Ep 1. Pilot

Alicia Florrick, a stay-at-home mom, begins to rebuild her life after her husband, Peter Florrick, is imprisoned for a sex and corruption scandal. The show starts with Alicia standing by her husband's side during his press conference, where he admits to his wrongdoings and resigns from his position as Cook County State's Attorney. Alicia is now left to support her family, including her teenage children, Zach and Grace, on her own.

As Alicia starts looking for work, she meets her law school classmate and friend, Will Gardner, who offers her an associate position at his law firm. Although Alicia is hesitant at first, she decides to take the job to prove to herself and others that she is more than just a housewife. In her new role, Alicia is assigned to work with Cary Agos, another associate at the firm. However, she soon realizes that Cary is also competing for the same permanent position, and this sparks a rivalry between the two.

As Alicia starts settling into her new job, she is introduced to the firm's top client, billionaire businessman, Colin Sweeney. Sweeney has been accused of murdering his wife, and the case has already had one mistrial. Will and Diane, the head of the firm, want Alicia to handle the second trial. Although Alicia is hesitant, she agrees to take the case, determined to prove her worth as a lawyer.

As the trial progresses, Alicia and Cary try to outdo each other in front of their bosses, while also trying to win the case. Meanwhile, Alicia's family is struggling to adapt to their new reality. Her son Zach is suspended from school for hacking into a classmate's Facebook page, and her daughter Grace is acting out in school. Alicia's mother-in-law, Jackie, is also causing trouble, trying to take control of Alicia's life and her grandchildren.

The episode also introduces several recurring characters, including Kalinda Sharma, the firm's private investigator, who helps Alicia with the Sweeney case, and Eli Gold, Peter's campaign manager, who tries to convince Alicia to support her husband's political comeback.

Overall, the pilot episode of The Good Wife sets up the show's premise of Alicia Florrick's journey to rebuild her life and career after her husband's downfall. The episode showcases Alicia's determination and introduces the show's core cast of characters, including her colleagues at the law firm, her family members, and recurring characters. The Sweeney case serves as a vehicle to explore Alicia's character and her ability to succeed as a lawyer while balancing her personal and professional lives.