MovieChat Forums > The Good Wife (2009) Discussion > I LOVED the ending! Here's my analysis:

I LOVED the ending! Here's my analysis:

posted 9 years ago by busybride
60 replies | jump to latest

I thought the ending was great.

This is how I see it:
She left Peter. She's chasing after Jason, who has decided to vanish because he just can't deal with her crap. She's fantasizing about Will, who's being so nice to her, because she's making it up in her head. She was a complete idiot for not snatching him up every chance she got.

No man for Alicia. She's now single.

She screwed over Diane, big time. I'll bet money Lucca is furious at her too for bullying her into doing her dirty work. She's ruined her relationships with two wonderful women who only wanted to be her friend/colleague. Carey is giving TED talks.

No friends for Alicia. No friendly colleagues for Alicia.

Zach is in Europe. Grace will be in CA. She'll be childless too.

Her day-to-day important people have left her, or she's pushed them away. She's still got her mother & her brother who will always love her. Which is a good thing. Grace adores her. Alicia is not a monster, and she's still worthy of love. She's just a bit of a *beep* and like Will said to her, "My god, you don't even know how awful you are!!!"

She'll be fine. She'll go work for Canning, and nurse her hurt feeling by getting a new boyfriend. But she totally got what she deserved in the end!

[–] rrdchrry 9 years ago

She absolutely got what she deserved in the end. I totally agree. As soon as Diane got up and left the court room I was hoping she'd find time to slap Alicia before the credits rolled.

[–] sin_clair 9 years ago

a large # posters on this board who wanted alicia to end up happy because they pictured themselves as her could not appreciate this

[–] megaruda 9 years ago

Or maybe they know things you dont. Like what NPD or PTSD mean, and the character ending did not take real human reactions in consideration after all the effort of doing so before just because the writers were married to their original ending, even when they originally though it would only last one season.

Cinematic wise, the ending was pure crap.

[–] dudestein 9 years ago

I would not call it 'Crap' and I definitely did not love it. It was a Matzoh Ball, and it just sat there. It was like they didn't want to commit to any real ending except for the moment Peter reaches for Alicia and she walks away. It took us 6 years for that point? Reminds me of the Seinfeld Finale in that it seems to only deal punishment for roads not taken.

Yes, real life rarely has an Ironic or Happy Ending. If I want Real life rubbed in my face I can turn off the TV and go outside.

(Spoiler Alert)The Confederacy LOSES the Civil War!!!!

[–] itamarscomix 9 years ago

Frankly I would have preferred the Seinfeld finale here. Just make the final episode a semi-clip show and bring back a bunch of old characters (Kalinda, Finn, Matan, Lemond Bishop, Glenn Childs, Wendy Scott-Carr, Ruth Eastman, Judge Kluger...) to testify against Peter and show old clips... for no good reason at all. At least that would have been entertaining. It's not like the last couple of episodes used up every minute they had to build up an ending.

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[–] greenegg 9 years ago

Well-said, dudestein! I felt unsatisfied by the ending, but this show always has been quirky. I also appreciated a previous poster's reference to PTSD; Alicia seemed to be reeling during much of the episode. She felt clear-headed enough to seek evidence and to stand up to that putz of a prosecutor. I felt sorrier for Peter because I don't think he did it; he just took one for the family. Alicia came across as damaged goods, a woman who still grieves over a broken marriage and a lost opportunity/death of a once and possibly future lover. I'm not sure she and Will would have worked as a couple. Jason seems like someone who avoids commitment, so that relationship seemed doomed, though Alicia keeps telling herself that's what she wants. She finds it hard to sustain relationships, probably because she never figures out what she wants from life. Alicia needs a good therapist and some alone time.

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[–] dudestein 9 years ago

Well said as well!

I felt like I did when I lived through my first Earthquake and felt the earth move under my feet, nothing was safe, secure or permanent. Alicia's professional Relationships failed continuously. New job, new firm, new partners. She bounced like a pinball into a new failed professional relationship. That was an analogy of her personal relationships. Zack virtually disappeared from her life. Daughter sought a life with a spiritual bend outside of family. Alicia's relationship with Brother, Mother and Mother-in-law were dodgy as well.

All unstable ground under foot!

(Spoiler Alert)The Confederacy LOSES the Civil War!!!!

[–] greenegg 9 years ago

Love the earthquake analogy! I've only been through long-distance tremors, but they can make one feel upended in so many ways. I have some friends and relatives in similar predicaments; it's rather sad and frustrating to watch in the real world. No wonder I felt addicted to this show; I just realized it reflected so many people I know.

Put puppy mills out of business: never buy dogs from pet shops! 

