Elsbeth Recap: Stuffed Toys of the Jury

by

I really like the self-contained mysteries in *Elsbeth*, but I especially enjoy when the show tries something different with longer storylines or unique formats. The fact that they’re willing to experiment so early in the season shows how confident the writers are in their work.

“Doll Day Afternoon” stands out as a unique episode of Elsbeth, as she doesn’t partner with a typical NYPD officer or detective. The case itself involves a death that’s more of a tragic accident than a calculated murder, which is a departure from the show’s usual storylines. While the killers on Elsbeth often have some redeeming qualities, Nolan Hurst (David Cross) is particularly sympathetic. He didn’t plan to kill toy store manager Patrick Palmer (Drew Seltzer); it was a desperate act, not revenge.

Palmer, the manager of Becker’s Toys in Manhattan, was secretly selling Spirited Girl dolls (which are different from American Girl dolls). He took $6,000 from Nolan for a particular doll for his daughter, Bella, but then claimed someone else made a higher offer. Nolan was understandably upset, and while trying to get his money back, Palmer tripped and hit his head.

The scene shifts smoothly from Palmer’s death in the alley to Elsbeth looking out at the city from a nearby pier, and she and Officer Summerville, a keen young cop following in his family’s footsteps, quickly start investigating. Summerville believes a woman committed the murder, based on a strand of red hair found on the body, but Elsbeth immediately realizes it’s actually nylon. This suggests a wig, and the discovery of Becker’s Toys wrapping paper in Palmer’s car leads them to think the clue might be related to dolls.

Elsbeth immediately loves the store. It’s bright, spacious, and filled with wonderful things – picture books, stuffed animals, hand puppets, even a child-sized astronaut suit and a floor piano like the one in the movie *Big*, plus lots of Spirited Girl dolls. While Elsbeth can seem easily distracted or a bit flighty, this scene emphasizes that her playful curiosity and open mind are actually key to her success as an investigator.

The team quickly figures out that Palmer killed Nolan – he was trying to swap a cursed doll for the one he originally wanted at the store’s doll repair shop. While impressive, stopping a hostage situation isn’t something she’s equipped to handle. Nolan manages to grab Summerville’s gun, forcing Elsbeth and Summerville to leave while holding the store employees and a customer hostage. Poor timing for that customer, who was just trying to buy a birthday card!

When Wagner gets to the scene, helicopters are already flying above, and numerous police vehicles are present. Elsbeth and Summerville are safe inside the Emergency Service Unit’s mobile command center. Summerville is deeply embarrassed that Nolan managed to get his gun – which was in an old, insecure holster he inherited from his father – and Wagner feels that’s consequence enough. The head of the ESU, Captain Tully (played by Campbell Scott), is a no-nonsense leader who doesn’t yet appreciate Elsbeth’s unique perspective.

Tully jumps to conclusions about Hurst, immediately deciding he must be a drug trafficker based on Hurst’s previous imprisonment for insider trading. He’s so sure of this theory that he doesn’t consider any other possibilities for Hurst’s actions or motivations. While this quickly reveals the true villain, it’s thanks to Tully’s overconfidence and hasty judgment that we know so early on.

Watching Tully in “Doll Day Afternoon” is just frustrating. It seems like he’s so desperate to quickly catch his guy that he doesn’t care about *how* he does it. Honestly, to him, shooting Nolan is the same as arresting him – as long as the case is closed, he’s happy. It makes you wonder if New York really has *that* many crises happening at once, or if he just can’t stand a slow process. Nolan is clearly out of his depth, and it feels like Tully’s team could actually *help* the situation if they just took a breath. I really think Tully just wants to be in control, and he’s annoyed that Elsbeth’s unique way of thinking is taking too long. It’s not just this case either – Wagner pointed out that Tully’s always been like this, even back when they were patrol officers. He always thought he had the best hand at poker and couldn’t handle losing, which explains a lot about his behavior now.

Things move quickly once Nolan convinces Tully to trade Elsbeth for the store employee dressed as Raggedy Ann, who is becoming increasingly upset. Elsbeth’s talent for multitasking and understanding people’s feelings makes her a natural at negotiating with hostages. Although Nolan finds her fast-talking and tendency to get sidetracked irritating, he’s a good person at heart and starts to warm up to her when she shows a bit of vulnerability.

