A potential storytelling change is in the air for Elsbeth, and it could make or break the mystery series. The Carrie Preston-led spinoff of The Good Wife focuses on quirky attorney Elsbeth Tascioni, who uses her unique skill set to help the police solve homicides while also observing the NYPD to ensure they are following protocol. Few characters from The Good Wifehave appeared on Elsbeth; instead, the mystery show is mostly a stand-alone series that is far more lighthearted than its parent show.
For most of its run, Elsbeth has followed the format made popular by the classic detective drama Columbo. Most episodes open with the murder of the week so that the audience knows who the killer is. Elsbeth's title character carries a lot of bags and engages in other quirky behavior while solving the case, which often lulls perps into the false belief that she's too dimwitted to catch them so that they make mistakes that help her do so. This dynamic leads to comic or lighthearted moments while Elsbeth works on proving her theory of the case is correct.
Elsbeth May Be Changing Its Storytelling Format
Carrie Preston Suggests The Writers May Mix Things Up
Elsbeth often follows the same formula, which includes the eponymous detective figuring out the killer's identity early in the episode while Captain Wagner (Wendell Pierce) dismisses her idea as ludicrous until she comes up with the proof. While this formula is still fresh and interesting, it is silly that Wagner doubts Elsbeth's instincts when she's been right and he's been wrong every single time they've butted heads over a killer's identity. Thus, it is unsurprising that Preston indicated that an important aspect of the formula might be changing soon (via TVLine).
A guide to the characters and actors who are playing returning characters or who have first been added to the cast for Elsbeth season 2.
While Preston said: "The writers are playing around a bit with [the format]," it's not yet entirely clear what changes are in store. Preston acknowledged that Elsbeth is rarely wrong; her further comments focus on the idea that Elsbeth might not be as confident early in the story in the future or that she may be influenced by her sympathy for the villain rather than being purely objective about where the evidence is leading her. These changes would allow Preston to play interesting beats she hasn't played so far in Elsbeth and make Elsbeth less of a superhero.
Why Elsbeth Is Contemplating A Change In Its Format
Making Elsbeth Fallible Could Make The Series More Compelling
Elsbeth's uncanny ability to zero in on a guilty person right away is entertaining, but after a while, every episode feels the same. Each week begins with a murder and moves through the stages of Elsbeth having to convince one person after another that she's right while also investigating the case. Additionally, the Columbo format removes suspense from the equation, as the audience doesn't have to guess who the real killer is, thus cheating them of the ability to solve the mystery alongside Elsbeth.
The contemplated changes could make Elsbeth a more well-rounded character, especially if she becomes more fallible.
Thus, while there has been no official word on why the writers are considering changing the format, it seems likely that they want to keep the series fresh enough that viewers keep coming back. If the writers want there to be an Elsbeth season 3, they may need to contemplate making these types of changes so that they can maintain audience interest. The contemplated changes could make Elsbeth a more well-rounded character, especially if she becomes more fallible.
How Risking A Change In Format Can Make Or Break Elsbeth
The Audience Might Not Like The New Version As Much
The inverted mystery format that Elsbeth currently uses may resonate with the audience; if so, changing it midstream could be risky. The title character may not fit neatly into a more traditional whodunit format. If it's awkward or annoying, the move could lose viewers instead of gaining them. Additionally, it could be hard to pull off this change without breaking the lighthearted ethos of this show; it would have to stay a cozy mystery to avoid becoming unrecognizable.
Allowing Elsbeth to not always immediately have the right answer could help the audience identify with her and thus excite them more.
Furthermore, the mystery serieshas already taken steps to refresh itself without changing its format. Adding Ben Levi Ross as Elsbeth's son, Teddy, helps humanize Elsbeth, and the series is also experimenting with longer arcs. The new arc about the evil judge who is after Elsbeth offers intrigue and danger that is not usually part of Elsbeth, so changing the format is not strictly necessary to refresh the series halfway through its second year. However, allowing Elsbeth to not always immediately have the right answer could help the audience identify with her and thus excite them more.
Elsbeth is a crime drama series that began airing in 2024 on CBS and Paramount+. The series follows attorney Elsbeth Tascioni, who leaves her career behind to join the NYPD and become an investigator, using her unique skills to catch criminal masterminds. Elsbeth is also a spinoff of the original television series The Good Wife.
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