Thoughts about The Good Wife

[birdienl]

I've loved The Good Wife since I first started watching it for it's great acting and complex and realistic characters. But lately I've been loving it for another reason also: the portrayal of the marriage of Alicia and Peter.

It is (as far as I know) one of the very few examples of modern shows and movies which treat a marriage as something worth fighting for. Most contemporary tv shows see marriage (or relationships in general) as something which can be 'discarded' when it's no longer interesting, or when one of the persons involved falls for someone else. It is refreshing, and for me as a Christian, wholesome, to see a couple on tv fighting to maintain their relationship, even after something devastating as infidelity. Because, yes, it is horrific what Peter did to Alicia, sleeping with other women and even a prostitute. And I can fully understand Alicia to not want to see him or live in the same house as her husband. I can also see the attraction between her and Will. I'm a hopeless romantic, so I'm not immune to the look of devotion on Will's face when he looks at Alicia. 

But I'm also glad that from the beginning we saw Alicia realized that what was between her and Peter: their love, their marriage vows, their years of life together and ofcourse their children, was not something to throw away. I love that they realistically show them fighting for their marriage. Not just within a few episodes, but with babysteps forward (and sometimes a few steps back). Peter changing and working to regain Alicia's respect. Alicia accepting his apologies and again seeing the good in him.

I've read many fans of the show voicing their discontent over Alicia and Peter staying together. Why don't they just divorce? This sentiment was even voiced in-show (episode 4x01 'I fought the law'), by a reporter interviewing Alicia. Here Alicia sharply contradicts the 21st century 'doctrine' that women should just divorce their husband when he commits adultery. 

Reporter: So, I'd like to ask you this Alicia. Why do you stay with your husband? Why not divorce? Other wives who have been betrayed like this divorce.
  Alicia: Because I don't want to.
Reporter: Isn't that setting a bad example to women everywhere? To be such a... doormat?
  Alicia: I like my husband. I respect him. He's flawed, but I've grown to accept that. And I committed to a marriage. I don't like breaking commitments. 
Reporter: Isn't that dragging women back to the '50s? Women have all the obligations and men have all the freedom? 
  Alicia: I don't know, this isn't about women or the '50s. This is about me.

I respect The Good Wife for daring to show a different way out of marriage troubles then divorce in todays culture. I sincerely hope they continue along this path and in time make Alicia and Peter restart their marriage fully. 

Comments

[ever-maedhros.livejournal.com]

My Mom just got hooked on this show herself, and I've seen a few snippets walking past the TV while she's watching. Even from those snippets, I've developed quite a respect and empathy for Alicia.

And that last zinger she delivers in that italicized exchange is amazing. The reporter is trying to pigeon-hole her into doing what's culturally expected and accepted, and she rips it right back into context by saying that it's nobody's responsibility or business but her own. Well said indeed!

Now if there were just more shows with those values for us Christians to gush over. :)

[richyl88.livejournal.com]

I've never really watched the show but it's great to hear that they are actually showing a couple fighting for a marriage instead of getting a divorce at the first sign of trouble.

[birdienl.livejournal.com]

It's such a good show! And I'm normally not into court procedural shows, but the acting and the characters in this one took me over.

I loved that conversation so much! It shows really well how our culture is sometimes wrong about things. That's why I knew I had to write about it!

[rissi jc (from livejournal.com)]

This show has gotten such praise though I've not been tempted to try it. Guess, I've got way too many that I keep up with as it is. LOL! :)

[birdienl.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know how that feels indeed! And maybe some series are just not your thing. For example, I've heard praises about many police procedurials, but I've never felt inclined to start one. I'd say I could probably come to like one very much, but still....