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The Worst Episodes of The Good Wife

Every episode of The Good Wife ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Good Wife!

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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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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    The Good Wife Season 1 Episode 2 - Stripped
    6.3/10(19 votes)

    #1 - Stripped

    S1:E2

    After the State's Attorney refuses to pursue criminal charges, Alicia becomes second chair on a civil suit involving the rape of a prostitute at a bachelor party who may have been hired and abused by her own husband.

    Director:Charles McDougall
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  2. The Good Wife Season 1 Episode 3 - Home
    6.5/10(17 votes)

    #2 - Home

    S1:E3

    The son of Alicia's former friends is charged with felony murder, and Alicia decides to defend him, despite the fact that they ostracized her ever since the scandal.

    Director:Scott Ellis
    Writer:Dee Johnson

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  3. The Good Wife Season 1 Episode 18 - Doubt
    6.5/10(17 votes)

    #3 - Doubt

    S1:E18

    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 Alcalá
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King, Barry M. Schkolnick

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  4. The Good Wife Season 6 Episode 22 - Wanna Partner?
    6.6/10(14 votes)

    #4 - Wanna Partner?

    S6:E22

    Alicia’s professional future hangs in the balance as she decides what’s next for her career. Meanwhile, when Alicia gets a suspicious call from a client, she discovers that he’s being held in a secret police facility where people are detained without being officially booked.

    Director:Robert King
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  5. The Good Wife Season 6 Episode 18 - Loser Edit
    6.7/10(12 votes)

    #5 - Loser Edit

    S6:E18

    Still reeling from the cyber-hack at her law firm, Alicia is ambushed with questions about her leaked emails during a television interview. Meanwhile, Diane takes on a case that pits her sympathies towards gay marriage against the rights of religious freedom. Also, an investigator starts looking into the evidence Diane used to get Cary out of prison...

    Director:Brooke Kennedy
    Writer:Luke Schelhaas

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  6. The Good Wife Season 6 Episode 9 - Sticky Content
    6.8/10(14 votes)

    #6 - Sticky Content

    S6:E9

    Alicia faces a crisis of conscience when she's encouraged to go negative in her campaign for State's Attorney. Meanwhile, the Feds try to persuade Cary to work with them as they attempt to build a case against Lemond Bishop.

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  7. The Good Wife Season 7 Episode 11 - Iowa
    6.8/10(15 votes)

    #7 - Iowa

    S7:E11

    Tensions run high as the entire Florrick family is crammed into Peter's campaign bus with Eli and Ruth on their way to the Iowa Caucuses. Once there, Peter attempts a high-risk political stunt to gain votes for his presidential bid.

    Director:Matt Shakman
    Writer:Erica Shelton Kodish

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  8. The Good Wife Season 7 Episode 22 - End
    6.8/10(13 votes)

    #8 - End

    S7:E22

    Peter has little time left to make a plea deal before the jury comes back with a verdict. Meanwhile, Alicia must decide whether her future is with Peter or with Jason, and she channels the ghost of Will Gardner to help make a decision.

    Director:Robert King
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  9. The Good Wife Season 2 Episode 7 - Bad Girls
    6.9/10(12 votes)

    #9 - Bad Girls

    S2:E7

    Alicia is on the road to successfully arguing that her teenaged pop star client, Sloan, is innocent of a DUI, until Cary drops a bombshell that could ruin the starlet's career and life. Meanwhile, Peter's campaign hits a snag when the Democratic Committee tells him to drop out of the race.

    Director:Jim McKay
    Writer:Courtney Kemp Agboh

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  10. The Good Wife Season 6 Episode 13 - Dark Money
    6.9/10(14 votes)

    #10 - Dark Money

    S6:E13

    When Colin Sweeney accuses a television producer of basing an unflattering character and show on his life, Diane and Cary must prove that they are capable of handling his case as Alicia focuses on the race for State’s Attorney. Also, Alicia competes against Frank Prady for a major campaign donation.

    Director:Jim McKay
    Writer:Keith Eisner

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  11. The Good Wife Season 7 Episode 10 - KSR
    6.9/10(12 votes)

    #11 - KSR

    S7:E10

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

    Directors:Jim McKay, Matt Shakman
    Writers:Erica Shelton Kodish, Craig Turk

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  12. The Good Wife Season 2 Episode 1 - Taking Control
    7.0/10(14 votes)

    #12 - Taking Control

    S2:E1

    Alicia makes her decision about whether to stay with Peter or pursue a relationship with Will.

    Director:Félix Alcalá
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  13. The Good Wife Season 6 Episode 7 - Message Discipline
    7.0/10(15 votes)

    #13 - Message Discipline

    S6:E7

    While preparing his case against Cary, Finn discovers a potentially devastating piece of evidence which could have ramifications for Alicia and Peter. Meanwhile, Eli becomes wary when a new prospective candidate emerges in the race for State’s Attorney.

    Director:Matt Shakman
    Writer:Craig Turk

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  14. The Good Wife Season 1 Episode 4 - Fixed
    7.1/10(14 votes)

    #14 - Fixed

    S1:E4

    Alicia uncovers evidence that possibly proves that the jury is tampering with her firm's class action law suit that she has against a pharmaceutical company, while the legal team of her husband continues to mount the case for his appeal.

