Elsbeth (2024)

TV show · 2024 · Crime, Drama, Comedy, Mystery · English

Curator score: 5.0/10 (18.3K ratings)

You will know her name.

Overview

After her successful career in Chicago, Elsbeth Tascioni, an astute but unconventional attorney, utilizes her singular point of view to make unique observations and corner brilliant criminals alongside the NYPD.

Ratings

Production

Scott Free Productions, King Size Productions, CBS Studios

Cast

Carrie Preston, Wendell Pierce

Where to watch

fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential

Curator Review

Verdict

A breezy, character-first procedural with a playful legal-mystery hook and a very watchable lead. It’s lighter and more whimsical than most CBS crime shows, which is the appeal, though the case-of-the-week format can feel repetitive if you want deeper serialization or harder-edged stakes.

Best for

  • fans of clever procedural mysteries
  • viewers who like quirky, eccentric detectives
  • people who enjoy light crime shows with humor
  • The Good Wife / The Good Fight fans

Skip if

  • you want a tightly serialized thriller
  • you prefer dark, high-intensity crime drama
  • you dislike case-of-the-week structure
  • you want ensemble-heavy shows with big ongoing arcs

Overview

Elsbeth takes a beloved supporting character and gives her a series built around her oddball logic, social disarming, and uncanny ability to read people. The result is a polished network procedural that feels more whimsical than grim, with a strong lead performance and a format designed for easy weekly viewing.

Worth noting

The show’s charm is in the details: Elsbeth’s offbeat observations, the cat-and-mouse rhythm with guest criminals, and the way it mixes comedy with tidy mystery plotting. It’s not trying to be prestige noir; it’s aiming for clever, accessible, and character-driven.

Bottom line

That said, the formula is very much the formula. If you like the comfort of a well-made procedural, it delivers; if you want escalating stakes or deep serialization, it can start to feel repetitive. Best approached as a light, smart companion watch rather than a must-binge event series.

Recommended similar titles

The Good Wife

2009 · Curator 9.6/10 (89.7K ratings) · Where to watch: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential

The closest tonal and creative companion: smart legal drama, sharp dialogue, and the same universe’s blend of cases, character work, and wit.

Poker Face

2023 · Curator 6.3/10 (68.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus

A modern mystery-of-the-week series built around a distinctive lead, playful plotting, and guest-star-driven cases.

Monk

2002 · Curator 9.0/10 (102.8K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads

A classic quirky detective procedural with a singular protagonist, comic awkwardness, and satisfying weekly mysteries.

Psych

2006 · Curator 1.4/10 (992 ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus

Light, fast, and character-centric, with a playful investigative rhythm and an easy bingeable structure.

Columbo

1971 · Curator 8.9/10 (48.6K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus, Fandango at Home Free, Tubi TV

For viewers who enjoy watching a brilliant mind outmaneuver criminals through observation, social engineering, and calm persistence.

The Mentalist

2008 · Curator 7.7/10 (232.4K ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu

A polished network procedural centered on a highly observant lead who reads people better than anyone else.

Castle

2009 · Curator 7.4/10 (188.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video with Ads

A breezy crime series that mixes banter, mystery, and a likable central partnership in an accessible weekly format.

Bones

2005 · Curator 6.5/10 (193.4K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock Premium, Philo, BBC America, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus

A long-running procedural with a strong odd-couple dynamic, case-of-the-week structure, and a balance of humor and crime solving.

Murder, She Wrote

1984 · Curator 8.5/10 (33.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Philo

The gold standard for cozy, observation-based mystery television with a warm, serial-friendly procedural structure.

Topics

procedural, mystery, crime, legal, comedy-drama, lighthearted, case-of-the-week, New York City, quirky, network TV

Open Elsbeth (2024) on Curator TV