Elsbeth is possibly the most unique procedural on TV, and its showrunner believes that he knows why. Having spun off from The Good Wife and The Good Fight, the show follows Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth Tascioni, who works diligently to solve crimes. While she is not officially a police officer, she spends much of her time solving crimes, while emotionally connecting with everyone in her vicinity. After a successful sophomore season, Elsbeth was recently renewed for season 3, as CBS believes that it can be a successful long-running show.
In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Rachel Foertsch, showrunner Jonathan Tolins explained the most stand-out element from the show so far. While other procedurals focus on shocking cliffhangers and extreme drama, Tolins prefers to focus on Elsbeth‘s “kindness and joy and enthusiasm,” as “that’s what makes our show special“. Tolins finds that “very moving” and plans to continue to honor the character’s upbeat attitude. Check out his quote below:
ScreenRant: I love that you leave Elsbeth on an optimistic note. I’m a huge proponent of shows that make you feel good. What makes you value that over shocking cliffhangers that other series tend to end on?
Jonathan Tolins: I guess I’m just taking the lead from the character and from Carrie Preston. There’s a certain kindness and joy and enthusiasm there that I always want to honor, and I think that’s what makes our show special. Also, in this finale, I’ve had so many people come to me and say, about the show, “Oh, Elsbeth is just what we need right now.” And so I kind of wrote to that in the final speech where she recognizes that this is where she’s needed, and she’s going to stick it out, and redouble her efforts to do the right thing. And that was very moving to me. So that’s where that comes from.
What Elsbeth’s Uniqueness Means For The Show
Standing Out Has Been A Significant Aid
Most police procedurals focus on darkness, crime, and gritty realism to help ensure that audiences remain engaged. While Elsbeth‘s season 2 ending did borrow from some realism by seeing the leading character sent to prison, it still maintained its constant sense of optimism. Even in prison, Elsbeth spent most of her time investigating, trying to bond with her fellow inmates, and hoping to solve injustices within the facility. It is an extremely unique show that could turn a prison sentence into an optimistic story, but this series managed it.
The odd sense of familiarity of Elsbeth’s character and her constant positivity is a much-needed break from reality.
This lovable procedural sets itself apart by serving as a beacon of hope in an increasingly dark world. While the real world remains shrouded in war, negativity, and anxiety, this show offers an opportunity for viewers to tune away from it all for one hour a week. Instead of promoting a sense of fear, it offers a temporary respite from the drama of life. The odd sense of familiarity of Elsbeth’s character and her constant positivity is a much-needed break from reality. It may not be especially realistic, but the show never needs to be.
Our Take On Elsbeth’s Unique Place On TV
The Show Should Continue To Thrive
Positivity is a rare trait in the modern world, and that is what makes this series so fun. While the format of police procedurals is somewhat tired, as each show tends to repeat the same elements for decades, this show has earned a place of its own on network TV. Elsbeth should continue to thrive, because there is nothing else like it on any network. Even with Cara Patterson’s Kaya Blanke potentially leaving the series, Preston is the one who carries this show, so it should be a hit as long as she remains.
