Carrie Preston Delights in CBS Enchanting Good Wife Spinoff Elsbeth: TV Review

Posted by Aldo Pusey on Thursday, September 26, 2024

Amid an overstuffed television landscape, it takes a lot for a new show to stand out. But following their critically acclaimed series, “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight,” Robert and Michelle King have long demonstrated they know what is needed to create quality programming. Now, in their new dramedy, “Elsbeth,” with the ingenious Carrie Preston reprising her role as the quirky attorney, the Kings are proving that network TV and the procedural drama, when well-written and perfectly cast, can be outlandish, witty and full of joy.

After a 30-year-stint in Chicago, Elsbeth Tascioni is delighted to bring her astute point of view and unusual way of examining cases to New York City. Frequently underestimated as a litigator on both “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight” — usually to her legal opponents’ peril — fans of the Kings Cinematic Universe know of Elsbeth’s brilliance. Now in New York, where she’s enamored by Times Square, the Empire State Building and caricature artists, Elsbeth moves to the Big Apple to act as an outside observer for the Justice Department to ensure the NYPD works by the book. Facing a lawsuit for unlawful arrests, the NYPD isn’t thrilled with her presence. Police Captain C.W. Wagner (an ever-charming Wendell Pierce) sees her as a nuisance, and Officer Kaya Blanke (Carra Patterson), Elsbeth’s pseudo-partner, isn’t quite sure what to make of the meddling investigator at first. Yet Elsbeth’s earnest determination to get to the truth begins to soften the stances of some of her new colleagues — though not all are so easily swayed.

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Elsbeth is unique as a character, and the series’ construction is also intriguing. The camera hones in on small details the audience and the other figures in this world, including Kaya, might miss, allowing viewers to observe crime scenes and suspects in the same manner that Elsbeth views them. Since procedurals have been a dime a dozen for decades, it’s hard to deliver anything distinctive to the genre. But “Elsbeth” breaks the mold by presenting different formats within the episodes. The pilot opens as the perpetrator is carrying out a violent act, and follows the “howcatchem” structure, popularized by “Columbo” and recently revived by Natasha Lyonne and Rian Johnson’s “Poker Face.” “Elsbeth” doesn’t appear to be married to one type of narrative, though: In Episode 3, “A Classic New York Character,” the true culprit and the twists and turns depicted before and after the major incident aren’t revealed until the very end.

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In addition to Preston, Pierce and Patterson as the core cast, each chapter has a familiar face. Guest stars include Stephen Moyer, Retta, Jane Krakowski and Blair Underwood. Episode 2, titled “Reality Shock,” centers on an Andy Cohen-type producer portrayed by Jesse Tyler Ferguson who helms an off-brand “Real Housewives”-type show called “Lavish Ladies.” While the crimes Elsbeth and Kaya investigate are serious, the infusion of humor and references to popular culture distinguish “Elsbeth” from other procedurals dominating television.

Many of the storylines in the series stand alone and are tied up by the time the credits roll at the end of each episode. Yet, the first three chapters of the show lay the groundwork for some surprising revelations and arcs, which will undoubtedly play out across this season and hopefully into the next.

The carefully crafted details make “Elsbeth” such a delightful watch. Elsbeth’s outlandish collection of tote bags constantly dangle from her arms, and her bright and bold costumes, consisting of garishly designed blazers and polka dot pussybow blouses, never quite match. Elsbeth takes up space in all of the best ways. She is preoccupied with the truth. Since deception isn’t in her nature, the layers of her personal life and past career choices are slowly and eclectically revealed.

TV rarely feels special these days. There are one-off cultural moments viewers navigate toward, but much of what is developed and put on the small screen — especially network television seems like filler or different iterations of the same old thing. A gem of a series, “Elsbeth” embraces a bold blend of comedy and drama centering on a beautifully off-kilter protagonist, making it a breath of fresh air.

“Elsbeth” premieres Feb. 29 on CBS, with new episodes airing weekly on Thursdays.

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