Leave it to Elsbeth to continuously shake things up by diving into various avenues and subgenres of mystery.
Instead of emulating elements of a “howcatchem” or even a “whodunit,” this episode dipped into one of the rarest kinds of mysteries: the “whydunit.”
While “subtle” is not a word most people would use to describe Elsbeth, that’s exactly how it worked in a case where the main mystery was the killer’s motivation.
The more the case was cracked open, the less sense it made that Jordana Brewster’s Chloe would kill the victim. That is, until it was clear how much her character cared for the billionaire.
Billions of Dollars Can Buy a Lot of Things, But the Right to Frame Someone for Murder Is Not One of Them
Speaking of billionaires, if you’re like this TV Fanatic, this may have been your first time hearing of “Billionaire’s Row” in New York City.
You may have even wondered, “How many billionaires could NYC have that they would name a whole row after them?”
Well, my friend, the answer is that over 140 billionaires currently have residences in New York City. You don’t even want to know how many there are worldwide.
I’d like to say the victim in “Tearjerker” was the sweet and lovable kind, but the man tried to frame his ex-wife, Deborah, for his murder.
There were many similarities between this episode of Elsbeth and Jamie Lee Curtis‘s Knives Out. There were even significant themes surrounding the victim’s money and competence.
Personally, I don’t think it was right that the victim lost control over his finances just because he made extravagant purchases.
What’s the point of hoarding all that money if you aren’t eventually going to do something with it? That’s where my sympathy for the victim ends because he was far from being a saint.
Not to mention, the victim built huge buildings that sway. How is that something that passes building codes? As someone with acrophobia, I couldn’t even step foot in that high-rise.
The second I felt the building “move with the wind,” I would become pinned to the floor and wouldn’t be able to move until someone rolled me out.
At least the guy had good taste because Jordana Brewster was a whole vibe in CBS‘s Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 13.
Criminal or Not, Elsbeth Sure Does Have a Way with the Wealthy Women of New York City
The name “Jordana Brewster” can bring to mind a multitude of movie memories, depending on how much of a film lover you are and what types you enjoy.
For some, the actor’s name stirs up a connection to the still-going Fast & The Furious franchise. Seriously, those movies are going to outlive us all.
However, scary movie buffs like myself remember her as the iconic Delilah from the sci-fi teen horror flick The Faculty.
For everyone else, you might remember Jordana Brewster as Maureen Cahill from Lethal Weapon, the TV series based on the movies of the same name.
Still, the most devoted TV Fanatics probably recall her as Elena Ramos from Dallas or even — and this is a deep cut — her role as Nikki/Dani Munson on As the World Turns.
Suffice it to say, it’s no wonder she killed it on this episode of Elsbeth. Sure, her portrayal was rather subtle, but that had more to do with how the character was written.
Despite Chloe’s lavish surroundings, she had the energy of a woman who had to work from the ground up to achieve everything she had. Did you notice how unbothered she was by the idea of jail?
Interestingly, Elsbeth seems to have great chemistry with gorgeous women dripping in diamonds and designer clothes. You know who I’m thinking of, right?
Chloe was like the less campy version of Laura Benanti’s Nadine Clay, who we last saw in Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 5.
Why couldn’t we have had Nadine back rather than this new detective, who is the personification of entitlement?
There’s A New Detective on the Scene, and He Is by Far the Worst Elsbeth Has Ever Encountered
You know an Elsbeth character is terrible when they make you long for the days of Danny Mastrogiorgio’s (The Blacklist) Detective Smullen rolling his eyes at the titular character.
Now we have this skid mark, Detective Rivers, completely messing up the fun and whimsical vibe of the NYPD. Seriously, who does this guy think he is?
First, he came out of nowhere and stampeded all over Kaya and Elsbeth, who were the only ones doing actual investigating.
In addition, he used the “repeat what a woman said and pass it off as his own idea” cliche.
What kind of narcissist acts like a hero and a victim at the same time? And how does he have so much confidence when he is so blatantly wrong?
Every so often, there is an individual that is far more irritating than they are menacing, and Detective Rivers is one such character. That says a lot about the guy portraying the character.
If the assignment was to be the most obnoxious man on the planet, then the actor, Braeden De La Garza (Cruel Summer), nailed it. Time will only tell how often we’ll have to stomach the new detective.
And why is Captain Wagner bringing this new guy on when he already has a perfectly capable detective on the payroll?
Captain Wagner Better Hurry Up, and Promote Officer Kaya Before Another Precinct Snatches Her Up
For whatever reason, the series is dragging its feet with making Carra Patterson‘s Officer Kaya Blanke into a full-fledged detective.
I don’t understand the issue. She was ready to go on Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 1 before Lieutenant Connor derailed her advancement.
Well, now that she has her credentials, why is she still rocking her cop uniform while her new detective threads are sitting in her closet collecting dust?
Captain Wagner needs to pick up the pace before he gets stuck with a detective who is a lawsuit waiting to happen while losing another with amazing potential.
Did you see how that other captain jumped at the chance to snatch up Kaya? I don’t blame the captain from the other precinct, but that seemed underhanded.
Not that we have anything to worry about. It’s not like Kaya will turn her back on her mentor, Captain Wagner, or leave behind her pink partner in crime.
Can you imagine how upset Elsbeth would be? Besides, Miss Tascioni still has the looming threat of Michael Emerson‘s Judge Milton hanging over her.
Come to think of it, his case is a “whydunit” as well. Think back to “One Angry Woman” when the judge killed the victim. It was never established why he committed the murder.
All we know is that the titular character pointed out at the end of Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 12 that Milton’s motive must be personal, considering the brutal killing.
And everyone knows that once things get personal, they can get ugly pretty fast, no matter how much pink you throw at the situation.
While things might get sticky for Elsbeth (Carrie Preston), it would be nice if the series sped the drama up rather than bread-crumbing the plot. I’m at the edge of my seat here.
Do you prefer when Elsbeth is more of a “howcatchem” or a classic “whodunit”?
How bad do you think things will get for Elsbeth when Judge Milton makes his next move?
Please drop a comment below to let me know what you think, and join me again when I review another episode of Elsbeth!
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