The Good Wife - Season 2 [DVD]

(Review based on watching it in the UK as shown on More 4)

Series 2 continues in the same vein as the excellent first series and is probably a touch better. Its quite impressive that they managed to maintain the delicate balance of the drama into the second series especially that, for the most part, the tease of the main three characters, will they won't they, doesn't get boring/annoying.

The basis of the series is that each episode has an excellent legal case to follow but also lots of major and minor sub plots to deal with. The main one being Alicia's(edit) relationship with her husband Peter that has not been fully reconciled after the scandal revealed in the first series. Plus all rivalries that existed from the first series and will Alicia get it on with her old friend and boss Will.

New for this series are: Peter running for office for his old job as district attorney, the excellent court room skirmishes with an opposing lawyer played Michael J Fox, the future of the legal firms partnership, serious rivalry between the firms investigators, Elijah has a crush and we're introduced to Alicia's brother.

I think it is again 23 episodes each 40 minutes long for the series. The various sub plots come to the fore at different points during the series so there's not too much going on at once. The cast is great with plenty of excellent underplayed performance from Alicia, Will, Cary, Cordelier, Granma (always great when she turns up to be very polite but with an agenda) and Elijah.

It may all sound a bit soap opera, and I suppose it is, but rather than over dramatisating everything it is all underplayed and quite subtle which only adds more tension and gives the whole program and air of sophistication.

Not everything is perfect as the political campaign strategy seems to swing in the breeze from week to week, the kids still aren't that interesting or well represented (Alicia loves her kids blah blah blah but doesn't bother to hear them out), the start of the new series is well done but is a bit too convenient maintaining the status quo and the questions on the firms future is a bit boring at first.

However overall this is a great series that I definitely recommend. It has the same basic qualities of Garrow Law, if not quite so hard, and doesn't, for me, get too silly like with Silk. If you haven't seen the first series you could watch this and pick up the plots that runs through it but ideally you should try and catch the first series.

Great show and my wife and I cannot recommend it highly enough, however.....as of the beginning of December Amazon (as indeed HMV also!!) are still issuing sets with the 'Great Firewall' episode missing from Disc 4. I have returned our copy and await news from Amazon and Paramount (who distribute the set in the UK) as to when this fault will be corrected.

Determined her teenage children do not suffer, Alicia Florrick allows errant husband Peter back into the home - semblance of a happy marriage what he needs in his bid to become State Attorney. Meanwhile Alicia continues her resumed career - she an astute lawyer, impressing all with her expertise.

This quality drama succeeds at every level. Crackling scripts are crammed with nuances and surprises, so many threads interweaving through the episodes. An excellent cast does them full justice - especially Julianna Margulies, she one of those able to convey so much with barely a gesture. Guest stars include America Ferrara ("Ugly Betty") and, memorably, Michael J. Fox - his own medical problems put to good use as a wily lawyer hilariously stealing every scene he is in. (No mean feat when everybody else is so good.)

Full concentration is needed. On the political front, in the law firm and in court, there are so many undercurrents and ever-changing alliances. Dirty tricks abound in the jostling for supremacy - the pleasure most great when a main offender comes to grief.

24 episodes. Interesting bonuses include a 50 minute feature on how Ep.13 evolved. (In it we learn how scripts are so well crafted.) Alan Cumming, camping it up shamelessly, contributes entertaining video diaries. (Apparently he was hired for just three episodes in Season 1, but such was his impact, he speedily became a permanent member of the cast.)

Season 1 impressed. Season 2 is even better. Apparently Season 3 is the best yet.

What more could one wish! The show's great success is a tribute to all involved.