Elsbeth Recap: Likability is a Jail

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It’s a common trap for women: feeling like they have to choose between being liked and being respected, especially at work. I reject this idea completely. Why are those the only two options presented, who decided they were, and why do we feel forced to pick one?

This week’s episode of Elsbeth centers around the murder of Dave Coppins, the athletic director at St. Ivan’s University, who was killed by a blow to the head while recovering in an ice bath. The case itself feels a bit underdeveloped, largely because we don’t see the connection between the killer, Coach Russell Willoughby (played by Sam McMurray), and the victim. Instead, we learn what happened through Elsbeth’s observations and deductions. Interestingly, the dynamic between Elsbeth and Coach Willoughby’s younger girlfriend, Peyton Ramsay (Lana Condor), is more compelling – and ultimately more important to the story – than the murder mystery itself.

For those unfamiliar with football, the characters Coach W. and Peyton are loosely based on real-life figures: UNC (and former New England Patriots) football coach Bill Belichick and his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. Similar to Coach W., Belichick is a highly successful coach who transitioned to college football after winning six Super Bowls. He’s currently in his second year coaching at UNC, where the team finished the 2024 season with a 4-8 record – their first without a bowl game appearance since 2018. Like Peyton, Jordon Hudson is significantly younger than her partner and is said to have a strong, and sometimes debated, impact on the team. I look forward to hearing more informed perspectives from viewers in the comments!

At first, Peyton appears to be a likely suspect in Dave’s murder. Dave, like many players and fans from St. Ivan’s, blamed Peyton for the team’s terrible start to the season. A 3-0 record isn’t good in any sport, but it’s particularly concerning in college basketball, where teams typically play around 30 to 32 games. After just three games – 10% of the season – and with no wins, it’s easy to see why St. Ivan’s fans were worried about the team’s chances.

It’s unfair to blame Peyton for the basketball team’s struggles – she’s not a player or coach. Yet, the hosts of a popular college basketball podcast are doing just that, ridiculously comparing her to the villain Voldemort and making offensive jokes about her supposedly “cursing” the coach. Their issue isn’t her performance, but the fact that this young Asian-American woman has any influence over a coach much older than her. Actress Lana Condor does a fantastic job portraying Peyton, cleverly playing against type for audiences who remember her best as the kind and gentle Lara Jean from the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before films.

Peyton has a staff ID at St. Ivan’s, but her job isn’t really official. She manages the public image of Coach W. and is fiercely protective of him, even telling player Marcus (AJ Dyer) to delete his Twitter account because his posts could hurt the coach’s reputation. Though small in stature, Peyton can be bossy and intimidating – she even threatened Marcus’s starting position – which sometimes bothers people. However, star player Xavier Dunlap later acknowledged that Peyton’s influence helped Coach W. become a much better communicator with his players. Xavier also credited her advice with helping him profit from his own social media.

Dave is frustrated and tries to kick Peyton out of the training facility, claiming she’s exploiting her relationship with Coach W. and manipulating him. However, it soon becomes clear that Dave isn’t actually upset with Peyton, or even with how she’s affected Coach W. His real anger stems from the fact that Peyton’s involvement has destroyed what he believed would be the highlight of his career. He feels that bringing Coach W. back from retirement, after a stellar NBA career, was pointless, because now his former hero is, in his eyes, a failure. Instead of talking to Coach W. directly, Dave vents his frustrations on Peyton. While others might be intimidated or upset, Peyton finds his outburst amusing. Dave is too afraid to confront his famously temperamental idol and coworker, so Peyton is happy to let him complain to her, knowing nothing will actually come of it.

Peyton was more right than she realized. By morning, Dave was found dead in an alley near campus, having suffered a severe head injury and exposure to the cold. It seemed like the problem was solved, but Detective Nina Taylor, a St. Ivan’s graduate recently transferred from another police precinct, already had her mind made up about Peyton and Coach W. She’d been influenced by the common, biased opinions circulating on sports podcasts, believing Peyton was a disgrace and was manipulating Coach W., stripping him of his authority. Detective Taylor immediately focused on Peyton as the prime suspect, quickly dismissing Coach W.’s potential involvement. The murder was complex: someone had attacked Dave in the ice bath, removed his body, dressed him, cleaned the scene, and then carried him several blocks without being seen. Considering Coach W. is a large man, it seemed unlikely that the small-framed Peyton could have physically assaulted Dave and meticulously cleaned up the crime scene.

