Elsbeth’s Past Resurfaces In The Season 2 Winter Premiere, Here’s What You Need To Know From Carrie Preston’s Good Wife And Good Fight Days

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In simpler terms, the character Elsbeth is set to reappear on TV schedules for 2025 after a month-long break, with the previous episode ending mysteriously. Carrie Preston’s character’s past from her days on ‘The Good Wife’ and ‘The Good Fight’ has resurfaced to create trouble, as Judge Milton Crawford (played by Michael Emerson) reveals her part in concealing documents related to the Van Ness case when she was in Chicago. Showrunner Jonathan Tolins discussed with TopMob what Elsbeth fans should know, regardless of whether they watched ‘The Good Wife’ and ‘The Good Fight’ in the past.

Following the winter finale in December, Laurie Metcalf was given a more intense storyline than typical on The Conners. Somehow, Crawford managed to get documents unsealed that exposed Elsbeth’s role in concealing evidence for a shady client. The episode concluded without any immediate consequences, but Kaya appeared stunned when she saw Elsbeth’s image during a news segment about the ensuing scandal.

If you hadn’t been a regular viewer of The Good Wife or The Good Fight when they first aired, I found myself questioning if there was some background to the Van Ness case from either of those series that I wasn’t aware of. Given that the CBS hit did introduce a former cast member of The Good Wife at the start of Season 2, it made me ponder. However, the actors had also clarified that Carrie Preston’s previous two shows weren’t essential watching for Elsbeth. (Both shows can now be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription.)

Inquiring about the fall finale with showrunner Jonathan Tolins, I found myself curious if there is any backstory from ‘The Good Wife’ or ‘The Good Fight’ that viewers should be aware of as Elsbeth delves further into the main character’s past? The producer answered:

The tale of Van Ness divorce and Elsbeth moving to New York isn’t something you’d find on The Good Wife or The Good Fight; it’s an original storyline we created. It’s worth mentioning that while Elsbeth appeared as a lawyer, she wasn’t the most ethically impeccable attorney in the world. She was always mindful of doing what was best for her clients, but she often navigated a morally ambiguous space.

Viewers won’t necessarily need a deep understanding of Elsbeth’s backstory before her series debuts in 2024, but they should be aware that she wasn’t the most morally upright lawyer. However, it appears that she has developed a sense of legal integrity since moving to New York City. This newfound sense of justice compelled her to intervene when Judge Crawford wrongfully imprisoned an innocent woman due to the woman’s ineffective attorney. It’s this questionable past that could lead to complications for her in the future. Tolins further stated:

What proved particularly challenging for her on this occasion was being a victim herself, without initially comprehending the true situation. This left her feeling enraged, humiliated, and ashamed, which are topics she will discuss in Episode 9.

In the upcoming winter debut on January 30th, Elsbeth’s emotional turmoil and anger will be explored, which is unexpected given her typically optimistic outlook on life and work. It’s rare to see Elsbeth Tascioni upset, and when I mentioned this to the showrunner, Tolins replied:

One of the wonderful advantages of producing numerous episodes is that we’re uncovering even more about her character, and Carrie has been portraying this role for quite some time now, allowing her to truly embody it. We trust that whatever concepts we develop, if they resonate with Carrie, she will bring an authenticity and unexpected depth to her performance that makes the show richer in terms of color and allows us to explore deeper, more emotional territories than typical network procedurals might offer.

Carrie Preston has been portraying this character extensively, having made her debut as Elsbeth in the initial season of The Good Wife back in 2010, and she was honored with an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance during Season 3 in 2013.

How might Elsbeth’s situation shift following Judge Crawford’s public disclosure of her questionable legal actions? To clarify this on the show, I inquired about how Carrie Preston’s character would handle the unsealing of those documents. In response, Tolins shared his insights:

She’ll need to take on some tasks ahead, as she aims to rectify the situation, particularly the conflict with Kaya, who finds it hard to comprehend her actions. She might require assistance from her friends to find a solution for this predicament. Above all, she deeply regrets being involved in something that led to an innocent person’s suffering, and she won’t be at peace until she sets things right somehow. This is just one aspect of her nature.

Thankfully, it’s almost time to discover what happens next for Elsbeth and her crew! The winter premiere will air on Thursday, January 30 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS, right after Matlock. Titled “Unalive and Well,” the episode features Eric McCormack from Will & Grace, who plays a charming founder of a holistic wellness center. Elsbeth becomes suspicious of him when a young man is found dead.

It’s yet uncertain whether Michael Emerson will show up in the winter premiere to add more complexity to the storyline, given his role in revealing Elsbeth’s past and transporting it into her life in NYC. However, the presence of McCormack as a guest star is certainly enough to generate excitement. And let’s not forget that Laurie Metcalf, who has shown her prowess in sitcoms, demonstrates that veterans of comedies can handle the dramatic side of Elsbeth as well!

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2025-01-24 05:38