Elsbeth (S01E01) – A New Quirky Lead Surrounded By Crime
While “Elsbeth” isn’t a new character due to the “The Good Wife” franchise, it stands out immensely due to a quirky lead who is the type of weird that seems genuine.
[Unless Said Otherwise] Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.
Plot Recap
The New Girl In Town – Elsbeth, Officer Blanke, Detective Smullen, Captain Wagner
Fresh from Chicago, Elsbeth is invested in being a tourist a bit. She wants to see the Empire State Building, see “The Lion King,” but with her being there for a job, she decides it might be better to have a to do list. So, when she sees the scene of a crime she is due at (albeit a bit early), she hops at the chance to see a real crime scene.
The problem is Detective Smullen, the lead detective, doesn’t like her poking around since, according to Captain Wagner, her job is to watch the cops, and no grown man wants a babysitter at his job. So, both Captain Wagner and Detective Smullen push and later assign Officer Blanke to keep Elsbeth entertained and from creating any trouble.
It’s Called Acting – Alex, Elsbeth, Officer Blanke, Detective Smullen, Captain Wagner
The thing is, Elsbeth is a defense attorney, so with a history of defending people who are wrongfully accused or guilty, she knows there is a need to look beyond the obvious. Case in point, what is presented before her is supposed to be a suicide, but from looking around, she sees a murder, and all signs point to the professor of the victim, Alex Modarian, being the killer.
However, while Elsbeth sees a murder, everyone else does not. Detective Smullen sees a text from someone depressed, pills, and a bag over the victim’s head, and it seems simple to him. As for Captain Wagner? He is willing to be convinced and since Officer Blanke works patrol, this is a whole different side to policing for her so as much as she is aware of what a detective does, Elsbeth becomes a partner to her.
Which ultimately leads to Elsbeth winning Detective Smuller and Captain Wagner’s respect after Alex’s cat and mouse game eventually leads him to be caught red handed.
Why She’s Really Here – Elsbeth, Captain Wagner, Agent Celetano
So why is Elsbeth in New York? Chicago surely has a need for people to watch the police department, right? They could be coerced for a consent decree due to misconduct or other cases, correct? Well, Agent Celetano is the answer.
It is his belief that Captain Wagner, as fair, sometimes even nice, as he is to Elsbeth, is corrupt. However, Agent Celetano can’t prove that so Elsbeth is there. She said she no longer wants to lie to protect bad people, so this is her opportunity to work on the other side. But, even though she is generally a good read on people, this might be a challenge since she is supposed to work with him to take down bad people while questioning if he is a bad person at the same time.
Other Noteworthy Information
- Created By Robert King and Michelle King
Cast Guide
| Character’s Name | Actor’s Name |
| Elsbeth Tascioni | Carrie Preston |
| Captain Wagner | Wendell Pierce |
| Officer Blanke | Carra Patterson |
| Alex Modarian | Stephen Moyer |
| Detective Smullen | Danny Mastrogiorgio |
| Agent Celetano | Danny McCarthy |
New Character Description(s)
Elsbeth
Eccentric in more ways than one, Elsbeth is a now-former defense attorney who wants to be on the other side. She wanted to process and get bad people convicted over finding ways to get their freedom.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Claws.”
Captain Wagner
Captain Wagner seems to be your average captain of the police. He wants his people to feel like they can do their jobs without unnecessary scrutiny, wants to make sure good cops get recognized but, according to Agent Celetano, something is up with him.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Confirmation.”
Officer Blanke
Officer Blanke is a beat cop, who originally was just working on patrol, but with being paired with Elsbeth, it seems her career might be in a upswing.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Lovecraft Country: Season 1.”
Alex Modarian
Alex is the director of an arts program, specifically live performance, who seems to have the habit of sleeping with the female lead of his productions.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Gifted: Season 1.”
Detective Smullen
Detective Smullen is a cop who we meet while he investigates a suicide that evolves into a murder case.
Agent Celetano
Agent Celetano is Elsbeth’s contact who got her assigned to Captain Wagner’s team, where she is supposed to report about anything fishy she discovers about Captain Wagner.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Body Cam.”
Review
Highlights
A Quality Guest Star/ Case
The thing about episodic shows is that most live and breathe based on how good their guest star is, no matter how eccentric, attractive, or well-known the lead is. For, after a certain point, that gets old. Their shtick of being the oddest, smartest, sometimes luckiest depending on the situation, loses its luster.
This is especially true since the majority of the time, they don’t fail. So unless you can suspend your disbelief and believe this might be the time they don’t solve the case, you need the actor you know is guilty to at least be entertaining.
Luckily for us, we get a “True Blood” reunion to start off “Elsbeth” with a case that is quite challenging to Elsbeth, as she has to deal with an alleged corrupt captain and partners up with a patrol cop, Kaya Blanke.
Now, we won’t recap this all over, but I have to say, with guest stars like Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jane Krakowski, Retta, and more in the future, even if it would have been nice for up-and-coming or unknown talent to get these well-written roles, at the very least, it’s clear that these won’t be fly-by-night characters but will leave an impression and potentially some form of impact on viewers.
Background Information
| Network | CBS |
| Episode Title | Pilot |
| Release Date | February 29, 2024 |
| Director(s) | Robert King |
| Writer(s) | Robert King, Michelle King |
| Previous Episode | N/A |
| Series Page | Elsbeth |
| Character Guide | – |
TV Shows We’re Covering This Season
Images used for editorial and commentary purposes. All rights remain with their respective copyright holders.
