"The Good Wife" Set the Standards High for Prime Time with Their Episode "Poisoned Pill"

When I first heard about CBS's new show "The Good Wife" with Julianna Margulies I was really excited because she played one of my favorite characters on a show I watched for over 12 years, Nurse Hathaway from ER. Unfortunately the show didn't really grab my attention at first - that is, until I saw last night's episode "Poisoned Pill" with guest star Michael J. Fox. I have to admit when I was flipping through the channels, I wasn't even thinking "The Good Wife" but when I saw M.J. on the screen I had to watch, at least for a few. But I was definitely hooked in less than ten minutes.

Julianna plays Alicia Florrick, a wife and mother who returns to work as a defense attorney at a prestigious Chicago law firm after her husband's very public political sex scandal. Diane Lockhart a senior partner at the firm, played by Christine Baranski, mentors Alicia and a long time friend and law school classmate, Will Garder, played by Josh Charles, is also a partner at the firm. Her husband Peter Florrick is played by recurring cast member Chris Noth. A mother to two teenagers, 14-year-old Zach and 13-year-old Grace, Alicia takes charge of her life, leaving behind her identity as "The Good Wife" to raise her children in a happy and stable home.

This week's episode blew my mind as far as how thoroughly the characters were developed, more so in an hour than many other shows do in a season. We got to see Alicia fight hard to stand by her morals and values even though the other side was playing dirty. Michael J. Fox guest starred as Defense Attorney Louis Canning. Although brilliant and disabled, Louis pulled no stops to win his case, including informing the jury at the very beginning what the nature of his disability was and how obviously disruptive it was going to be during the proceedings.

A stint to catch jury sympathy was all it was but it did, at first, throw Alicia and her co-attorney, Will, for a loop. Using their brains and some borrowed tactics from the defense attorney, Alicia was able to pull through for her team. But we do eventually find out that she may have been bested in the end anyway.

To watch this incredible "The Good Wife" episode "Poisoned Pill" with guest star Michael J. Fox check out them out on cbs.com here. I promise you won't regret it!