Warning: SPOILERS for Elsbeth season 2, episode 19, "I've Got A Little List."

Kaya Blanke’s detective promotion on Elsbeth season 3.

From day one, a number of fans have been theorizing about the potential for the writers to include more The Good Wife cameos on Elsbeth. However, Elsbeth’s own unique characters have proven the spinoff more than capable of standing on its own merit. This can be attributed in no small part to the heartwarming friendship between Elsbeth and Kaya. That’s precisely why new developments that suggest Kaya could be leaving the series for good is an uncomfortable thought.

Kaya Blanke’s Twist Promotion In Elsbeth Season 2, Episode 19 Explained

She Had No Idea How Fast Things Would Progress

Kaya’s promotion to detective already resulted in big changes to Elsbeth’s procedural format, requiring Elsbeth to partner with other patrol officers while Kaya often worked other cases. There have been entire episodes in which Elsbeth and Kaya barely spend any time in the same room together, something Wagner saw coming when he mournfully remarked to Lieutenant Connor that things would never be the same after Kaya getting her golden shield. Elsbeth’s friendship with Kaya soon received an even greater threat when Captain Kershaw asked Kaya to switch precincts, and Kaya seemed to be seriously considering it.

It's Wagner himself, however, who urges Kaya to make the switch. In season 2, episode 19, Wagner tells Detective Blanke that Captain Kershaw has a spot opening up on a task force. If she accepts, she’ll have to train in Washington immediately before transferring to Kershaw’s precinct. Kaya initially plans on turning down the offer out of loyalty to Wagner for helping her get promoted, but he convinces her that she’d be pas a career-making opportunity. In the end, Kaya tearfully informs Elsbeth that she’s accepted the position, calling her future on The Good Wife spinoff into question.

What Kaya Blanke’s Promotion Means For Cara Patterson’s Role In Elsbeth Season 3

She’s Not Entirely Being Written Out Of The Show

Although Kaya might be able to finish her training in D.C. over the summer hiatus, her new position will require her to take on undercover assignments for unpredictable lengths of time. She’s promised to continue her frozen yogurt dates with Elsbeth, but it’s not reasonable to expect that Kaya can remain a dedicated part of the series in her new role. As such, Carra Patterson is leaving Elsbeth as a series regular. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean she’s gone for good. According to executive producer Jonathan Tolins:

We’re excited that the character got her promotion and achieved that dream. She’s not leaving the world of the show. She’s just not going to be with us every day. I don’t want to make too much of the change.

Patterson has repeated these same sentiments. In short, while Kaya will no longer be a main character on the show, Carra Patterson will continue to renew her role in Elsbeth season 3 as a recurring guest star. Additionally, newer additions such as Elsbeth’s son Teddy and Officer Nikki Reynolds will continue to appear. Patterson’s chemistry with Carrie Preston will certainly be missed as a series mainstay, but fans won’t be deprived of the characters’ friendship altogether. It will merely feature in a more limited capacity.

How Blanke’s Reduced Role Will Impact Elsbeth Season 3

Other Characters Should Get More Chances To Shine

Not only will characters like Teddy and Nikki be sticking around, but they might get more screentime now that there’s one less mainstay who needs to be squeezed in. Additionally, while Kaya’s promotion meant less time with the other rotating detectives, characters like Detective Rivers and Molly Price’s Detective Donnelly should get a chance to feature alongside the new officer characters. In short, it won’t just be Elsbeth’s tote bags keeping her company in Kaya’s absence. She’ll get to enjoy her other co-stars, along with some possible newcomers as well.

Kaya’s departure should also free up room in the budget for guest stars, meaning fan favorites such as Elsbeth’s Scottish love interest could begin making returns to the series. Crucially, it’s worth mentioning that Kershaw and Wagner aren’t opposed to teaming up, which means that a future story arc on Elsbeth could easily involve Tascioni working with Kaya’s task force. Elsbeth may weep for her friend leaving the precinct, but this change will hardly throw a wrench in the gears of the series. Those gears might just turn a little differently now, and that’s actually pretty exciting.

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