Elsbeth Is a 2020s Reminder That Good Shows Aren't Always Realistic

Summary:

• Elsbeth is a new mystery series from CBS, a spin-off of two hits, The Good Wife and The Good Fight.
• The show has already attracted a lot of viewers, although some were unhappy with the repetitive formula and lack of realism.
• The majority of Elsbeth fans, however, believe that a show like this doesn't have to be hyper-realistic to be entertaining.

One thing that many people look for in TV series is an escape from the challenges of reality. Every person is surrounded by a lot of stress these days, so turning on the TV at the end of the day is the easiest way to forget about all the problems and get an easy endorphin or adrenaline rush without actually risking anything.

Of course, people who enjoy fantasy and the supernatural aren't looking for an ounce of realism in the shows they watch, they're much more interested in lore consistency and character design. Those who prefer shows that allude to real-life professionals or events, however, are divided. And CBS' new hit, Elsbeth, just goes to show that divide.

Is Elsbeth Based on Real Life?

Although the show is considered a spin-off of The Good Wife and The Good Fight, you don't even have to watch them to understand what Elsbeth is all about. The titular character, Elsbeth Tascioni, opens up to viewers more and more with each passing episode.

While some people still feel that they don't know enough about Elsbeth, others are sure that the show still has more to tell about her and the way she ended up solving all the mysteries. Another issue that some viewers bring to light is the lack of realism in Elsbeth's constant success.

Although she's not flawless, Elsbeth is far superior to any other detective around her. She is quick-witted and has so much hands-on experience with cases that it feels like she can easily crack any mystery and solve any puzzle. While this makes her seem like a great lawyer that anyone would be lucky to have, it also makes her seem like a Mary Sue.

Somewhat spoiled by shows like Succession, the Law & Order franchise, or Euphoria, audiences are now accustomed to shows that detail all the dark and gritty sides of life and quickly lose interest when everything is going well. Elsbeth, which is much closer to the light-hearted shows of the 2000s and 2010s in this respect, plays against these rules.

Yes, Elsbeth's quick thinking and 100% success rate isn't that realistic, and probably can't be replicated by anyone in real life. But it doesn't have to be. Sometimes TV shows have only one goal: to be entertaining enough for the viewer to come back for another episode. And Elsbeth proves to be great at that.

If you've already been charmed by Elsbeth and don't care about the level of realism the show goes for in its plot, go ahead and tune in every Thursday on CBS to not miss out on another adventure the brilliant lawyer jumps into.