Faith has an interesting, rather uncomfortable role on CBS’s hit law drama, ‘The Good Wife.’ Peter’s (the husband) spectacular and spectacularly public fall from grace leads him into a black, Protestant church, and seeking the spiritual direction of its pastor–much to his wife, Alicia’s (Julianna Margulies), well, indifference perhaps is the best word. Or maybe skepticism is even better. Peter’s uptight mother is less than thrilled by Peter’s new spiritual interests and she makes no effort to hide her disapproval.

Then, the latest episode, which ended the fall season, had Alicia’s young daughter, Grace, absolutely fascinated with prayer. One thread of the storyline followed Grace and one of her close friend hanging out in Grace’s room, with the friend trying to convince Grace to accept Jesus into her heart. The friend promises Grace that should she do this, everything in Grace’s life will instantly change from that moment on. Grace can’t quite take the plunge–not at first–but the storyline continues with Grace asking her friend to pray for all sorts of things (her father, her mother, etc.). The show ends with Alicia peeking in Grace’s room to check on her, only to find her daughter and her daughter’s friend kneeling by Grace’s bed in prayer.
Alicia’s response is stony, to say the least. The episode ended in such a way as to suggest to the viewer that Grace’s newfound interest in faith has potentially ominous consequences.
I’m curious to know where they’ll take this thread in the spring. You can watch the full episode online. It’s riveting.