What Is the Story About?
The story is about a highly successful Gunaseelan who is celebrating his 16th anniversary with his wife Tarunika. Tarunika used to be a bright advocate but left practising after her marriage.
On the anniversary celebration, a video of Gunaseelan is leaked where he is having sex with an escort. He is framed in a bribe case where he is jailed. The bank accounts are frozen.
Tarunika goes on to have a job at a law firm where she proves herself to be a competent lawyer who is also struggling personally.
Will Tarunika be able to save her husband?
Performances?
The best aspect of the series is the performance. What a star Priyamani is! She delivers a very sensible performance where we can clearly see her vulnerability and strength.
The actress nailed her part and she is truly the saviour of the show.
Sampath and Aari Arjunan are seen revolving around Priyamani where the former plays her husband.
Aari Arjunan plays Hari Deepak who was the former love interest of Tarunika. He has shown multiple instances of support to Tarunika and he looks believable in his character.
Analysis
Two years ago in the month of July we saw a series on Disney+Hotstar. It was called The Trial. No, it wasn’t a Kafka adaptation but a remake of American series The Good Wife.
The show received lukewarm response and it was clear that it didn’t work for the Indian audiences. People like the original one and the writing in the remake was not very tight.
But now, Good Wife is the same series in Tamil. Kajol is called Noyonika while Priya Mani is called Tarunika.
It sounds very cute but the show was actually not needed. Yes, the makers tried to adapt the series in an Indian setting but the writing is not upto the mark.
We’ll give examples. There is one instance in the show where Tarunika’s son Rithesh is shown having anger issues. But in every other scene he is a sweetheart.
In one scene we see Rithesh having a female friend but that scene adds no value to the series whatsoever.
There are multiple such things that are contributing nothing except slowing down the screenplay.
The thing is, there are too many subplots that just vaporize. Guna is seen hurt inside the jail. We don’t see any consequence or reasoning behind his injury.
Political threats are mentioned throughout the series but nothing materialises.
In total, we don’t even know why “Good Wife” has been made deliberately so slow.
The show tries to show us Priyamani stuck between her personal life and professional ambitions. No wonder everything apart from that aspect falls apart.
At best Good Wife has an inconsistent and hurried script. It is not well thought of and that’s why every case seems like a cakewalk for Taru.
She walks in nervous but walks out like a diva. It is ridiculous as to how many inconsistencies there are in the series.
The minor characters have not been given any space. For instance the character of Sneha Merlin is almost a magician. We never come to know her struggles and past.
There is no character other than Tarunika who stands out or demands your attention.
Music and Other Departments?
The music of the series has been done well. They elevate the overall experience which is mostly dull.
However, the set designs are very faulty. Tarunika is supposed to be in a modest apartment after Guna’s arrest but it looks very posh.
The cinematography is very average as we can hardly find a scene where we can appreciate good camera work.
Highlights?
Performances
Music
Drawbacks?
Too slow in the middle
No character demands your attention other than Tarunika
Very inconsistent writing
Did I Enjoy It?
Not Much
Will You Recommend It?
Only for Priyamani
Good Wife Series Review by Binged Bureau
We’re hiring!
We are hiring two full-time junior to mid-level writers with the option to work remotely. You need to work a 5-hour shift and be available to write. Interested candidates should email their sample articles to [email protected]. Applications without a sample article will not be considered.
