Elsbeth Recap: A Model’s Life

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Okay, let me tell you about this movie. It starts with a really unsettling premise: imagine trying to escape your past, and then bam – someone from it shows up out of nowhere. That’s exactly what happens to Tiff Giles, a former supermodel brilliantly played by Jaime Pressly. Twenty-five years ago, a brutal attack cost her an eye and ended her career. Now she’s rebuilt a quiet life as a bartender in Pennsylvania, seemingly content, rocking a cool eyepatch and a bit of a biker vibe. But her peace is shattered when a rival from her past appears, and you immediately suspect this isn’t a friendly reunion. The movie does a fantastic job of setting the scene – you’re right there with her in this local bar, complete with a Phillies flag, and I got a strong sense that the filmmakers were intentionally leaning into the style of shows like Task and Elsbeth. It’s a clever setup, and immediately pulls you in.

The story quickly fills us in on the past through a combination of narration and dialogue. We learn details from a voiceover by Julian Simons (Matthew Maher), who wrote a magazine article about Tiff and her fellow supermodels—whom he called the Glamazons—and from a conversation between Tiff and Madison Fortune. Apparently, they were close friends and rivals back in 2000 when they appeared on the cover of Dress Up magazine. Their relationship, and Tiff’s career, took a turn when Tiff lost half her vision and her confidence in an unsolved attack, leaving us to wonder what could have been.

Tiff wasn’t at all enthusiastic about revisiting the old photoshoot until Madison offered a clumsy apology for past wrongs. However, Madison then accidentally tripped up her own story, revealing inconsistencies in her alibi. Tiff had always believed Madison and her husband, TJ, were involved in the original incident, though the police never made an arrest. This new development completely changes things, and the photoshoot – which included Nadine Clay (played by Laura Benanti) and another model who didn’t have a speaking role – ultimately goes smoothly.

Okay, so Tiff’s plan was shockingly smooth. She managed to slip a sleeping aid into Madison’s drink during the afterparty – a celebratory wine spritzer, of all things! – and then, after a bit of a struggle where she pushed Madison from an upper level, she made it look like an accident. The really chilling part? She planted TJ’s wine glass in the trash as ‘proof’. She’s meticulous, too – wiped down everything to get rid of fingerprints and slipped out a secret exit. The next morning, I couldn’t believe it, she was back at the house, pretending to comfort the other models Madison was mentoring and subtly suggesting Madison’s attack was related to her own issues. What really struck me, though, was her style. While everyone else was dressed pretty casually, Tiff always looked incredibly put-together, almost regal. The whole visual scheme was very black and white, with just a flash of red at the party, and absolutely no sparkle. It was like she deliberately wasn’t trying to blend in; she clearly saw herself as above it all.

TJ’s situation is looking increasingly bleak. His explanation for the night of the incident – being alone in his home with no witnesses – is weak, and his inquiry about Madison’s life insurance payout raises suspicions. Adding to this, Captain Wagner recalls TJ as a problematic character from years ago, though he acknowledges a difference between being unpleasant and being a murderer. Tiff further complicates matters by telling investigators that TJ was abusive and that Madison came to Chester seeking help to escape and divorce him.

Luckily for TJ, Nadine seems to be on his side, having recently described him and Madison as very close and always getting into trouble together. She’s consistently shown throughout the first two seasons of Elsbeth that she has strong opinions, and in this case, she’s adamant that Clyde would never harm Bonnie. Even better, TJ has a solid, though embarrassing, alibi. It turns out an IRS audit could actually help him avoid a murder charge – the laptop he and his lawyer quickly provide proves he was busy sorting out his taxes, not committing a crime.

It’s unusual for a suspect on Elsbeth to confess to a past crime to shift suspicion onto the victim. As Elsbeth points out, the time limit for prosecuting the attack on ‘Tiff’ has long passed, so the suspect has no reason to hide the details. He was inspired by the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan case and only intended to disrupt Tiff’s life, but she suffered severe injuries when a Jewel CD flew out of her Discman™ and cut her face and eye. This confession, along with Wagner’s recollections and Nadine’s description of the suspect’s involvement with providing models for wealthy parties, suggests he’s exploitative, not a murderer. Essentially, being paid to introduce women to VIPs at parties is very close to being a pimp.