[–] MirenaVlad 9 years ago

Zach and Grace don't hate their mother but both of them are disappointed in her

Diane had every right to slap Alicia and I cheer when it happen

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jonathan92680 9 years ago

I agree with this, and is pretty much the same conclusion I came to as well. She did indeed get what she so deserved, and it was made very clear , the finale would not be the "happy every after" ending.

[–] busybride 9 years ago

They don't hate her. She has pissed off Zach; he's moving because he's in love. Grace is not even starting to get annoyed with her, she's asserting herself. There is no hate in either child for their mother.

[–] pvd295 9 years ago

I loved the ending as well. I thought it did everything it set out to do...brought closure to many of the stories, leaving each ending open for interpretation and discussion. That's what good storytelling does.

I prefer fantasy over reality TV - like Fox News. - B.Streisand

[–] !!!deleted!!! (33407653) 9 years ago

I too liked the ending and feel that Alicia got a lot of what she deserved. However, you left out something very big in her future, the possibility of her taking Peter's place as governor. Eli was already planning for her to have a career in politics.

[–] busybride 9 years ago

I don't think she will though; just because Eli said it doesn't mean he can convince her. She's really used to telling Eli no, lol! She was disgraced after she was forced to step down from States Attorney (I think that was the position? I honestly can'y remember) and she didn't do anything wrong. I doubt she'll want to run for any office again. That's why I think she'll go work for Canning.

[–] Pippy-4 9 years ago

I too liked the ending and feel that Alicia got a lot of what she deserved. However, you left out something very big in her future, the possibility of her taking Peter's place as governor. Eli was already planning for her to have a career in politics.

Yes, that's what I was thinking too. Does anyone here think she just might go back with Peter?

[–] faithinneed 8 years ago

I agree. Even though the narrative seems to suggest that the reason that made her finally seek divorce was Jason, I think the turning point was Ruth visiting her in the office and warning her that she wouldn't have a future in politics if she remains attached to Peter. Alicia is quite ambitious and walking back to the stage rather than out (as Diane did) hints that she's going back to the limelight, to Eli, to politics. The way she fought so hard and alienated so many friends to keep Peter out of prison but out of politics also suggests that she has an eye on running for office. Keeping him out of prison would liberate her from the role of the supportive wife visiting her imprisoned husband and from her marriage.

What annoys me most is the representation of Diane as the holy victim. I think she is the most manipulative character who hides behind her liberal classy facade but is as thuggery in her approach as Will. She was always willing to sacrifice anyone for her own ambitions; Will, Alicia, Carey, Lee, the women rights groups, and even her own husband.

[–] PowergirlsMom 9 years ago

Ok. To all you who are of the opinion that she " got what she deserved". I did not like her putting Diane's husband on the stand but she learned at Diane's knee, so Diane should realize that she taught her well. That Alicia was relentless in the defending of her client was learned behavior. Not pleasant but not surprising. He is her client and her children's father.

And as for deserving all the ill will of all around her: what has Alicia ever done but subvert her own true desires for the benefit of her cheating husband and her children, who were often unaware and occasionally ungrateful. She walked away from Will and later regretted it. It is entirely possible that Jason was correct that she might have felt a duty to Peter if he went to jail.

So many times she has not done what she wanted, or said what she really felt. Now that she finally was doing so, fans turn against her ( as a character, yes I know she is not real)

I thought that she might be sought out to take the offer of the governshio or running for it for the sake of the party, and for once, say no and walk away. And be happy for crying out loud. The woman has only been allowed to be happy briefly, with Will. Then her sense of duty to her children and all that caused her to turn away, and after that, asked for his commitment, and Eli stole that opportunity. And then Will died.

She could have rolled the dice with Jason and perhaps been happy, but at least have no regrets. For once!

But, no. The Kings pulled a Sopranos and gave us no clear answer, just a figurative and literal slap in the face.

Not amused.

[–] akalexis 9 years ago

^ This.

I'm a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose. - The Dowager Countess (Downton Abbey)

[–] jonathan92680 9 years ago

This x2

[–] xanxei 9 years ago

[–] gcronau 9 years ago

[–] janetc20 9 years ago

X5

And by the way, this must be posted somewhere but, this from the creators: " In the end, the story of Alicia isn't about who she'll be with; it's about who she'll be." http://www.cbs.com/shows/the_good_wife/news/1005197/the-good-wife-creators-say-farewell-spoilers-/

[–] TamPalm 9 years ago

You say "x5" but then post a link to a story by the writers that directly refutes the OP's post lol. Who she is, is not an honorable person as the OP was arguing. The writers confirm that in the link you shared.

