Artsy Nugget | Major twist on 'The Good Wife' shocks fans

Plot twists may abound on television these days, but rarely do they make waves in the way a recent shocker on "The Good Wife" (2009-present) has done. (Beware, spoilers ahead!) The CBS legal drama's latest episode sent fans reeling when it killed off the show's male lead, Will Gardner, played by the ever-charismatic Josh Charles. While on trial, Will's client (Hunter Parrish), a man accused of murdering a college student, got hold of a policeman's gun and promptly embarked on a shooting spree that left his lawyer dead. "The Good Wife" has already proven it is not afraid to shake things up, but this turn of events was wholly unexpected, packing a serious punch. In the wake of the episode, fans and critics alike have argued the merits of the decision - was it a cheap move or a legitimate creative choice?
While the debate rages on, viewers are left wondering where the show will go from here. Many had assumed that writers would eventually pair off - for good - Will and Alicia (Julianna Margulies), whose professional and romantic relationship has been a core tenant of the show. With Will's murder this is, of course, impossible, and some are concerned that the show's dynamic will be drastically different now that the compelling chemistry between the former colleagues has vanished. Still others are upset with the meaninglessness of the character's death and the less-than-loving note on which Will and Alicia's relationship ended.

These discussions have lit up Twitter and entertainment sites across the Internet, and series creators Robert and Michelle King have even reached out to fans in a letter explaining why they chose to kill off Will. Ultimately, the decision was made because Charles wished to leave the critically adored drama, and the show's creative team felt that this was the most powerful and effective way to send off the fan-favorite character.

Whatever the controversy, the episode will certainly go down in television history as one of the most shocking twists of all time.