Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 1.Elsbeth is back, and our favorite police consultant is as “Elsbethy” as ever in the Season 3 premiere “Yes, And…” The episode is a microcosm of everything we love about the series, and Elsbeth (Carrie Preston) herself, and if there were any worries that Season 3 wouldn’t be able to maintain the lofty standards set by the first two seasons, consider them dashed. “Yes, And…” is one of the series’ best, filled with meta moments, warmth, fun, and the promise of some fascinating dynamics that will play out over the season.
Elsbeth Meets Late Night Murder in the ‘Elsbeth’ Season 3 Premiere “Yes, And…”
Elsbeth‘s second season didn’t end on a cliffhanger per se, with Elsbeth released from prison thanks to the efforts of Captain Wagner (Wendell Pierce) and Officer Chandler (Ethan Slater). Rather, it ended in Elsbeth choosing to embrace the challenges before her, with the machinations of Judge Crawford (Michael Emerson) still very much in play and Detective Kaya Blanke (Carra Patterson) leaving New York for her task force training program in DC. “Yes, And…” picks up a few months after that point, and, slowly but surely, little nuggets of information are dropped throughout the episode to bring us up to speed.
It’s a credit to the series’ writers that they can play that slow exposition without taking away from the main story, and it’s fitting that such a well-written episode opens with Laurel Hammond-Muntz (Amy Sedaris), head writer and executive producer of late-night talk show Way Late with Scotty Bristol, entering the writers room. She’s there to give them the bad news, yet again, that Scotty (Stephen Colbert) has decided not to use their material for that night’s show. Cue the sound of the paper shredder in Scotty’s office, a regular occurrence done simply to irritate the writers.
Laurel goes from there to the green room, where a familiar face from the past, Sheryl Jacobs (Marcia DeBonis), who fans will remember as the friend Elsbeth made at the wellness retreat in Season 2’s “Unalive and Well.” She’s on the show to promote her book about her wellness journey, and Laurel is there to prepare her, as best she can, for whatever Scotty may throw her way. As she’s talking, Scotty breezes in, and a starstruck Sheryl introduces him to the friend that came to support her from the audience: Elsbeth Tascioni. Elsbeth is on the couch behind a number of bags, trying to catch a few winks before the show starts after just arriving home from Scotland (we’ll get there, promise), but still bright and bouncy enough to be an irritant to Scotty.
The episode cuts to the taping, where Sheryl is being interviewed by Scotty. She asks if he’s read the book; he has not. But his sidekick, Mickey Muntz (Andy Richter), did, and starts to engage with Sheryl before being cut off by Scotty, who uses the book to verbally abuse Mickey on air, as is his wont. After the show wraps, Laurel is seen consoling Mickey, her husband, not only over the verbal abuse but over Scotty’s refusal to allow Mickey time off for medical leave due to a heart condition. Laurel sends Mickey off and heads into Scotty’s office. They reminisce about the trio’s past as an improv group before making it big, with Scotty tenaciously holding on to fame to the point of denying a long-time friend medical leave. Laurel seduces Scotty, who she spurned back then for Mickey, and backs him up against his big paper shredder, dubbed “Mickey 2.” As he leans back, Laurel jams his tie into the shredder and holds down the override button, strangling Scotty to death.
Writers Top the List of Suspects in the ‘Elsbeth’ Season 3 Premiere “Yes, And…”
Back to Elsbeth, who returns home to the welcoming face of Teddy (Ben Levi Ross). She’s evasive about why she’s come back earlier than expected, chalking it up to being there for Sheryl. Teddy changes the subject to talk about his good news, having taken a job with the New York View as an investigative journalist. This is the first sign of Crawford’s lessening impact, with Teddy having found a job he’s passionate about after giving up on becoming a lawyer. Just as Elsbeth is about to finally get some sleep, Wagner calls, asking for her to come to the crime scene.
While on the subject of being back on the job, Elsbeth asks if there’s a “new officer keeping her in line,” and there is: Grace Hackett (Lindsay Mendez), police officer by day, aspiring comic at night. There is a connection between the two, but it will be some time before it builds up to the dynamic Elsbeth shared with Kaya (but does show promise that it can get there). At the crime scene, Elsbeth looks around and posits that Scotty must have taken out his earbuds to talk to someone, most likely the killer. In the episode’s funniest meta moment, when it’s revealed that Scotty was listening to “Merrily We Roll Along,” the Stephen Sondheim musical, prompting Elsbeth to gleefully utter how much she loves his work because his stories always work backward – just like Elsbeth always does with her deductions. Moving on, she acts out the probability of what happened to Scotty which is a pretty faithful observation but it’s a mystery given that the override button has been wiped of prints.
