The story
Diane Lockhart's distinguished legal career is upended when a colossal Ponzi scheme swallows her savings and drags the name of her goddaughter, Maia, through the mud. Starting again, the two join Lucca Quinn at one of Chicago's leading Black-owned firms, a practice built on police-brutality cases, where office rivalries collide with a political climate that Diane barely recognises.
Why it matters
As CBS All Access's first original scripted series, The Good Fight tested whether a broadcaster could lure viewers to its own subscription service with a spin-off of a network hit. Freed from network constraints, it leaned into sharp, topical political satire, and Variety later ranked it among the 100 greatest TV shows.
Born online
The first season premiered on 19 February 2017 with its opening episode broadcast on CBS, while the following nine episodes were released on the streaming service CBS All Access (later Paramount+). Every later season premiered on the streaming service.
Notable facts
- It was CBS All Access's first original scripted series, and is a spin-off from and standalone sequel to The Good Wife. (source)
- Its premiere was moved forward from May to February 2017 after delays to Star Trek: Discovery, which had been meant to launch the service. (source)
- In the UK it debuted on More4 on 30 March 2017. (source)
- Variety ranked it No. 96 on its December 2023 list of the 100 greatest TV shows of all time. (source)