92%-Rated Elsbeth Is a Modern Version of This 1971 Iconic Detective (But Better)

One of the most popular genres on television is the crime drama. And there's no way you haven't seen one in your life.

They are catchy and exciting, but often end up being quite predictable. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy them: if you think about it, it's even cool to imagine being a detective and trying to figure out what's going to happen next.

However, there are many subgenres within procedurals. For example, there are shows where the audience and the characters don't know who committed the crime, and there are shows where it's only a mystery to the characters who did it. And the main thing is the process of the main character's dedication to finding the man responsible.

One of the greatest shows of that premise was the legendary series called Columbo. The pilot premiered in 1968 on ABC and next appeared on screen in 1971 and stayed for 10 seasons before finally wrapping up in 2003. The goofy main character Columbo was a homicide detective with the LAPD.

This year CBS became home for a Columbo-like show called Elsbeth. Like its legendary predecessor, Elsbeth’s main character is Elsbeth Tascioni, a quirky detective trying to help her department catch the bad guys while using the most extravagant methods.

The fans of the new show mention that the main character herself is what makes the show so perfect.

“Elsbeth is funny and odd. But while Elsbeth is odd, part of it is also an act so she can question people without arousing their suspicions. She's crazy like a fox. Elsbeth is fun and funny. She makes the show. The plot is pretty standard. Nothing takes the spotlight off Elsbeth. It feels like the rest of the show is just an excuse to let Elsbeth be Elsbeth,” Redditor AgentElman said.

This is exactly what fans used to say about Columbo, where the main character and the way he thinks and solves mysteries was even more exciting than the actual mysteries he was solving. Lesson learned, CBS!

If you missed the chance to catch Elsbeth on CBS, you better hurry up. New episodes air on Thursdays, and the show has already been renewed for a second season.