"If it doesn't make sense, it's not true." -- Judge Judy

[–] don-lockwood 9 years ago

I think Alicia deserved the slap from Diane, and deserved to knocked off her high horse after the last several seasons. But I agree she's someone who constantly put the desires of her family before her own. Unfortunately that was her downfall again with Jason. It's a frustrating ending with its lack of resolution, but it makes sense, and I can see why the Kings baited us with all that "happily ever after" nonsense only to poke holes in its illusion, to remind us that professional success comes at a personal cost. Happiness for Alicia is not beyond possibility, however, and I think we have to choose to accept the ending as Alicia's definitive abandonment of Peter, and as a signal of Alicia's internal strength.

But careerwise I would've liked to know what came of her. I doubt she works with Diane, and if she's not the next governor or whatever, then what? Back to running her own boutique firm? Working with Louis Canning?

[–] megaruda 9 years ago

[–] TamPalm 9 years ago

Your description of Alicia is fantastical, not based on what occurred. She clearly, slowly but surely, devolved into a selfish user. Her sacrificing for her husband and kids was a long ago reality; she hasn't done that in quite a while. She sh*t on Cary, Diane, Kalinda constantly. She used Peter. She dismissed her kids (even admitted she didn't even like them once). She became as sneaky, backstabbing, and conniving as the next person, namely her husband. I think it's clear from the finale as she was walking out, that she will continue to play the game. She will NOT leave Peter, she will continue to use him and oblige Eli's dreams of helping her obtain more political power. She was slapped, cried, then put on that façe of strength and walked out of there like a boss.

And this:

But, no. The Kings pulled a Sopranos and gave us no clear answer, just a figurative and literal slap in the face.

There was absolutely a clear answer. Not only did the writers explicitly state it (another thread has the direct quote in which they state "she is now her husband"), but the finale made it clear how things ended. There is no redemption for her, at least not yet. She pushed away good people: Jason, Diane, Cary, etc. and will now walk fully into her selfishness. What the finale did more than anything is expose the calculating user that was always on the underbelly of the "good wife" façade. It's just that now, unlike before, she is free to embrace it and exploit it.

"If it doesn't make sense, it's not true." -- Judge Judy

[–] lamont-hard 9 years ago

I agree with you, Eli will be working to save her butt from a sex scandal before long. That is why her pleasuring Jason under the table in a public place was about.

[–] busybride 9 years ago

I did not like her putting Diane's husband on the stand but she learned at Diane's knee, so Diane should realize that she taught her well. That Alicia was relentless in the defending of her client was learned behavior. Not pleasant but not surprising. He is her client and her children's father.

So Diane got what she deserved?

And as for deserving all the ill will of all around her: what has Alicia ever done but subvert her own true desires for the benefit of her cheating husband and her children, who were often unaware and occasionally ungrateful. She walked away from Will and later regretted it. It is entirely possible that Jason was correct that she might have felt a duty to Peter if he went to jail.

Actually, Peter still wants her, but she doesn't want him. Her kids still love her, they're just becoming adults and leaving the nest. Those that she treated well are not giving her "ill will." SHE walked away from Will. That's her fault. She played around with Jason. That's her fault.

So many times she has not done what she wanted, or said what she really felt. Now that she finally was doing so, fans turn against her ( as a character, yes I know she is not real)

She should have the whole time. I didn't turn against her when she finally decided to steer her own life. I cheered her on! But she still didn't really follow through with anything. She waffled.

I thought that she might be sought out to take the offer of the governshio or running for it for the sake of the party, and for once, say no and walk away. And be happy for crying out loud. The woman has only been allowed to be happy briefly, with Will. Then her sense of duty to her children and all that caused her to turn away, and after that, asked for his commitment, and Eli stole that opportunity. And then Will died.

She has only allowed herself to be happy once. That's all her own doing. She should have left Peter in the first episode. Her and Will would have been married by now. She shouldn't have left the firm in her 4th year. Her actions have consequences, good and bad.

I don't say she got what she deserved because it's all bad; her life is not all bad. She has a career (she's still partner at the firm), money, an apartment, her health, and her family (mom, brother, and great kids). She doesn't have a man, she got slapped in the face by her partner, and she has no friends. Her kids aren't there anymore because they've left the nest.

[–] Kristy98 9 years ago

I loved the ending too, but see it as much more abstract than your analysis.

[–] Dejay 9 years ago

Yeah I liked the ending as well!

[–] clearthinkernow 9 years ago

Will did NOT say how awful she was. He said she was un-self-aware. Not the same thing. It's important to know what he said. She doesn't know herself.

[–] busybride 9 years ago

Ah, I wasn't clear. When Will was still alive, and he found out that Alicia was leaving and stealing clients, he confronted her. It was then that he said how awful she was.