Look, the guy messed up – insider trading isn’t excusable. But digging a little deeper, it turns out everything he did, all the greed, was about providing for his daughter, Bella. It’s heartbreaking, actually, because he realizes that trying to give her *everything* is precisely what’s kept them apart since he went to prison. He’s pinned all his hopes on this one thing – a special edition ‘Chrissy Spirited Girl’ doll she’d wanted for years – hoping it’ll be a path back to her.

It’s a bit misguided, but Elsbeth appreciates the thought. Luckily, the store offers plenty of opportunities to connect with people, and she finds a brilliant way to do so: using a toy oven to bake treats. It reminds everyone of their childhoods and how their parents wouldn’t let them have one because it wasn’t safe – just like Nolan feels about Bella! It’s a surprisingly sweet connection.

Elsbeth quickly realizes Nolan is out of his depth and Tully intends to kill, not just capture, the hostages. She immediately focuses on minimizing the danger. She manages to get the Doll Doctor out of the store by convincing her to pretend to be sick, and then guides her to the ESU command center. From there, the Doll Doctor helps activate a hidden camera in a teddy bear near the hostages. I especially enjoyed the hostages’ witty banter – their guesses about which hostage movies Nolan overanalyzes are hilarious considering the situation, and they’re surprisingly accurate, naming *Dog Day Afternoon*, *Die Hard*, and *Inside Man*. I’m counting on sharp-eyed viewers and film fans to point out any visual or plot references in this episode – share your insights in the comments so we can all appreciate the episode’s deeper layers!

Elsbeth earns Nolan’s confidence by cleverly using a hidden camera to subtly communicate his desire to speak with Bella to Tully and Wagner. She then walks him through a potential legal defense if he were to turn himself in. These conversations gradually change how other officers see Nolan, shifting their perception from him being a suspect to a person. Eventually, Nolan begins to prefer surrendering to the authorities rather than pursuing a far-fetched and unrealistic escape plan to Lichtenburg via a private jet – a plan that was never truly viable.

Teddy, after seeing Raggedy Ann’s frightening livestream earlier, rushed to the scene downtown. Tully doesn’t like that Wagner is there, but Wagner is actually the one keeping things from falling apart. He tells Teddy that Elsbeth is okay and playfully points out they both know how skilled Elsbeth’s mother is at getting herself out of trouble.

A sniper attempts to shoot Nolan, but Elsbeth notices the laser sight on his forehead and quickly pushes him to safety. In a clever move, she has everyone in the toy store put on identical jumpsuits, wigs, and hats, disguising their appearances. This allows them to leave the store unnoticed and keeps Nolan safe from further attacks. It was a brilliant team effort! (The disguise tactic reminded me of a scene from the movie *Inside Man* – anyone else notice that or have similar thoughts?)

Officer Summerville bravely rushed into the chaotic mix of hostages and the suspect, Nolan. Luckily, when Tully’s sniper shot, it only hit a Chrissy doll. The Doll Doctor gently covered the damaged doll – a $6,000 collectible – with a small tarp, and Summerville put his gun away. What a relief.

As Nolan is being taken away in a police car, Elsbeth promises she can’t officially represent him, but she knows the perfect lawyer for the job and will connect them. The scene was both heartwarming and entertaining, and it feels like the beginning of a longer storyline involving Nolan and his new lawyer, Diane Lockhart – bring on Christine Baranski! It would be amazing if the show hinted at connections to *The Gilded Age*, *The Good Wife*, and *The Good Fight*. And if we’re really lucky, maybe Bob Odenkirk, a friend of David Cross and a former *Mr. Show* collaborator, could make a cameo. He’s proven he can play a brilliantly inventive lawyer, so we can hope! Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

Tote Bags Extravaganza

Okay, so looking at this week’s episodes, it’s funny – Elsbeth barely used a tote bag at all! You’d think with all the stuff characters carry around, it would be a constant prop, but she really didn’t need one much. It’s a small thing, but I noticed, and it’s kind of interesting.

Something viewers might notice in this episode is that Elsbeth only wears one outfit! It’s possible this is a first for the show. Her look is cheerful and colorful – she sports striped sailor pants, a floral hat reminiscent of the show *Blossom*, a cropped pink blazer over a lacy white blouse, and matching floral jewelry. But the real highlights are her pink high-top sneakers and adorable pom-pom ankle socks – a nostalgic touch for anyone who grew up in the ’80s!

Read More

2025-10-17 06:56