A year after the series finale ofThe Good Wife, an enormous financial scam destroys the reputation of young lawyer Maia Rindell and wipes out the savings of her mentor,Diane Lockhart. The two are forced out of Lockhart, Deckler, Gussman, Lee, Lyman, Gilbert-Lurie, Kagan, Tannebaum, & Associates and join Diane's former employee Lucca Quinn at Reddick, Boseman, & Kolstad, a prestigious African American–owned firm making waves by taking on Illinois police brutality cases. In season two, Diane becomes a named partner at the firm, which takes the name Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart.
The show initially deals primarily with the storylines of its three female leads – Diane, Lucca, and Maia – and contains considerable political andsocial commentary, exploring topical issues such as thealt-right, theMeToo movement,online harassment, andfake news. As well as starting again in a new firm with its ownoffice politics to deal with, longtimeDemocrat Diane must navigate a world she hardly recognizes, becoming increasingly troubled byTrump-era politics and the actions ofhis administration.
Lucca Quinn, a former employee of Diane's, has found firm footing at Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart and is a rising star on thepartner track, balancing her dedication to her work and a romantic entanglement withUS Attorney Colin Morello, a frequent opposing counsel. Meanwhile, Maia, Diane's goddaughter, is trying to get her legal career off to a good start, while coming under pressure from theFBI over alleged involvement with her father'sPonzi scheme. The firm is also joined by Marissa Gold, a recurring character onThe Good Wife, an intelligent and self-assured young woman withDemocratic Party connections who becomes their newestprivate investigator.
LikeThe Good Wife, the show makes use of an extensive cast of supporting characters, including a recurring stable of opposing counsel, clients, police officers, FBI agents, judges, and politicians. Many are played by well-known guest stars.
Christine Baranski asDiane Lockhart,[b] who loses her savings after an enormous financial scam and joins Reddick, Boseman & Kolstad, one of Chicago's pre-eminent law firms.[4] In season two, Diane becomes a name partner in the renamed Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart. The firm later becomes Reddick Lockhart.
Rose Leslie as Maia Rindell (seasons 1–3),[5] Diane's goddaughter, who joins Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart as an associate just after passing thebar exam[6]
Erica Tazel as Barbara Kolstad (season 1; guest season 2), a name partner at Reddick, Boseman & Kolstad who leaves the firm at the beginning of the second season[7]
Cush Jumbo as Lucca Quinn[b] (seasons 1–4; guest season 5),[8] an associate who works with Diane and Maia at Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart. She was made the head of divorce law at RBL in season 3.[9]
Delroy Lindo as Adrian Boseman (seasons 1–4; guest season 5),[8] an attorney who offers Diane a job at his law firm following her financial troubles,[10] and a name partner at Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart
Sarah Steele as Marissa Gold,[b] Diane Lockhart's assistant and later an investigator at RBL[11]
Justin Bartha as Colin Morrello (seasons 1–2), a successful lawyer in the US Attorney's office who later becomes the father of Lucca's son and a United States congressman for Illinois' 1st district[12]
Nyambi Nyambi as Jay DiPersia (seasons 2–6; recurring season 1), the effective lead investigator for Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart. His storylines include his immigration status, and later suffering fromlong covid and hallucinations.[13]
Michael Boatman as Julius Cain[b] (seasons 2–6; recurring season 1), a managing partner for Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart, and Diane's former partner at Lockhart/Gardner. He later becomes a federal judge. After beingpardoned following a wrongful conviction for bribery, he returns to the firm asof counsel.