He wasn’t working the night Madison was killed, so the models who live with Madison and TJ – who run a modeling agency – need to share more details about the party. The actors playing Nabria (from South Sudan), Sveta (from Kyiv), and Harper (from New Jersey) are standouts in the show “Glamazons.” I can’t say whether their accents are accurate or exaggerated, but their delivery of lines like “She saved me from war and got me Invisalign,” “I feel bad we were partying so hard while Miss Madison was falling down, but we were drinking the cheap vodka, so I hope we made her proud,” and “I danced with the actor who kissed his brother on White Lotus” is brilliantly funny and deserves to be included in their demo reels.

It’s unclear if anyone today will experience the same career fallout as Julian Simons did, but like Tiff, Madison, and TJ, he had a unique understanding of the situation. The conflict wasn’t really about Julian focusing too much on Tiff in his original article for Dress Up; it stemmed from his persistent questioning about the attack on her. He actually investigated further than the police did at the time, and now that we know TJ was the attacker, it’s clear why TJ and Madison tried to ruin Julian’s reputation. They falsely told his editor that Julian and Tiff were having an affair (though the editor likely didn’t believe it), and he’s been professionally sidelined ever since. Julian deserves justice – he may have been caught up in Tiff’s drama, but his reporting instincts were correct.

Officer Hackett’s hobby as a comedian provides some great character moments for Lindsay Mendez, and it’s also how Elsbeth figures out the solution to the case – very clever! Hackett’s comedy is actually quite good, and she’s a charming performer, confidently poking fun at herself. Later, Wagner gives a touching speech about the value of having hobbies and supportive coworkers who encourage them.

Ivy, the bartender, helps Elsbeth locate the evidence needed to arrest Tiff. Ivy, played by Paulina Singer, appeared in a previous episode as an overly enthusiastic ally who turned into a murderer. She reveals that bartenders often collect the foil from wine bottles in their aprons and forget to discard it. This turns out to be key, as Tiff’s fingerprints are found on the foil in Ivy’s apron from the night of the murder, leading to her arrest. It’s ironic that Tiff’s careful planning was undone by a simple bartending habit. On a brighter note, Tiff was arrested looking stylish in a brown leather blazer, reminiscent of Daryl Hannah’s character Elle Driver from Kill Bill.

The Sheroes models have faced a tough week, losing two mentors. Luckily, Elsbeth has a helpful idea: she suggests they reach out to Nadine Clay. Elsbeth thinks Nadine is fantastic and might be looking for a new opportunity. We’ll see you next season, Nadine and team!

From The Tote Bags!

This episode’s references to the past felt a little off, specifically regarding the 25th anniversary of the Glamazons photoshoot. If the shoot was set in 2000, the news coverage of the Nancy Kerrigan attack wouldn’t have still been happening. That story was revisited in early 1998 before the Winter Olympics. Everything else – like mentions of Meg Ryan’s hairstyle, Leonardo DiCaprio’s early fame, Tamagotchis, Beanie Babies, Zima, Discman players, and the singer Jewel – fit perfectly with a late 90s/Y2K vibe. It’s a small point, but it’s easy to avoid these kinds of inconsistencies!

We might get a preview of Nadine’s upcoming self-help book next season, which will likely focus on the power of conviction and living by your principles. Let’s hope so!

Nadine’s background is a bit mysterious – she’s originally from Moldova, much like Tracey Ullman’s character last season who pretended to be an immigrant with a vague Eastern European accent. It turns out Nadine is actually an immigrant herself with a similar accent that’s hard to pinpoint.

Just one more thing about Nadine’s designs: the black and white cape is stunning. It’s reversible and features a beautiful, flowing pattern along the bottom that looks like it’s been carefully applied. It strongly recalls the intricate ironwork-inspired detailing on the gown Bertha Russell wears to the opera in the final episode of season two of The Gilded Age.

Meet Captain Wagner, a talented trombone player! Interestingly, the actor Wendell Pierce actually learned to play the trombone specifically for his role in the TV show Treme.

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2025-12-12 07:56