Mike Colter’s upcoming CBS legal drama is emerging as the strongest follow-up toThe Good Wife, surpassingElsbethin tone and storytelling.The Good Wifeis an American legaland political drama TV series that aired from 2009 to 2016.It follows Alicia Florrick, a lawyer who returns to work after her husband’s public scandal, balancing family and complex legal cases.
The Good Wifehas inspired successful spin-offs,most notablyThe Good FightandElsbeth.The Good Fightcontinued the legal drama with new characters and intense courtroom battles, whileElsbethfocuses on quirky attorney Elsbeth Tascioni. These spin-offsexpand the original show’s universe, keeping fans engaged with fresh stories and familiar themes.
However, there’s one show on the horizon that feels like the true heir toThe Good Wife, and it’s definitely notElsbeth. Withdeeper legal drama and a powerful cast, this new series promises to capture what fans really want. Curious to know which show it is?
Robert and Michelle King’s New Legal Drama Is A Better The Good Wife Follow-Up Than Elsbeth
How Elsbeth & Cupertino Offer Different Takes On The Good Wife Legacy
Elsbethis a spin-off ofThe Good Wife, focusing on quirky attorney Elsbeth, played by Carrie Preston. Unlike the legal drama tone of the original,Elsbethadds humor and crime-solving, as she works with the NYPD. The show gives fans a new angle while keeping ties to the original universe through her unique legal mind.
WhileThe Good Wifeexplored courtroom politics and power,Elsbethleans into mystery and character-driven cases. This shift brings a lighter, more playful tone to the franchise. It also highlightsElsbeth’s sharp instincts in an unfamiliar setting, proving that a spin-off can successfully stand on its own without copying the original formula.
Cupertinois the latest legal dramafrom Robert and Michelle King, creators ofThe Good WifeandThe Good Fight. According toTVLine, CBS has ordered 12 episode scripts and plans to open a writers’ room this fall. The show is still awaiting an official series pickup but is expected to debut during the 2026 - 2027 TV season.
This is another legal drama, unlikeElsbeth, which leans into quirky police work.Cupertinois described asa “David vs. Goliath” legal storyset in Silicon Valley. It follows a fired lawyer, played by Colter, who teams up with another attorney to help victims of powerful tech companies fight back in high-stakes legal battles.
The Kings are writing the pilot and will executive-produce alongside longtime collaborator Liz Glotzer. With itsBay Area tech setting and power imbalance theme,Cupertinotaps into modern legal and ethical issues. It’s shaping up to deliver the serious, layered storytelling fans loved inThe Good Wife. It’s somethingElsbethintentionally avoids with its lighter tone.
Fans will recognize Colter from his role asLemond Bishop in bothThe Good WifeandThe Good Fight.Now returning in a lead role, he brings strong ties to the Kings’ universe.Cupertinofeels more like a true continuation of their legal storytelling legacy, as it offers a sharper, more grounded alternative toElsbeth.
Why Elsbeth Doesn’t Lean On Its Connections To The Good Wife & The Good Fight
Why Elsbeth Feels Separate From The Good Wife & Why Cupertino Feels Closer
Elsbethwas designed to stand apart fromThe Good Wifeuniverse. While the character of Elsbeth originated there, thecreators chose to shift genres entirely. Instead of a legal or political drama,Elsbethadopts a lighthearted crime procedural format, inspired by shows like Columbo, offering quirky investigations rather than courtroom conflict.
“They found that there were very few people in these focus groups that had even seen The Good Wife or Good Fight, and if they had seen them, they might not have even seen the episodes that Elsbeth was in.”
Preston, who playsElsbeth, has said in aCinemablendinterview thatElsbethdidn’t require background knowledge of the earlier series. It introducedfresh characters, a new setting in New York City,and a completely different tone. This gaveElsbeththe freedom to explore her detective skills in a standalone format, rather than being tied to past storylines or legal arcs.
CBS and the show’s creators intentionally madeElsbethaccessible to new viewers. They avoided leaning heavily on connections toThe Good FightorThe Good Wifeso that audiences unfamiliar with those series could still follow along. Still,Cupertinois shaping up to be the more natural successor, asit returns to the legal drama rootsand complex themes that defined the original show.
