I really disliked the stabbing/addiction arc :/ But you know, it's what happens when you watch shows for a long time; characters leave, characters change, plots start to feel more and more contrived. It's possible that if I'd started watching the show in season 6 I would have loved those arcs, but given that I was a huge fan of the characters and plots of seasons 1-4, too many cast changes and character changes just made me disconnect in seasons 5-6 and onwards. I think I stopped watching not long after Carol left the show.

(and now I have her back on The Good Wife! Yay :D I really love JM there.)