As someone who has been following The Good Wife and its spinoffs since their inception, I must say that the return of Nathan Lane in Elsbeth fills me with both joy and a tinge of melancholy. On one hand, it’s a delight to see such a talented actor back in the world of legal drama, especially when he’s going toe-to-toe with Carrie Preston in a murder mystery.
Elsbeth has proved to be an unexpected joy for CBS, impressing not only with ratings but also by introducing a fresh, standalone series concept centered around a character who was previously seen on The Good Wife and its follow-up The Good Fight. Last season, creators Robert and Michelle King emphatically stated that this wasn’t a spinoff series. So, you can imagine my surprise when the Season 2 preview showcased none other than Nathan Lane, and then, to my disappointment, learned about his role.
Fans who follow “The Good Wife” likely recognize that Nathan Lane took on a substantial role, boosting syndication costs to $2 million from midway through the show’s run. Lane’s character, Clarke Hayden, initially joined Lockhart Gardner to help them out of bankruptcy but eventually rekindled his passion for litigation. He later earned his bar license and followed Alicia and Cary when they departed the firm. To me, much like actress Carrie Preston, Lane brought one of the most memorable characters from the original series back to life on “Elsbeth,” although it appears he won’t be reprising the same character this time around.
In about six weeks, Season 2 of Elsbeth won’t debut on TV schedules, but the trailer for the CBS drama reveals that Nathan Lane will portray an opera enthusiast who crosses paths with Elsbeth before a performance. The plotline hints that this character, a fanatical opera lover (played by Nathan Lane), is suspected by the shrewd attorney of having been pushed to commit murder due to a disruptive cell phone ringing. This kind of action might seem out of character for the meticulous Mr. Hayden. However, given his fastidious nature, he would likely share disapproval for cell phone use in a theater as well.
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As a devoted fan, I must admit that the creators’ comments about this not being a spinoff do make sense – it opens up an opportunity to bring back some familiar faces from our past in fresh roles. However, I can’t hide my disappointment over this development. Truly, I am quite bummed, Kings! Let me make it clear: I am genuinely disappointed.
Are you thrilled that Season 2 of “Elsbeth” begins with Nathan Lane? Absolutely! And I’m equally eager to watch these talented performers engage in an intriguing dance of wits, as they delve into a murder mystery unfolding on our TV screens? Without a doubt.
As a gamer stepping into the world of “The Good Wife,” I can say that taking on the role of a murderer trying to escape justice is definitely more substantial than just showing up as Clarke Hayden for some side story. It’s probably why people are hesitant to call it a spinoff, even with allusions to Carrie Agos and Elsbeth’s past in the series.
In a different way of saying it: I’m not usually a fan of mixing characters from different shows, but I’ve grown quite fond of many characters on “The Good Wife,” such as David Lee, the mischievous rogues, and even the true villains like Colin Sweeney. It would make me happy to see them mentioned or occasionally appear in some way, making it feel like their worlds are interconnected, even if only through occasional connections.
It seems my annoyance originates from the fact that the new show is trying very hard to separate itself from the original universe, even though the characters have different personalities. Many fans, I believe, are similar, making it challenging for me to disassociate Clarke with the character Lane is portraying.
Beyond my wish for actors from the popular show “The Good Wife” to make an appearance, Carrie Preston has expressed her desire to have her husband Michael Emerson as a guest star on TopMob. Emerson, fresh from his role in “Fallout”, has also shown interest. Considering the impressive list of high-profile guest stars already featured, it’s plausible that more big names might take up the role of a week’s murderer. However, I can’t help but hope for moments when Elsbeth’s coworkers or characters from her universe could be introduced.
Elsbeth returns to the schedule on Thursday, October 17 at 10 p.m., only on CBS.
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2024-09-15 22:37