The fourth season of The Good Wife began airing on September 30, 2012. Executive producer Tony Scott died in August 2012, about a month prior to the start of the season, and the premiere was dedicated to him. The season finale aired on April 28, 2013.
Premise
The series focuses on Alicia Florrick, whose husband Peter, the former Cook County, Illinois, state's attorney, has been jailed following a notorious political corruption and sex scandal. After having spent the previous thirteen years as a stay-at-home mother, Alicia returns to the workforce as a litigator to provide for her two children.
Cast
Main
Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick
Matt Czuchry as Cary Agos
Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma
Makenzie Vega as Grace Florrick
Graham Phillips as Zach Florrick
Alan Cumming as Eli Gold
Josh Charles as Will Gardner
Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart
Recurring
Chris Noth as Peter Florrick
Nathan Lane as Clarke Hayden
Zach Grenier as David Lee
Marc Warren as Nick Savarese
Maura Tierney as Maddie Hayward
Amanda Peet as Captain Laura Hellinger
T.R. Knight as Jordan Karahalios
Jess Weixler as Robyn Burdine
Mary Beth Peil as Jackie Florrick
Renée Elise Goldsberry as Geneva Pine
Skipp Sudduth as Jim Moody
Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni
Stockard Channing as Veronica Loy
Miriam Shor as Mandy Post
Mike Colter as Lemond Bishop
Dallas Roberts as Owen Cavanaugh
Denis O'Hare as Judge Charles Abernathy
Dylan Baker as Colin Sweeney
Mike Pniewski as Frank Landau
John Benjamin Hickey as Neil Gross
Kristin Chenoweth as Peggy Byrne
Jill Flint as Lana Delaney
Michael J. Fox as Louis Canning
Matthew Perry as Mike Kresteva
Kyle MacLachlan as Josh Perotti
Yul Vazquez as Cristian Romano
Guest
Chris Butler as Matan Brody
Gary Cole as Kurt McVeigh
Martha Plimpton as Patti Nyholm
Mamie Gummer as Nancy Crozier
Ana Gasteyer as Judge Patrice Lessner
Anika Noni Rose as Wendy Scott-Carr
Rita Wilson as Viola Walsh
Kurt Fuller as Judge Peter Dunaway
Wallace Shawn as Charles Lester
Episodes
Reception
The fourth season of The Good Wife received critical acclaim. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 95% certified fresh rating based on 21 reviews. The critics consensus reads, "This season of The Good Wife continues its winning streak as one of television's top shows, with unique legal cases and intelligent political drama." On Metacritic, the fourth season currently sits at an 86 out of 100, based on 5 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
Awards and nominations
Primetime Emmy Awards
Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in a Drama Series (Christine Baranski for "The Seven Day Rule") Nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Michael J. Fox for "Boom De Yah Da") Nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Nathan Lane for "I Fought the Law") Won for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (Carrie Preston for "Je Ne Sais What?") Nomination for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series (Mark Saks)