Audra McDonald as Liz Reddick[b] (seasons 2–6), a former United States Attorney and the ex-wife of name partner Adrian Boseman, who comes to the firm as name partner following her father's death[14]
Michael Sheen as Roland Blum (season 3), a new attorney working with Maia on a murder trial. The character purports to be a protégé ofRoy Cohn[15] and is inspired by Cohn and his acolyte,Roger Stone. Sheen describes him as "devilish," saying "he wants to eat and disrupt and fuck, and poke people."[16]
Zach Grenier as David Lee[b] (seasons 4–5; guest seasons 1 & 6), the sardonic former head of family law at Diane's previous firm, Lockhart Gardner. He is now a partner at STR Laurie, an international firm that has bought Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart.[17]
Zachary Booth as Jerry Warshofsky (seasons 1–2), a funder, along with Tom Duncan, for Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart, who uses computer algorithms to determine which cases the firm should pursue
Corey Cott as Tom C. Duncan (seasons 1–2), a funder, along with Jerry Warshofsky, for Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart, who uses computer algorithms to determine which cases the firm should pursue
Paul Guilfoyle as Henry Rindell (seasons 1–2), Maia's father, who is a wildly successful financial advisor, phenomenally wealthy and universally loved. He, Lenore, and Maia are the unofficial First Family of Chicago.[21] He is arrested for running a giantPonzi scheme with Diane as one of his victims.
Chalia La Tour as Yesha Mancini (season 1), an attorney who represented Maia in her legal issues stemming from her father's arrest.
Jane Lynch as Madeline Starkey (seasons 1–2 & 5), a relentless FBI agent with a quirky personal style who believes Maia to be complicit in her father's scheming
Andrea Martin as Francesca Lovatelli (seasons 1–3), Colin Morello's mother and a controlling influence in his bid to join Congress
Tom McGowan as Jax Rindell (season 1), Maia's uncle
Matthew Perry as Mike Kresteva[b] (season 1), a lawyer who, after losing the 2012 Illinois gubernatorial election to Peter Florrick, now works for the US Department of Justice, in charge of an investigation encompassing Diane Lockhart and senior staff at Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart[22]
Bernadette Peters as Lenore Rindell (seasons 1–2), Maia's mother who comes from a tough working-class background and is a natively brilliant financial whiz. She, Henry, and Maia are the unofficial First Family of Chicago.[21]
Tim Matheson as Tully (season 2), a left-wing protester who has a sexual relationship with Diane
Rob McClure as Trig Mullaney (seasons 2 & 5), an unintelligent recently Trump-appointed judge with very little understanding of the law
Mike Pniewski as Frank Landau[b] (seasons 2–4 & 6), a Democratic boss in the Chicago area
Keesha Sharp as Naomi Nivola (seasons 2–3), a news anchor investigating#MeToo allegations who has a history with Adrian. She dates Jay in the third season.
Tamberla Perry as Charlotte Hazlewood (seasons 3–5), a judge who serves as adjudicator of the Lawrences' divorce trial and who enters into a relationship with Adrian
Kate Shindle as Rachelle Max (season 3), a member of Diane's resistance group
Hugh Dancy as Caleb Garlin (seasons 4–5), a junior lawyer at STR Laurie with a photographic memory, sent down to RB&L as the multinational firm's "eyes and ears"
Chasten Harmon as Bianca Skye (seasons 4–5), a wealthy client of Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart who befriends Lucca
Wayne Brady as Del Cooper (seasons 5–6), a television producer who runs Judge Wackner's show[25]
Wanda Sykes as Allegra Durado (season 5), a lawyer recruited to RB&L by Liz and Diane[26]
Tony Plana as Oscar Rivi (seasons 5–6), a drug lord and client of RB&L
Alok Tewari and Anthony Cochrane (seasons 5–6), as Osman and Winston, two STR Laurie executives who handle the firm
Ben Shenkman as Ben-Baruch (season 6), a criminal associated with Charles Lester whom Carmen Moyo represents.
Phylicia Rashad as Renetta Clark (season 6), the leader of a covert organization[27]
Daniel Breaker as Randy Elkin (season 6), an associate of Renetta
Jerry Adler as Howard Lyman[b] (seasons 1–2),[28] a geriatric partner at Diane Lockhart's former firm, and now judge, who shows chauvinistic and stereotyping tendencies[29]
Jason Biggs as Dylan Stack[b] (season 1), a wealthy tech entrepreneur involved in the creation ofBitcoin, wanted by US officials
Louis Gossett Jr. as Carl Reddick (season 1), a name partner at Reddick, Boseman who has semi-retired. He dies before season two. In season three, it is revealed that he raped his secretary, the firm transcriptionist and many others.