Back at the station, Elsbeth has gifts she brought back from Scotland for everyone; personal gifts that she put thought into plus a number of novelty pencils to give to those that she doesn’t know well. But it’s a station that has changed since Elsbeth’s been gone with those budget cuts; another fallout from Crawford forcing Lieutenant Connor (Daniel K. Isaac) to make budgetary decisions like charging $1 for coffee and cutting back on how often garbage is collected. The efforts irritate Detective Smullen (Danny Mastrogiorgio) to no end but that will have to wait as they gather to try and figure out who might be responsible. Smullen theorizes or outright declares that it must be the writers. So back to the crime scene where a page walks Smullen and Elsbeth down the hall pointing out Scotty’s office where they found him dead (it mimics the opening moments of the episode when the same page is giving a tour; one of many fun details in this episode). They question the writers but it becomes unlikely that it’s any of them: none of them were in office at that time and while they might have been angry with Scotty regularly; they assert that any writer isn’t going to rock the boat but rather be thankful they have a job.
Amy Sedaris’ Laurel Gets Caught In a Lie in the ‘Elsbeth’ Season Premiere “Yes, And…”
Speculation turns to Mickey after video footage from elevator shows him visibly angry and hostile after embarrassment suffered on show just before he heads back and finds Scotty’s body. Only it’s something he does routinely after any show building up courage quit before calming down as evidenced in additional elevator footage. Elsbeth’s attention then turns to Laurel who regularly took brunt of writer’s hostility towards Scotty, and would have been upset over Scotty’s poor treatment of Mickey. As they’re talking Elsbeth drops one of those nuggets we talked about adding that her ex narrowly escaped disbarment yet another of Crawford’s machinations fall. Their talk turns trio’s past as an improv troupe giving Elsbeth idea that Laurel should teach her improv as it could really help her work. She does and the improv lessons led by most important lesson of “yes and…” are highlight episode, brilliantly funny scene also serves draw Laurel deeper into Elsbeth’s suspicions.
But it’s Mickey who actually picks up on Laurel’s murderous act first after confronting her about lying police about him wanting quit. Only realization is too much and Mickey dies spot. It’s perfect opportunity for Laurel who pins blame on Mickey, and Smullen figures that’s it end story except she uses phrase “yes and,” fatal flaw Elsbeth catches all but confirming suspicions. But that’s still all they are suspicions and after getting update from Detective Jax (Ruffin Prentiss) on Kaya (she’s doing well and is on her first undercover assignment which has plushy Loch Ness Monster waiting for her), Elsbeth goes into office. Meanwhile Wagner after watching Connor being utterly berated by officers angry over budget cuts comes rescue saying any concerns budget need go through him. His standing up Connor makes episode quietest yet most powerful moment as Connor’s face visibly relieved thankful.
In her office Elsbeth notices Smullen has tossed shortbread cookies gift from her into wastebasket. It’s lightbulb moment and Elsbeth rushes off studio. She confronts Laurel there giving list reasons why she would hate Scotty enough kill him. Laurel asks how she knew all this and answer comes around corner: page. Pages know see all behind scenes responsible emptying out paper shredders as he did before Scotty’s demise only there was paper in Mickey 2 meaning someone put shredded paper after fact spacing between shreds matches shredder Laurel’s office perfectly. It’s wrap as Laurel walked out saying she didn’t kill Mickey but Elsbeth points out did just not directly.
Having successfully solved case Elsbeth uses opportunity grab box now unusable Way Late with Scotty Bristol-branded office supplies precinct. It’s short-term solution but before Elsbeth can voluntarily step away from office Wagner stops her saying if it comes down getting rid her or budget cuts he will never entertain thought former. Now finally Elsbeth gets some sleep.Ah but we promised you scoop on Scotland visit so here it is: Elsbeth hesitant call Angus (Ioan Gruffudd) boyfriend claiming she’s not sure what call what they have was evasive when asked by Teddy. It could just be weight keeping up long-distance relationship but I swear I will take back love writers here should break pair up.
New episodes of Elsbeth drop Thursdays starting October 16 on CBS in U.S.
- Release Date
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February 29, 2024
- Directors
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Nancy Hower,
Robert King,
Lionel Coleman,
Rob Hardy,
Robin Givens,
Ron Underwood,
Rosemary Rodriguez,
Aisha Tyler,
Bille Woodruff,
James Whitmore Jr.,
Joe Menendez,
Kevin Rodney Sullivan,
Lily Mariye,
Nick Gomez,
Peter Sollett,
Sam Hoffman,
Tyne Rafaeli,
Darren Grant,
Fong-Yee Yap,
Mary Lou Belli
- Writers
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Jonathan Tolins,
Erica Shelton Kodish,
Bryan Goluboff,
Sarah Beckett,
Michelle King
- The writing is among series’ best filled with clever meta moments and pearls of exposition.
- The improv lesson scene has Carrie Preston and Amy Sedaris at top of their game.
- Andy Richter is largely underwhelming giving premiere sense missed opportunity.
- The ambiguity surrounding Elsbeth’s relationship with Angus is maddening.
