Summary

• Elsbeth creators stated that The Good Wife universe cameos are unlikely to happen anytime soon.
• Elsbeth sets itself apart with a sunny, cheerful vibe and a simplified character-centric plot.
• The episodic approach makes Elsbeth a refreshing standalone comedy-drama.

The Good Wife characters. The new CBS show sees Carrie Preston reprising her Emmy-winning role as the unconventional attorney Elsbeth Tascioni. Returning to the breakout portrayal that she originated in The Good Wife and continued in The Good Fight, the spinoff centers on the protagonist as she moves from Chicago to New York to oversee the work of the NYPD after a string of controversial arrests. The dramedy also stars Carra Patterson and Suits alum Wendell Pierce.

Several times during the premiere episode of Elsbeth, there were references to Tascioni being replaced in her new NYPD gig by Cary Agos (played by Matt Czuchry in The Good Wife). The Kings addressed those references in an interview with TVLine, explaining whether Julianna Margulies might return as Alicia Florrick. Although neither creator rules out the possibility, it sounds unlikely to happen anytime soon. Read their quotes below:

Michelle King: “We think about our friends in Chicago, but it’s not our expectation that they’re traveling to New York anytime soon. Elsbeth is on her own in New York, which is kind of part of the fun, that she’s enjoying it and enjoying it on her own. [Alicia] is not, however, working with the NYPD, solving crimes.”

Robert King: “We’ll check in with [Alicia] when she kills someone.”

Why Elsbeth Is A Very Different Kind Of Show?

Although the CBS show is a spinoff, Elsbeth can be enjoyed on its own without any prior knowledge of Tascioni's other appearances.

The difference between the previous The Good Wife shows and Elsbeth can be seen early in its opening sequence. Whereas The Good Fight and Evil, also created by the Kings, had openers that were either dramatic or moody and monochrome, the opening for Elsbeth is jaunty and sunny. It echoes the popular rosy sitcoms of the 1990s rather than the sometimes dim outlook of prestige television.

Elsbeth is also different in substance. The Good Wife had a relatively sizable ing cast, with a focus on Alicia. In contrast, Elsbeth only has three main characters. There's also a guest-of-the-week structure, with Tascioni having to solve a mystery and then move on to the next. On the other hand, The Good Fight focused on how its characters reacted to ongoing news during the Trump presidency. Although the CBS show is a spinoff, Elsbeth can be enjoyed on its own without any prior knowledge of Tascioni's other appearances.

The Kings and showrunner Jonathan Tolins have both emphasized the episodic approach of Elsbeth. Although there is a larger narrative and a secret reason Tascioni's is in New York, it's classic television done well, and positive reviews suggest the dramedy will find an audience with or without The Good Wife viewers.

Elsbeth returns to CBS with new episodes starting Thursday, April 4, at 10 PM ET. It also streams on Paramount+.

Source: TVLine