Jayne Houdyshell as Renee Rampling (seasons 1–2), a friend of Diane's at a rival firm who cuts ties with Diane after the Rindell scandal
Christine Lahti as Andrea Stevens[b] (seasons 1–2), a high-powered lawyer from Los Angeles who often appears opposite Reddick, Boseman in cases involving film and television
Greta Lee as Amber Wood-Lutz (seasons 1–2), a young lawyer at a rival firm whose beaming smile obscures her sneaky tactics in court
Kelli O'Hara as Deirdre Kresteva (season 1), the wife of Mike Kresteva
Denis O'Hare as Charles Abernathy[b] (seasons 1–2 & 5), a judge whose strong liberal and socialist leanings lead him to overcompensate in favor of conservative litigants
F. Murray Abraham as Burl Preston[b] (season 2), a condescending LA lawyer who mainly represents film studios and the rich and famous
Obba Babatundé as Danny Quinn (season 2), Lucca's father
Christian Borle as Carter Schmidt[b] (season 2), a challenging rival attorney
Mike Colter as Lemond Bishop[b] (seasons 2–3), Chicago's topdrug lord and a kingpin of crime, who retains Diane as his lawyer after he is released from prison
Kurt Fuller as Peter Dunaway[b] (seasons 2–3), a stern but fair judge who had little time for Diane's partners at her old firm
Mamie Gummer as Nancy Crozier[b] (seasons 2 & 5), a tough rival trial attorney who charms judges with her sweet-as-pie trial routine
Megan Hilty as Holly Westfall[b] (season 2), a ballistics expert and Kurt's former protégée with whom he had an affair while married to Diane
Nikki M. James as Monica Timmons[b] (seasons 2 & 4), a young African American lawyer who sued Diane's old firm for racial bias in hiring
Judith Light as Deidre Quinn (season 2), Lucca's mother
Richard Masur as Geoffrey Solomon[b] (season 2), a relaxed arbiter
Bebe Neuwirth as Claudia Friend[b] (seasons 2 & 5), a no-nonsense judge with a pragmatic approach
Rob Reiner as Josh Brickner (seasons 2 & 4), a judge
Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut as Rachelle Dabrezil (season 2), former Miss Haiti and friend of Dominika Sokolov.
Wallace Shawn as Charles Lester[b] (seasons 2 & 5–6), initially Lemond Bishop's terrifying personal lawyer andfixer who is known for making witnesses disappear, later working for Oscar Rivi and Ben-Baruch
Matt Walsh as Oliver Walenstadt (season 2), a judge
In February 2016, Michelle and Robert King, when asked about a spin-off fromThe Good Wife, stated that there was a possibility for a spin-off series.[32] In May 2016,CBS was in final negotiations to set up a spin-off featuringChristine Baranski reprising her role as Diane Lockhart, but which would air on CBS All Access instead of the network.[4] The spin-off was officially ordered to series on May 18, withCush Jumbo returning as well.[9] In September 2016, it was confirmed that the 10 episode spin-off would premiere in February 2017, with the story picking up a year after the final episode of the original series and seeing Diane pushed out of her firm after a financial scam involving her protégé wipes out her savings, resulting in her move to Lucca Quinn's firm.[33] The series was initially planned to air in May 2017 but was moved to February 2017 after production delays forced CBS to postpone the premiere of another new series,Star Trek: Discovery, that had been intended to launch the CBS All Access streaming service.[34] After months of speculation, CBS revealed the title for the spin-off series,The Good Fight, on October 31, 2016.[35] It was announced that the series would premiere on February 19, 2017.[1] CBS released the first trailer for the spin-off on December 18, 2016, featuring footage from the premiere and later episodes.[36]
On March 15, 2017, CBS All Access renewed the show for a second season with an increased episode count of 13,[37][38] which premiered on March 4, 2018.[39] On May 2, 2018, the series was renewed for a third season.[40] In January 2019, it was announced that season 3 is set to premiere on the streaming platform on March 14, 2019.[41]
On April 23, 2019, the series was renewed for a fourth season which premiered on April 9, 2020.[42] Only 7 of the scheduled 10 episodes were fully completed before production came to a halt due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[43] On May 14, 2020, CBS All Access renewed the series for a fifth season.[44] In May 2021, it was announced that the fifth season was scheduled to premiere on June 24, 2021, onParamount+.[45] On July 20, 2021, Paramount+ renewed the series for a sixth and final season which premiered on September 8, 2022.[2][3]
