“Isn’t it great to love things?” That’s the closing line of Elsbeth Season 3, and executive producer Jonathan Tolins says that’s the key to this season’s overarching message.
“In a world where things can be really awful, being positive and cheerful without being naive is a choice and also a discipline,” he says.
Indeed, Elsbeth Tascioni (Carrie Preston) is challenged to dull her passion for loving things in every episode, but even weekly murder investigations at work can’t get this colorful character down. The Season 3 finale, which aired on May 21, guest-starred Tony-winner Patti LuPone and Shrinking‘s Michael Urie, and it was an episode all about not being ashamed to show how much you love something. Warning: Elsbeth Season 3 finale spoilers ahead.
LuPone’s murderous cabaret singer, Ruby, was in denial about how much she loves New York and would hate to leave it. Teddy Tascioni (Ben Levi Ross) was reluctant to stage an elaborate proposal to his now-fiancé, Roy (Hayward Leach). But Elsbeth convinced her son that lightheartedness, joy, and big romantic gestures can be worth the while.
After her optimism was seriously tested in Season 2, Season 3 has been all about Elsbeth solidifying her jubilance isn’t a mistake.
“The first season, a lot of it was taken up with that investigation of Captain Wagner [Wendell Pierce], and it was her finding her sea legs here in New York. The second season, she became more of a part of the family in the precinct and proved herself,” Tolins explains of Elsbeth‘s arc. “We also introduced Teddy, so we got to see that part of her life of being a mother, and she became much more settled as a New Yorker. She had her first romance on the show in Season 2 with Angus. And in Season 2, she went up against a big evil villain, who she was not able to bring to justice, ultimately. That was a maturation of the character, and having her optimistic outlook tested. It was also tested by her going to prison. At the end of Season 2, she realized that things were tough, but she was going to stick it out.”
“And then Season 3, through her relationship with Alec [Bloom], we really explored the notion of just how honest can you expect the world to be and what do you do with that?” Tolins goes on. “And is she really naive or is she just someone who decides to be the way she is and true to herself, which is optimistic and curious and enthusiastic? I mean, there’s no accident that the very last line of the season is, ‘Isn’t it great to love things?'”
Michael Parmelee/CBS
LuPone’s Ruby served as the reminder of this lesson for the season’s final installment. The Season 4 writer’s room begins this summer, according to Tolins, and that’s when they’ll figure out where to take Elsbeth next.
“Halfway through the episode, Patty’s character, Ruby, says that she wants to leave New York, and she’s lying. She doesn’t want to leave New York, but she says, ‘because I guess maybe you get to an age where you just hate everything,'” Tolins explains. “I think that the character of Elsbeth is a reminder that we don’t all have to be jaded. We don’t all have to be cynical. In a world where things can be really awful, being positive and cheerful without being naive is a choice and also a discipline. And I think that that’s something that’s inspiring about the character.”
As for their other characters, Carra Patterson‘s Kaya Blanke returned in the finale, and her last scene leaves the door open for her to come back despite Kaya’s newest promotion, which will come with another move. Elsbeth said she kind of enjoys when Kaya pops up unexpectedly. This wasn’t an explicit confirmation that Patterson will be back as a guest star in Season 4. Tolins calls it “leaving a chess piece on the board.”
“We love the relationship,” Tolins shares. “We love Cara Patterson. We’ll have to figure out exactly what works for her, what works for us, what’s available to us. But we think Elsbeth and Kaya is kind of a magical combination and we love having her.”
Michael Parmelee / CBS
He’s interested in having The Good Fight‘s Sarah Steele return as Marissa Gold alongside Ivan Hernandez‘s Alec Bloom, the mayoral candidate Elsbeth dated this season. Now that Alec has won the election, the doors are open for their comebacks. “All that can leave stuff for us to play with,” Tolins says. With Teddy engaged, could his wedding be a big thing in Elsbeth Season 4?
“Maybe. I don’t know. We’re going to find out,” Tolins teases. “Roy mentioned that he really wants to have kids, so there might be stuff to explore there as well. And Elsbeth is afraid they might move to the suburbs. There are lots of things that can go with that story.”
If Teddy’s wedding is to be shown, does that mean Will Patton could reprise his Good Wife role as Mike Tascioni, Elsbeth’s ex-husband? Elsbeth has already established a connection between Mike and Judge Crawford (Michael Emerson, Preston’s husband).
“It would be tricky to figure that out,” Tolins admits. “Although I certainly think that if Teddy’s going to get married, then I would want to know what’s going on between him and his father… He certainly is alive in our universe, and Will Patton’s a fabulous actor.”
Elsbeth, Season 4 Premiere, Fall 2026, CBS
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