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Season guide

The Good Wife: Season 3

22 episodes Premiered Sep 25, 2011 Updated Sep 20, 2026

The Good Wife Season 3 continues the overarching saga across 22 episodes. The series is an American television drama created by Robert and Michelle King and airs on CBS. It stars Julianna Margulies, Josh Charles, Christine Baranski, Matt Czuchry, Archie Panjabi, Zach Grenier, Matthew Goode, Cush Jumbo, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Alan Cumming. The drama focuses on a politician's wife who pursues her own career as a defe

Previously on The Good Wife

Season 3 Lore Primer

Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.

  • Alicia Florrick assumes full responsibility for her family and re-enters the workforce.
  • Alicia pursues her own career as a defense attorney.
  • Alicia's husband is sent to jail on charges of political corruption.
  • The series is an American TV drama airing on CBS and created by Robert and Michelle King.

Season overview

The Good Wife Season 3 continues the overarching saga across 22 episodes. The series is an American television drama created by Robert and Michelle King and airs on CBS. It stars Julianna Margulies, Josh Charles, Christine Baranski, Matt Czuchry, Archie Panjabi, Zach Grenier, Matthew Goode, Cush Jumbo, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Alan Cumming. The drama focuses on a politician's wife who pursues her own career as a defense attorney after her husband is sent to jail on charges of political corruption. Alicia Florrick boldly assumes full responsibility for her family and re-enters the workforce.

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Season 3 Episodes

Episode Guide

🛡️ SPOILER SHIELD

Season 3 Progress Shield

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Binge Efficiency Engine

Season 3: Filler vs. Essential Canon

Filter episodes by narrative weight. Focus on essential mytharc and skip standalone side quests.

18%
82%
Mytharc (4): Crucial lore & season climaxes
Core (18): Character development & subplots
Side Quest (0): Standalone / filler
S3·E1 Mytharc

A New Day

Sep 25, 2011

While the staff at Lockhart/Gardner adjust to new realities and relationships, Alicia must put aside distractions in her personal life to defend a Muslim student accused of murderi

S3·E2 Core

The Death Zone

Oct 2, 2011

Alicia discovers she must become an expert on English law when a libel case she wins involving a businessman from Britain becomes an international matter after it is retried and tr

S3·E3 Core

Get a Room

Oct 9, 2011

Alicia and Will go toe-to-toe with his ex during a court-ordered mediation, while Eli and Diane clash over the best way to handle a dairy company’s PR disaster.

S3·E4 Core

Feeding the Rat

Oct 16, 2011

Alicia takes a pro bono case in which a witness quickly becomes the prime suspect. Meanwhile, Will and Diane plot the firm’s direction and their futures.

S3·E5 Core

Marthas and Caitlins

Oct 23, 2011

When Alicia's key witness commits suicide, she must turn to the only person whose testimony can salvage her case: Colin Sweeney. Meanwhile, Eli makes big moves on Peter's behalf.

S3·E6 Core

Affairs of State

Oct 30, 2011

While Alicia wades through diplomatic loopholes to defend a Taiwanese national, Eli is approached by his ex-wife to vet her for a possible political campaign.

S3·E7 Core

Executive Order 13224

Nov 6, 2011

Alicia worries that she will break confidentiality when the Treasury Department forces her to report on her latest client, while Peter reluctantly digs into Will's past transgressi

S3·E8 Core

Death Row Tip

Nov 13, 2011

In order to keep a client from being convicted of murder, Alicia must obtain a stay of execution for a guilty man; Eli tries to stay ahead of a client's possible scandal.

S3·E9 Core

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Nov 20, 2011

Tensions are high at Lockhart & Gardner as Alicia and Will argue in front of a mercurial military judge, Eli’s confidence is shaken and Diane issues an ultimatum to protect the fir

S3·E10 Core

Parenting Made Easy

Dec 4, 2011

A routine arbitration turns into a battle of wills between Alicia and Louis Canning, but the pair makes an unexpected connection when a personal crisis interrupts the proceedings.

S3·E11 Core

What Went Wrong

Dec 11, 2011

As Alicia looks for a way to have a judgment thrown out following a shocking guilty verdict, she also begins to feel the consequences of decisions in her personal life.

S3·E12 Core

Alienation of Affection

Jan 8, 2012

Lockhart-Gardner faces trouble when a recently divorced couple claims they influenced their separation for their own personal gain.

S3·E13 Core

Bitcoin for Dummies

Jan 15, 2012

Alicia defends a client charged with protecting the identity of the creator of an illegal currency.

S3·E14 Core

Another Ham Sandwich

Jan 29, 2012

With her investigation complete, Special Prosecutor Wendy Scott-Carr presents her evidence against Will to the grand jury in hopes of sending him to prison for bribery. Meanwhile,

S3·E15 Core

Live From Damascus

Feb 19, 2012

Lockhart & Gardner leads a class action suit against a software company that allowed the Syrian government to “disappear” American citizens. Also, Will faces a hard decision in the

S3·E16 Mytharc

After The Fall

Mar 4, 2012

While power grabs are being made at the firm, Alicia and Caitlin square off against old foe Nancy Crozier. Meanwhile, Peter discovers the price of taking the moral high road.

S3·E17 Core

Long Way Home

Mar 11, 2012

Alicia must once again aid Colin Sweeney when a sexual misconduct claim derails his attempt to win back control of his company. Also, Cary is faced with a moral dilemma when Peter

S3·E18 Core

Gloves Come Off

Mar 18, 2012

Alicia once again faces Louis Canning in court, but recent financial concerns lead her to reconsider his standing job offer. Meanwhile, Diane reconnects with the enigmatic Jack Cop

S3·E19 Core

Blue Ribbon Panel

Mar 25, 2012

Alicia is assigned to be on a blue-ribbon panel that is investigating a police shooting. But she soon begins to question the actions of the panel chairman.

S3·E20 Core

Pants on Fire

Apr 15, 2012

As Alicia counsels a client whether to accept a strict plea deal, she's distracted by Peter's newest political rival, whose actions force her back into the public spotlight.

S3·E21 Mytharc

The Penalty Box

Apr 22, 2012

Alicia defends a judge against misconduct charges stemming from his days as a prosecutor. Meanwhile, Cary makes a career decision and Kalinda deals with the repercussions of Agent

S3·E22 Mytharc

The Dream Team

Apr 29, 2012

Will and Diane scramble when Louis Canning and Patti Nyholm team up to bankrupt the firm. Also, Alicia faces conflicted feelings regarding her relationship with Peter, and Kalinda'