Beginning with the season 2 finale, and more prominently in season 3, episodes have increasingly featured animated music video segments written byJonathan Coulton and produced by Head Gear Animation inToronto, Canada, that discuss subjects relevant to an episode. Coulton had been involved in the Kings' previous seriesBrainDead, which featured musical recaps performed by the singer. The segments have drawn comparisons to the seriesSchoolhouse Rock!, albeit discussing topics such as theimpeachment process,non-disclosure agreements, andRussian trolls. Coulton remarked he shared the Kings' "sensibility of really liking to mess with the form itself and poke through thefourth wall a little bit", and has received a relative amount of creative freedom in regards to the content of these interludes.[46][47] However, CBS requested the removal of a segment from a season 3 episode that discussedcensorship in China. The network agreed to allow the inclusion of a placard informing viewers of the removed content.[48][46]
In May 2016, CBS was in final negotiations with Christine Baranski to reprise her role as Diane Lockhart and Cush Jumbo to reprise her role as well.[4] After the series was picked up, it was announced that Jumbo would reprise her role as Lucca Quinn.[9]Deadline announced on September 17, 2016, thatSarah Steele had been added to the cast, returning as Marissa Gold and appearing as Diane Lockhart's secretary-turned-investigator.[11] On October 12, 2016, it was announced that formerGame of Thrones starRose Leslie had been cast to play a lead in the show, the role of Diane's goddaughter Maia who joins Diane's firm just after passing the bar.[6]
The day after,The Hollywood Reporter announced thatDelroy Lindo had been cast as "Robert" Boseman, an attorney who starts poaching Diane's associates and clients.[10] The first name of Lindo's character was changed to "Adrian".Deadline reported on October 27, 2016, that the show had addedPaul Guilfoyle andBernadette Peters for recurring roles as Maia's parents. Guilfoyle would play Maia's father Henry, a wildly successful financial advisor who is phenomenally wealthy and universally loved. Peters' character Lenore was described as a woman who came from a tough working-class background and is a natively brilliant financial whiz.[21] It was announced on October 31, 2016, thatJustified alumErica Tazel had joined the cast as a series regular.[49]
On November 7, 2016, it was announced thatGary Cole would be reprising his role as Diane's husband Kurt McVeigh.[20] It was confirmed on November 11, 2016, thatZach Grenier,Jerry Adler, andCarrie Preston would be returning as guest stars, reprising their roles of David Lee, Howard Lyman, and Elsbeth Tascioni respectively.[28][23] On November 18, 2016, it was announced thatJustin Bartha had been added as a series regular as Colin, a rising star in the US Attorney's office and love interest to Lucca.[12] On August 1, 2017, it was announced thatAudra McDonald had been added to the main cast for season 2 as Liz Reddick, reprising her role fromThe Good Wife season 4, and thatMichael Boatman andNyambi Nyambi had been promoted to main cast.[50] On November 7, 2018, it was reported thatMichael Sheen had joined the main cast for season 3.[51] On February 20, 2020, Lindo announced he would be leaving the series as a regular following season 4.[52] Jumbo was also due to depart at the end of season 4.[53] However, due to the COVID-shortened season, the show was not able to develop the storyline that led to Lucca Quinn's or Adrian Boseman's departure.[citation needed] On January 27, 2021,Charmaine Bingwa was cast as a new series regular for the fifth season.[54] On March 5, 2021,Mandy Patinkin joined the cast as new series regular for the fifth season.[55] On April 5, 2021, it was reported that Jumbo and Lindo were set to return as guest stars to wrap up their storylines in the fifth season.[56] In March 2022, it was announced thatAndre Braugher had joined the cast as a new series regular whileAlan Cumming would reprise his role as Eli Gold fromThe Good Wife as a guest star for the sixth season.[57][58]
In 2019,Julianna Margulies said there had been a proposal for her to reprise her characterAlicia Florrick inThe Good Fight with a three-episode-arc, but that CBS had not been willing to pay her the salary she requested.[59][60][61]
On February 8, 2017, the series was picked up in Canada byCorus Entertainment to air on their cable channel,W Network; the American broadcast premiere of the series would be simulcast by Corus's broadcast systemGlobal.[62]
On March 2, 2017,Channel 4 confirmed it had acquired the UK broadcast rights for the series for itsMore4 channel following the success of progenitor seriesThe Good Wife on that same channel.[63] The series debuted on More4 on March 30, 2017.
