Robert and Michelle King are kind of geniuses at the "pivot." Most showrunners try to recreate the magic of their original hit by just doing the same thing again in a different city, but that's not how they handled the transition from their flagship legal drama. When The Good Wife ended in 2016 with that infamous slap, fans were devastated. We weren't ready to leave the halls of Lockhart/Gardner. Honestly, we didn't have to. The Kings understood that the DNA of their show wasn't just Alicia Florrick; it was the cynical, fast-paced, and darkly comedic world of Chicago law and politics. This realization birthed the first major spin off of The Good Wife, The Good Fight, and eventually the whimsical procedural Elsbeth.
The Good Fight was never a "Lite" version
It’s a common mistake to think a spin-off is just a diluted version of the original. The Good Fight flipped that script immediately. Premiering in 2017 on what was then CBS All Access, it took Christine Baranski’s Diane Lockhart—a character who was already a fan favorite—and stripped her of everything. A massive Ponzi scheme wiped out her retirement. She was forced to start over at a preeminent Black-owned firm, Reddick, Boseman & Kolstad.
This wasn't just a legal show. It was a surrealist reaction to the political climate of the late 2010s. While Alicia Florrick dealt with personal scandals, Diane Lockhart dealt with a world that felt like it was literally breaking apart. The show got weird. It featured animated musical shorts explaining things like NDAs and the impeachment process. It had visions of "The Sun." It was bold.
People often ask if you need to watch all seven seasons of the original show to enjoy this spin off of The Good Wife. The short answer? No. But it helps. You’ll appreciate the growth of Lucca Quinn (Cush Jumbo) much more if you saw her humble beginnings. You’ll understand why Marissa Gold (Sarah Steele) is such a powerhouse if you know her father, Eli Gold. The show ran for six seasons, ending in 2022, and it arguably became more critically acclaimed than its predecessor because it took risks that network TV simply wouldn't allow.
The shift from prestige drama to satire
One of the most fascinating things about the transition between these shows is the tone. The Good Wife was a prestige drama with comedic elements. The Good Fight was a satire with dramatic stakes. This shift allowed the writers to tackle "ripped from the headlines" stories with a level of aggression that felt cathartic for many viewers. They didn't just cover the law; they covered the absurdity of the law.
Remember the episode about the "alt-right" and the social media algorithms? Or the one where they tried to "impeach" a sitting president in a basement court? That's the kind of storytelling that kept the franchise alive. It didn't just survive; it evolved.
Enter Elsbeth: The spin off of The Good Wife nobody expected
Then came 2024. Most people thought the "Kings-verse" was done after Diane Lockhart rode off into the sunset. Instead, we got Elsbeth.
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If you remember Elsbeth Tascioni from the original series, you know she was the "Columbo" of the show. She was quirky, carried way too many tote bags, and seemed completely distracted—right until the moment she dismantled a witness on the stand. Carrie Preston won an Emmy for this role for a reason. But centering a whole show around a character who was originally "comic relief" is a huge gamble.
Elsbeth is a different beast entirely. It’s a "howcatchem" rather than a "whodunnit." We see the murder happen in the first five minutes. The fun isn't finding out who did it; the fun is watching Elsbeth outsmart the killer while everyone else in the NYPD thinks she's just a tourist from Chicago.
Why the location change matters
Moving the setting to New York City was a brilliant move. Chicago was the backdrop for the legal battles, but New York provides the high-society, theatrical glamour that suits Elsbeth’s personality. The show feels lighter. It's colorful. It’s almost cozy, which is a wild departure from the high-stakes, "the world is ending" vibe of The Good Fight.
This is how you sustain a franchise for nearly two decades. You don't repeat yourself. You take a character, find their specific "gravity," and build a solar system around them.
The "Gold" standard: What about the others?
We can't talk about a spin off of The Good Wife without mentioning the one that almost happened but didn't, and the one that actually did (internationally).
There were always rumors about an Eli Gold spin-off. Alan Cumming is a force of nature, and Eli was arguably the most entertaining person in the original series. While he appeared in The Good Fight, he never got his own solo vehicle. However, the "Good" brand expanded globally with The Good Wife (South Korea). This wasn't just a remake; it was a culturally specific adaptation that proved the themes of betrayal and redemption are universal.
