When this show first aired, like a lot of other shows, there was nothing about it, aside from the fact that a regular guest star was Chris Noth, a better than average detective role on Law and Order. Not enough to have me set aside an hour each week to watch it. Since it first aired, I've seen another big legal show, "Suits", and it was just a tad unrealistic, in the way "House" is unrealistic in that it seems the main character would never get away with some of the things House and Harvey Specter pull.
But then, I started watching early "ER" episodes, where "The Good Wife" lead, Julianna Margulies, was a prominent character, and one of the main reasons for watching "ER" for the first seven seasons. Margulies is not alone. Her two best supporting actors are Josh Charles, from "Sports Night" and Christine Baranski, from guest appearances going back 30 years. Both are more realistic than the principle partners on "Suits".
Other actors also add a lot. Chris Noth is solid in his role. Archie Panjabi, as Margulies' firm's investigator is first rate for a young actor. Even better is Alan Cumming, who plays the political expert behind the Noth character's rehabilitation. He's a lot like the Bruno Gianelli character on "The West Wing", except that his role is not quite so exaggerated. He really plays the part of a back room "wartime consigliore".
Everything really "clicks" in this first season. It all works so well that I hope the wheels don't come off for at least another two or three seasons. What may be missing is that unlike the ER, there is little room to add additional permanent cast members.
Executive producer is Ridley Scott, and this show has the same nice 3 part balance between home, office, and courtroom that I liked in "Numb3rs." wish it luck. A few visits by some "Numb3rs" stars can't be bad.