HBO began airing all 10 episodes of the first season on June 1, 2017, in various European territories, while India'sZee Entertainment Enterprises obtained exclusive pay-TV rights toThe Good Fight for its English-language general entertainment channelZee Café, which also carriedThe Good Wife in India.[64]
In Australia, the series's episodes were shown onfree-to-air TV onSBS Viceland two days after their American broadcast.[65]
In Southeast Asia, the series's episodes were shown on pay-TV onFox Life two days after their American broadcast, then moved toROCK Entertainment.
The Good Fight has been widely praised.Rotten Tomatoes reports that the first season has a rating of 98% based on reviews from 57 approved critics and an average rating of 8.18/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "An auspicious beginning for CBS All Access,The Good Fight solidly follows its predecessor while allowing for new storytelling styles, a wider narrative scope, and a chance for its lead to explore new territory with a relatable human struggle."[66] OnMetacritic, the first season received a score of 80 based on reviews from 45 critics.[67]
TheLos Angeles Times suggested thatGood Fight creators Robert and Michelle King "still had theGood Wife magic" and thoughGood Wife "had already [run] its course" after seasons 6 and 7 had received mediocre reviews, "they just needed a clean slate" to allow them to continue to mine more stories from that fictional universe.[78] In addition, unlikeGood Wife which was centered around "romantic tension" and got bogged down in Alicia Florrick's (Julianna Margulies) love life,Good Fight was considered "refreshing for steering the story the other way" as relationships are "not the plot points that drive the story".[79]Good Fight is regarded as a rare successful example of a TV series spin-off, as other contemporary TV series are either reboots or remakes.[80]
Writing forVox.com, Emily VanDerWerff praised the show's deft use of political themes, commenting that whileThe Good Wife was a commentary on "liberal hypocrisy" and the nature of moral compromise,The Good Fight stands out as a much more earnest "defense of liberal values", giving the show a compelling "reason to exist".[81]
The second season has a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 28 reviews, with an average rating of 9.43/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Angry but still fun,The Good Fight confidently elaborates on current political events with its deftly fictionalized plots."[68] OnMetacritic, the second season received a score of 70 based on reviews from five critics.[69]
The third season has a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 9/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "The Good Fight's third season pulls no punches, doubling down on the social commentary while maintaining the show's sensational delights to create one of the best dramas on TV."[70] OnMetacritic, the third season received a score of 83 based on reviews from eight critics.[71]
The fourth season holds an approval rating of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 20 reviews, with an average rating of 9/10. The site's critical consensus states, "The Good Fight remains in top form with an over-the-top and completely captivating fourth season that plays to the show's strengths."[72] OnMetacritic, the fourth season received a score of 84 based on reviews from seven critics.[73]
The fifth season has an approval rating of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 7.05/10. The site's critical consensus states, "The Good Fight's fifth season continues to confront challenging current events with its singularly absurd style."[74] OnMetacritic, the fifth season received a score of 85 based on reviews from four critics.[75]
The sixth season holds an approval rating of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 16 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10 The site's critical consensus reads, "Entering its final round having lost some key players but having gained the inestimable Andre Braugher,The Good Fight still carries plenty of satirical punch."[76] OnMetacritic, the sixth season received a score of 75 based on reviews from six critics.[77]
In December 2023,Variety rankedThe Good Fight #96 on its list of the 100 greatest TV shows of all time.[82]