    Director:Daniel Minahan
    Writer:Todd Ellis Kessler

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  15. The Good Wife Season 1 Episode 7 - Unorthodox
    7.1/10(12 votes)

    #15 - Unorthodox

    S1:E7

    Alicia, representing a daughter of one of the partner in the firm, finds herself very attracted to her co-counsel, mostly because of his unorthodox approach of defending their client.

    Director:John Polson
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  16. The Good Wife Season 1 Episode 11 - Infamy
    7.1/10(12 votes)

    #16 - Infamy

    S1:E11

    Alicia learns more about Peter's fall from office when she represents Glenn Child's wife, Carla Browning, in her divorce appeal. Meanwhile, Will and Emily, an opposing counsel, get cozy during a death suit against Duke Roscoe, a caustic TV commentator.

    Director:Nelson McCormick
    Writer:Todd Ellis Kessler

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  17. The Good Wife Season 2 Episode 10 - Breaking Up
    7.1/10(12 votes)

    #17 - Breaking Up

    S2:E10

    Alicia's law firm tries to turn a client's son against his girlfriend when both are accused of murder; Alicia faces a tough decision.

    Director:Félix Alcalá
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Good Wife Season 2 Episode 22 - Getting Off
    7.1/10(15 votes)

    #18 - Getting Off

    S2:E22

    Lockhart/Gardner defends Stephanie Engler, the owner of an adultery Web site, after one of her users is murdered; however, the civil case turns criminal when the murder is pinned on Stephanie. Alicia goes ballistic on Kalinda about her one-night stand with Peter, causing Kalinda to contemplate leaving the firm.

    Director:Roxann Dawson
    Writer:Leonard Dick

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  19. The Good Wife Season 4 Episode 4 - Don't Haze Me, Bro
    7.1/10(13 votes)

    #19 - Don't Haze Me, Bro

    S4:E4

    An opposing lawyer keeps Alicia and Diane on their toes by constantly changing tactics; Eli is successful in protecting Peter's image.

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writer:Keith Eisner

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  20. The Good Wife Season 5 Episode 12 - We, the Juries
    7.1/10(13 votes)

    #20 - We, the Juries

    S5:E12

    Alicia and Will each represent one half of a couple accused of smuggling drugs, but the courtroom becomes mired in confusion and legal technicalities when they insist on separate jury pools. Meanwhile, Cary attempts to woo a Lockhart/Gardner client, Kalinda tries to repair a damaged relationship and Marilyn begins her investigation into possible voter fraud during the gubernatorial election.

    Director:Paris Barclay
    Writer:Keith Eisner

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  21. The Good Wife Season 6 Episode 12 - The Debate
    7.1/10(15 votes)

    #21 - The Debate

    S6:E12

    Alicia and Frank Prady square off in a crucial debate in the race for State’s Attorney as Peter and the city of Chicago prepare for a potential riot.

    Director:Brooke Kennedy
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  22. The Good Wife Season 7 Episode 8 - Restraint
    7.1/10(12 votes)

    #22 - Restraint

    S7:E8

    Diane is personally conflicted when she is forced to argue a heated case between pro-choice and pro-life advocates in order to retain an important client, represented by attorney Ethan Carver (Peter Gallagher). Also, Alicia and Lucca are desperate for new business and attempt to poach business from Louis Canning (Michael J. Fox).

    Director:Matt Shakman
    Writer:Adam R. Perlman

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  23. The Good Wife Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    7.2/10(25 votes)

    #23 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    Alicia returns to work as a defense attorney after her husband's corruption scandal and incarceration. She is assigned her first case - a retrial of a woman accused of murdering her ex-husband. Her firm successfully deadlocked the first jury, and they hope that sticking to that strategy will work again, but Alicia realizes that this trial will be more of a fight than anyone expected.

    Director:Charles McDougall
    Writers:Robert King, Michelle King

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  24. The Good Wife Season 1 Episode 8 - Unprepared
    7.2/10(12 votes)

    #24 - Unprepared

    S1:E8

    While Alicia is preparing in a case defending a scientist accused of arson, she is suddenly asked to testify on Peter's behalf. Damages Peter Riegert guest stars as the judge in Peter's case and CBS' The Early Show star Russ Mitchell guests as himself and interviews Peter.

    Director:Jim McKay
    Writer:Corinne Brinkerhoff

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  25. The Good Wife Season 1 Episode 13 - Bad
    7.2/10(12 votes)

    #25 - Bad

    S1:E13

    Tensions are high as Peter's appeal begins while Alicia has to defend a wealthy client who doesn't seem that innocent, even after he's found not guilty of murdering his wife. Meanwhile, Diane takes precautions when a prisoner she put in jail is to be released from prison.

    Director:Alex Zakrzewski
    Writer:Ted Humphrey

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Stripped" is the worst rated episode of "The Good Wife". It scored 6.3/10 based on 19 votes. Directed by Charles McDougall and written by Robert King, Michelle King, it aired on 9/29/2009. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Home".