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Then there's The Good Friend, an Australian adaptation. It's fascinating to see how the core pillars—a disgraced spouse, the return to the workforce, and the intersection of law and morality—translate across different legal systems.
The secret sauce of the Kings' writing
Why do these shows keep succeeding? Honestly, it's the casting. The Kings have a "stable" of actors that they use across all their projects. You’ll see a judge in The Good Wife show up as a different character in Evil, or a lawyer from The Good Fight pop up in Elsbeth. It creates this sense of a shared universe that feels lived-in.
They also respect the audience's intelligence. They don't over-explain the law. They assume you can keep up. Whether it's the intricacies of "chummed" evidence or the nuances of election law, the writing stays sharp.
Another factor is the way they handle technology. Most TV shows make the internet look like something from 1995. This franchise actually understands how Bitcoin works, how search engines manipulate data, and how social media affects a jury. They were writing about "fake news" and "cancel culture" before those terms were even part of the daily lexicon.
The character evolution of Diane Lockhart
If you track Diane from the first episode of the original series to the finale of the spin-off, it’s one of the best arcs in TV history. She starts as a cynical but principled partner at a top firm. By the end, she’s a radicalized, mushroom-tripping, weary warrior who realizes that the only way to stay sane in an insane world is to keep fighting.
Christine Baranski’s performance is the glue that held the transition together. She provided the bridge that allowed fans to cross over from the Alicia Florrick era to the new world.
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Common misconceptions about the franchise
One big misconception is that you have to be a "law nerd" to enjoy a spin off of The Good Wife. You really don't. These are character studies. They are about how people survive when their lives don't go according to plan.
Another myth? That Elsbeth is just a "kiddie version" of the show. While it’s definitely more "blue sky" and less cynical, the writing is still incredibly tight. It’s just a different genre. Think of The Good Wife as a political thriller, The Good Fight as a political satire, and Elsbeth as a mystery procedural.
How to watch in order (The "Proper" way)
If you're new to this world, don't just jump into the middle.
- The Good Wife (Seasons 1-7): This is the foundation. You need to see the rise and fall of Alicia Florrick. Pay attention to Elsbeth’s guest appearances and Diane’s gradual disillusionment.
- The Good Fight (Seasons 1-6): Watch this specifically for the Lucca and Diane storylines. It’s a direct continuation.
- Elsbeth: You can actually watch this as a standalone if you want, but knowing Elsbeth’s history in Chicago makes her "fish out of water" story in NYC much more satisfying.
What’s next for the franchise?
There is always talk of more. Could we see a Carrie Agos spin-off? Fans have been clamoring for Matt Czuchry to return to the role for years. Is there a world where Julianna Margulies returns as Alicia Florrick? She’s been open about the salary disputes that kept her off The Good Fight, but in Hollywood, never say never.
The reality is that as long as Robert and Michelle King have something to say about the state of the world, there will likely be another spin off of The Good Wife in some form. They have built a brand that stands for quality, wit, and a very specific kind of American cynicism that audiences can't get enough of.
Actionable Insights for Fans and New Viewers
If you're looking to dive into this universe or just want to catch up, here’s how to do it effectively:
- Start with the "Pivot" Episodes: If you don't want to commit to 156 episodes of the original, watch the season 7 finale of The Good Wife and then the first three episodes of The Good Fight. It gives you the perfect snapshot of the transition.
- Track the Guest Stars: This franchise has the best guest stars in history. From Michael J. Fox to Matthew Perry and Martha Plimpton. Keep a list; many of them recur across all three shows playing the same (or similar) characters.
- Watch for the "Red" and "Blue": The shows use color theory extensively to signal political shifts and character moods. Notice how Diane’s wardrobe changes as she moves from the corporate world to the more revolutionary firm in the spin-off.
- Don't ignore the music: Especially in The Good Fight, the music isn't just background noise. The lyrics often contain clues or commentary on the plot.
The "Good" universe is a rare example of a franchise that knows how to grow up with its audience. It moved from the broadcast constraints of CBS to the freedom of streaming and back to the episodic comfort of a procedural without losing its soul. It’s about the law, sure. But mostly, it’s about the people who have to navigate it without losing their minds.