Last week's premiere of "The Good Wife" saw Alicia gingerly moving forward with her plan to leave Lockart/Gardner, with a few obligatory bumps along the way.
Series co-creator Robert King spoke to TVLine about some questions fans may have about the premiere, and about what the rest of the season holds for Alicia (Julianna Margulies) and future firm partner Cary (Matt Czuchry).
Some fans were concerned about Kalinda's (Archie Panjabi) lack of screen time in the premiere, and that it could foreshadow what's to come. King said that fans shouldn't worry. "I think they're going to find that there are episodes she figures very big in, and some less so. And that is truly a function of scheduling and other difficulties," King said. "I think they'll be happy [when they view the season as a whole]. They'll even be happy [when they view the first] month."
King elaborated on why Eli (Alan Cumming) was so angry toward Marilyn, played by guest star Melissa George. Marilyn, the head of the Illinois Ethics Commission, caught the eye of Peter (Chris Noth), the newly elected governor.
King said that Eli spoke to Marilyn with such asperity because of his relationship with Alicia. "He [Eli] really likes Alicia," King said. "Even though it was a relationship that started in pragmatism, he really respects her. And [Marilyn] is a pretty girl that could possibly turn the head of Peter, and he worries it will endanger [Alicia]. The other angle is he hopes to [lead] Peter to higher political office, and he knows that his shelf life will be very short if there is a return of his bimbo problem."
"And the third thing is he's worried about having his own position and influence curtailed," King continued. "One thing he does not have is sex appeal. He worries that someone who has a worse argument could win because they have sex appeal and can flirt their way into a 'yes' response from the governor."
When Eli gets Peter to move Marilyn to the Transit Authority Board, Marilyn made an ominous remark that it was a mistake to get rid of her. King said that she will become potentially dangerous because Marilyn knows that when you get rid of too many ethic commissioners, "you will be seen as doing something shady."
As for future episodes, Alicia will eventually tell Will (Josh Charles) that she is leaving, and he will get almost violently angry. But King revealed that his anger may be a reaction to other news, not to the news of Alicia's defection.
"I'd rather not say what that's [Will's reaction] regarding. The audience may be surprised what that's about," King hinted.
The show's 100th episode is also coming up this season, and it will be one dramatic milestone.
In episode 100, Alicia, who will then be a partner at Florrick Argos & Assoc., will face off with her ex-lover and former colleague, Will, in court.
"There's going to be a whole act where they use what they know about each other from their love affair in a courtroom battle," King revealed. "They're going to basically undercut each other every step of the way."
King said there will also be some "wonderful flashbacks" to their short-lived romance, and they will somehow use those memories against each other in court.
King dropped a big hint about the case that will incite the courtroom battle. The episode will include the return of John Noble ("Fringe") as Alicia's deceased client Matthew Ashbaugh.
"The Good Wife" airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. on CBS.