

    S6:E11

    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:Rosemary Rodriguez
    Writer:Erica Shelton Kodish

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  5. The Good Wife Season 4 Episode 14 - Red Team, Blue Team
    8.2/10(847 votes)

    #5 - Red Team, Blue Team

    S4:E14

    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
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  6. The Good Wife Season 4 Episode 22 - What's in the Box?
    8.2/10(813 votes)

    #6 - What's in the Box?

    S4:E22

    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
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Good Wife

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  7. The Good Wife Season 5 Episode 10 - The Decision Tree
    8.2/10(1014 votes)

    #7 - The Decision Tree

    S5:E10

    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:Rosemary Rodriguez
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  8. The Good Wife Season 2 Episode 20 - Foreign Affairs
    7.9/10(809 votes)

    #8 - Foreign Affairs

    S2:E20

    Lockhart/Gardner represents a small drilling contractor in a dispute against a major oil conglomerate which is going well until a South American dictator takes over the case. Meanwhile, the election results are in.

    Director:Frederick E. O. Toye
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Good Wife Season 3 Episode 12 - Alienation of Affection
    7.9/10(788 votes)

    #9 - Alienation of Affection

    S3:E12

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

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writer:Corinne Brinkerhoff

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  10. The Good Wife Season 4 Episode 12 - Je Ne Sais What?
    7.9/10(803 votes)

    #10 - Je Ne Sais What?

    S4:E12

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

    Director:Matt Shakman
    Writer:Jacqueline Hoyt

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  11. The Good Wife Season 4 Episode 18 - Death of a Client
    7.9/10(840 votes)

    #11 - Death of a Client

    S4:E18

    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
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  12. The Good Wife Season 5 Episode 14 - A Few Words
    7.9/10(774 votes)

    #12 - A Few Words

    S5:E14

    When Alicia is asked to be the keynote speaker at the American Bar Association conference in New York City, she looks to her past for inspiration. Meanwhile, the competition with Diane and Will continues as Alicia and Cary battle to align with a powerful New York lawyer. Also, Will turns to an old acquaintance when it becomes clear that Nelson Dubeck's investigation into possible voter fraud isn't going away.

    Director:Rosemary Rodriguez
    Writer:Leonard Dick

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  13. The Good Wife Season 6 Episode 14 - Mind's Eye
    7.9/10(1209 votes)

    #13 - Mind's Eye

    S6:E14

    Alicia prepares for a key interview which could impact the outcome of the race for State’s Attorney. Also, Louis Canning pressures Florrick/Agos/Lockhart to agree on a settlement in his wrongful eviction case against the firm.

    Director:Robert King
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  14. The Good Wife Season 1 Episode 9 - Threesome
    7.8/10(916 votes)

    #14 - Threesome

    S1:E9

    Alicia is asked to represent a partner in the firm on a DUI charge. Her attention is split when she is suddenly forced to face the Other Woman.

    Director:James Whitmore Jr.
    Writer:Ted Humphrey

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  15. The Good Wife Season 2 Episode 15 - Silver Bullet
    7.8/10(759 votes)

    #15 - Silver Bullet

    S2:E15

    Diane represents ballistics expert Kurt McVeigh in a lawsuit; Eli takes an interest in Wendy Scott-Carr's illegal nanny.

    Director:Jim McKay
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Good Wife Season 3 Episode 7 - Executive Order 13224
    7.8/10(744 votes)

    #16 - Executive Order 13224

    S3:E7

    Alicia worries that she will break confidentiality when the Treasury Department forces her to report on her latest client, while Peter reluctantly digs into Will's past transgressions.

    Director:Brooke Kennedy
    Writer:Leonard Dick

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  17. The Good Wife Season 3 Episode 22 - The Dream Team
    7.8/10(777 votes)

    #17 - The Dream Team

    S3:E22

    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
    Writers:Corinne Brinkerhoff, Meredith Averill

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  18. The Good Wife Season 4 Episode 6 - The Art of War
    7.8/10(724 votes)

    #18 - The Art of War

    S4:E6

    When a female military officer accuses a civilian contractor of attempting to rape her in Afghanistan, Alicia tries to prove that he is not protected by a law prohibiting servicemen from suing the military. Meanwhile, a surprising new obstacle appears in Peter's quest for the governorship.

    Directors:Josh Charles, Josh Charles
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King, Ted Humphrey

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  19. The Good Wife Season 5 Episode 6 - The Next Day
    7.8/10(778 votes)

    #19 - The Next Day

    S5:E6

    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:Leonard Dick

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  20. The Good Wife Season 5 Episode 18 - All Tapped Out
    7.8/10(730 votes)

    #20 - All Tapped Out

    S5:E18

    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:Félix Alcalá
    Writers:Julia Wolfe, Matthew Montoya

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  21. The Good Wife Season 5 Episode 22 - A Weird Year
    7.8/10(782 votes)

    #21 - A Weird Year

    S5:E22

    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
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  22. The Good Wife Season 6 Episode 10 - The Trial
    7.8/10(701 votes)

    #22 - The Trial

    S6:E10

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

    Director:Frederick E. O. Toye
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Good Wife Season 2 Episode 23 - Closing Arguments
    7.7/10(904 votes)

    #23 - Closing Arguments

    S2:E23

    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:Unknown

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  24. The Good Wife Season 3 Episode 14 - Another Ham Sandwich
    7.7/10(937 votes)

    #24 - Another Ham Sandwich

    S3:E14

    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:Frederick E. O. Toye
    Writer:Leonard Dick

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  25. The Good Wife Season 3 Episode 15 - Live From Damascus
    7.7/10(715 votes)

    #25 - Live From Damascus

    S3:E15

    Lockhart & Gardner leads a class action suit against a software company that allowed the Syrian government to “disappear” American citizens. Also, Will faces a hard decision in the wake of the Grand Jury proceedings.

    Director:Brooke Kennedy
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Hitting the Fan" is the best rated episode of "The Good Wife". It scored 8.8/10 based on 2166 votes. Directed by James Whitmore Jr. and written by Robert King, Michelle King, it aired on 10/27/2013. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Dramatics, Your Honor".