Throughout the episode, Peyton consistently surprises everyone by doing things her own way. She smartly requests a lawyer during questioning, and then decides to represent herself rather than hire an attorney she doesn’t trust. She refuses to provide Detective Taylor with an alibi, forcing Elsbeth to spend a day on Long Island tracking down a lead that came from a radio show caller. It’s clear why she’s being so careful – she was meeting with a potential recruit who’s still in eighth grade, and that would cause major problems for Coach W. if it became public. Peyton is often short-tempered and even impolite to those around her, and when Elsbeth questions her communication style, Peyton quickly dismisses it, saying she’s heard it all before and turns the tables. Peyton prefers to be straightforward, and she even tells Elsbeth it’s “sad” that Elsbeth feels she needs to put so much effort into her appearance and “quirky” persona to put people at ease.

This episode reveals a lot about both Elsbeth and Peyton. Elsbeth often avoids directly asking for what she needs, and we see this play out when she repeatedly delays sending a simple email correcting a misspelled name. Both women are dealing with problems stemming from their connections to powerful men, but Peyton faces much harsher public scrutiny than Elsbeth. Elsbeth previously dealt with significant fallout from the Van Ness case and Judge Crawford, while Peyton seems to have developed a tough exterior – a mix of her naturally direct personality and a way to protect herself. Similarly, Elsbeth’s vibrant and unusual style serves a dual purpose: it’s both a form of self-expression and a way to deflect attention.

The biggest difference between Elsbeth and Peyton is that Elsbeth would never try to marry a murderer just to protect him legally! That decision from Peyton was truly shocking – I was completely stunned. While I appreciate her willingness to play a tough villain and admire her communication skills, this was a terrible choice. It’s important to remember that marrying a murderer isn’t the same as being one, especially not one who spies on private conversations, uses a player for an alibi, and then tries to frame that same player by planting evidence. Coach W., you were so close to getting away with it all!

Two standout moments in the episode are the reveal that Jason Roberts was part of the sting operation all along, and Peyton’s growing understanding of how Elsbeth communicates. Peyton seems to appreciate that Elsbeth isn’t afraid to be direct when she needs to be. It’s interesting because Peyton reminds me of the themes in Taylor Swift’s song “The Man” – she’s ambitious, works hard, but often seems judged more on her appearance and perceived attitude than on her actual accomplishments. Despite predictions she wouldn’t succeed, the episode jumps to 2030 to show Peyton as a successful entrepreneur – her cosmetics brand, Paramour, has been bought by Elle-Même Cosmetics. It’s great to see her thriving!

From The Tote Bags!

Was that final scene hinting at a romantic connection between Peyton and Senator Lindsey Graham with all that suggestive behavior?

I didn’t enjoy the secondary storyline this week. It feels repetitive to keep focusing on Captain Wagner’s struggles with technology. The joke played on Lieutenant Connor felt unnecessarily mean, and it didn’t fit Wagner’s personality. However, there were some good moments – Wagner’s mischievous side is genuinely funny, and his willingness to mentor others, even someone as enthusiastic as Officer Summerville, is endearing.

• This recap’s title comes to us from a musical moment in John Mulaney’s standup special, “Baby J”.

Elsbeth’s roommate, who apparently took her Wham! album, clearly had good taste in music. Make It Big is full of fantastic songs, and it’s a fitting time to remember George Michael by listening to “Last Christmas.” Released 40 years ago this week, it’s a perfect example of a Christmas song that’s both upbeat and surprisingly sad.

I didn’t fully understand all the references to the musical Merrily We Roll Along or the connection to actress Lindsey Mendez in the first episode. However, I was happy – maybe a little too happy! – when I immediately understood Elsbeth’s reference to “Liza With a Z.” It’s a clever play on names – Elsbeth with a P, and Liza with an S – making them completely different!

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2025-12-05 07:58