The premiere of the final season of The Good Fight is a bittersweet one. After all, the series has long shown that it is one of the best series on Paramount+ and a worthy successor to The Good Wife. In large part, its appeal stems from the dynamic nature of its central cast, which includes Christine Baranski and Audra McDonald.
Though in many ways a traditional legal drama, it excels at not only examining the lives of its characters but also in drawing in a great deal of social and political commentary. In this regard, it has a great deal in common with several other series which have appeared.
The Good Wife (2009-2016)
Stream On Paramount+
For fans of The Good Fight, there is no better place to start than The Good Wife. Focusing on Alicia Florick–played by Julianna Margulies in one of her best roles - it follows her efforts to rebuild her life after her husband becomes embroiled in a public sex scandal.
Its legal trappings make it very similar to The Good Fight, but it’s Alicia’s personal journey that makes this series so beloved among its fans. It shows how a person can go from being the victim of powerful people to becoming someone capable of perpetuating that cycle on others.
Damages (2007-2012)
Stream On Starz
Its powerful female characters are the center of The Good Fight. They are, in fact, one of the things that allow it to stand out from the crowd of other legal dramas. A similar dynamic is in evidence in Damages, which stars Glenn Close in one of her best roles as the ruthless lawyer Patty Hewes, as well as Rose Byrne as her assistant.
Though obviously the performances of Close and Byrne are the key draws of the series, it is also highly regarded for the skill of its writing and for its plot twists. As a result, it has become to be seen as one of the best legal dramas.
Law & Order (1990-Present)
Stream On Hulu
In of longevity, Law & Order is head and shoulders above most other legal dramas. Like The Good Fight, however, it also manages to inject a great deal of social commentary into its formula. As a result, each episode manages to not just succeed on its own but also to ask probing questions about the nature of morality and of criminal justice more generally.
And, like The Good Fight, it is also a series that excels because of the powerful nature of its cast. No matter how many cast changes the series endured, it has stayed true to its essential mission.
The Morning Show (2019-Present)
Stream On Apple TV+
One of the things that allows The Good Fight to excel is the dynamic nature of its cast, as well as their relationships with one another. Though The Morning Show isn’t a legal drama, it is very much a series about the extraordinary women who occupy morning television.
And, with Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston as the two primary characters, it excels at showcasing the drama that often erupts between the two of them. Beneath all the melodrama, however, there is also a great deal of social commentary to this series, which helps to explain why it is regarded as one of the best series on Apple TV+.
The Lincoln Lawyer (2022-Present)
Stream On HBO Max
Though the film version of this story starring Matthew McConaughey might be more famous, the television version of The Lincoln Lawyer also has much to recommend it. It has a wide range of quirky characters, and the central premise, that a lawyer literally works his cases out of the back of his car, is enough to draw in those who enjoy legal dramas more generally.
And, like The Good Fight, it ends up being a series that is just as much about its individual cast as it is about the legal issues at hand. Small wonder it is one of the best HBO Max series.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-Present)
Stream On Hulu
Of all of the entries in the Law & Order franchise, Special Victims Unit is arguably the one with the most social bite. This makes it an especially good fit for those who enjoyed this aspect of The Good Fight.
Though the nature of the series’ various storylines can be at times difficult to watch, it still deserves credit for bringing much-needed attention to the problem of sexual violence. And, though most of the of the cast have left at some point or another, it has still managed to stay true to its central narrative mission.
How To Get Away With Murder (2014-2020)
Stream On Netflix
How to Get Away with Murder is often regarded as one of the best of the Shondaland series. Filled with heightened melodrama and unlikely plot twists, it is everything one could ask for from a legal drama on ABC.
It also has much to recommend it to fans of The Good Fight. In particular, Viola Davis’ turn as Annalise Keating is truly astounding. Those who relish the way that Christine Baranski plays a formidable female attorney will no doubt be similarly captivated by Davis' performance, which is arguably one of the best of her career.
Suits (2011-2019)
Stream On Peacock
Like most of the best legal dramas, The Good Fight is one of those series that manages to strike a fine balance between exploring its characters' psychologies and engaging with thorny legal problems. Suits manages to strike a similar balance.
It focuses on Mike Ross, who manages to bluff his way into a high-powered job at a law firm despite never having earned a degree. The series also has a propulsive narrative that is designed to keep the viewer tuning in for week after week, just to see what happens next.
Anatomy Of A Scandal (2022)
Stream On Netflix
Though it obviously has several male characters, The Good Fight is obviously grounded by the female of its cast. This being the case, those who enjoy this element of the story would probably enjoy Anatomy of a Scandal, one of the best projects from David E. Kelley.
Focusing on a British prosecutor tasked with trying an MP for rape, it is tautly told, brilliantly acted, and philosophically compelling. It is the type of legal drama that asks the tough questions. In doing so, it forces the audience to contend with the complexity of the world around them.
Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
Stream On Netflix
Through its several seasons, Better Call Saul has slowly established itself as one of the best TV crime dramas. And, despite its status as a spinoff of Breaking Bad, it has still managed to craft an identity of its own.
Like The Good Fight, it is the type of legal drama that is grounded by strong performances, particularly from Bob Odenkirk, who continues to show true brilliance as Saul Goodman. And, like Breaking Bad before it, it also manages to explore some very difficult moral territory. This is the type of show that truly draws the viewer in and doesn’t let them go.