‘The Good Wife’ season 5, episode 15: Creators on Josh Charles’ shocking exit
Are you still trying to get over the latest “Good Wife” shocker? We certainly understand, since we are right there with you. It’s rare that you see a series lead exit a show midway through a season, especially someone like Will Gardner who is tied to almost everyone else. Not only that, but it is even more shocking when this person (massive SPOILER ALERT) leaves via assassination in a courtroom.
Obviously, it is understandable that fans are a little bit upset over losing Josh Charles, even if it was the actor’s own decision to leave the show after five seasons. However, we know for sure now that he’s not going anywhere … at least not yet. He will return for another episode next week in flashbacks, and he remains a part of the “Good Wife” family thanks to him directing another episode coming up.
In an open letter to fans published through CBS after the episode, show creators Robert and Michelle King explained in part how this move will change and redefine the series going forward … even if this was not an easy move for them to make:
“Death also created a new dramatic ‘hub’ for the show. We’re always looking for these turning points—some event midway through the season that will spin everybody’s lives in new directions. These turning points keep the show from slipping into a numbing sameness, and keep the characters fresh: because you see how they react to a completely new status quo. Will’s death in many ways becomes a hub for the whole series, violently spinning everybody in new directions.
“Finally, we chose the tragic route for Will’s send-off for personal reasons. We’ve all experienced the sudden death of a loved one in our lives. It’s terrifying how a perfectly normal and sunny day can suddenly explode with tragedy. Television, in our opinion, doesn’t deal with this enough: the irredeemability of death. Your last time with the loved one will always remain your last time. The Good Wife is a show about human behavior and emotion, and death, as sad and unfair as it can be, is a part of the human experience that we want to share.”
One other reason to kill off Will rather than simply shipping him off to another city is that this prevents any further casting issues. You are not left feeling angry at the character, or questioning why he would leave Alicia and the other characters behind.
If you want to read some more news pertaining to “The Good Wife,” and what is coming up down the road, just be sure to visit the link here. That is where we have our initial take on Charles’ exit, and also a preview for the new episode airing on CBS next week. Also, sign up to get some more updates via our CarterMatt Newsletter.
Photo: CBS