Elsbeth Recap: The Price of Perfection

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In her murder mysteries, Elsbeth frequently draws inspiration from authentic aspects of New York’s five boroughs – mafia history, upscale dining scenes, heated real estate markets within co-ops, among others. This attention to detail in setting helps create intense, fixated characters and offers numerous opportunities for intricate plots. “Four Body Problem” transports us into the world of an esteemed and historic Harlem funeral home, where reputation is paramount, and any imperfection that might tarnish the cherished image of perfection must be swiftly addressed. No exceptions, no excuses; if anything jeopardizes this perceived perfection – like a hint of scandal concerning the death (or was it?) and burial of a renowned author – both the issue and its originator have to vanish.

Arthur Greene, a fourth-generation funeral director from the Greene family, finds himself grappling with a predicament. He is deeply committed to their longstanding tradition of providing exceptional services, as he puts it, “Everyone only has one funeral, and it’s worth investing time, effort, and resources to make it a meaningful farewell for your loved ones, reflecting their unique aesthetics and values.” This high standard of care and execution is the cornerstone of Arthur Greene and Sons’ thriving boutique business. However, his patience is tested when his nephew Russell vows to uncover the truth (regardless of what it may entail) about the family business’s supposed role in a decade-long concealment of novelist N.D. Longacre’s alleged death.

Isn’t it possible that she’s still here somewhere? The coffin was sealed, but one could argue it might have been vacant. Moreover, Russell humorously suggests she is the actual writer behind Jordan Peele’s Oscar-winning screenplay for “Get Out.” He thinks a comedy sketchwriter wouldn’t be capable of such deep work! Essentially, Russell and his YouTube followers are captivated by the idea that Tupac isn’t deceased, and he’s trying to get permission to reopen Longacre’s grave to put this theory to rest.

If Russell hadn’t presented the questionable testimony of his grandfather, who is struggling with dementia in a care home, Arthur might not have felt compelled to commit murder with a shovel. I suspect that Arthur could have tolerated the brief period of negative publicity that Russell’s truth-seeking would have caused, but when he used the “my grandpa said!” argument, Arthur found himself under pressure to protect the funeral home’s reputation and his father’s legacy, which led him to take the actions he did.

If only those two men could have discovered a means to connect through their mutual devotion and steadfast adherence to their principles! Sadly, that won’t happen, and Arthur places Russell’s body into the convenient coffin in the hearse he drove, attempting to take him, without success, to a local crematorium first, followed by a funeral home where he stores his nephew’s body in one of the cold storage units.

In this episode, a significant point is highlighted: the value of listening carefully and following through. It’s common for detectives to reach a level of proficiency that can lead them to overly rely on certain presumptions. These include dismissing reports from paranoid individuals as nonsense and viewing tip line calls as unwanted spam. However, it’s crucial for Elsbeth and Kaya, who are working separate cases this time, to challenge their assumptions and investigate such leads further.

The day following Russell’s untimely demise, an automated video of him is posted across his platforms, breaking the news to his followers and friends that if they’re watching this, he must be deceased. Among those who closely followed Russell in life, it is only Barb (Jenn Harris), a friend and fellow alternative thinker, who actively pursues the truth with the same relentlessness as Russell. Doubtful that there will be any significant findings, both Elsbeth and Captain Wagner express their skepticism. However, Barb persists and visits Russell’s uncle at his workplace. Once more, Elsbeth is partnered with a new officer, Officer Chandler (Ethan Slater), who is quite talkative. Elsbeth has grown accustomed to seeing herself from others’ viewpoints, but she may never have encountered someone as verbal as Chandler before. In an amusing twist, the roles are reversed, and it’s entertaining to witness Chandler giving Elsbeth a tough challenge.

Currently, Kaya is experiencing a traditional new detective’s milestone: handling the hotline, learning that personally addressing callers’ worries can speed things up and strengthen bonds with local residents. In this instance, Mrs. Henderson suspects Russell is alive, as he continues to pilfer food from her kitchen. However, this promising lead turns out to be a bust when it’s discovered the intruder is merely an audacious raccoon making itself comfortable in her kitchen. Now, Kaya has dealt with a rodent roundup situation and has a tale she can share for years. This incident skillfully combines humorous and heart-wrenching scenes. On the funny side, we find Officer Chandler’s endearing barks, the kitchen raccoon’s antics, and some amusing scenes at the funeral home that resemble a game of three-card monte with a corpse twist. As expected, the talented comedic actor David Alan Grier delivers an impressive portrayal of Arthur’s growing frustration dealing with the chaotic work week, including handling his nephew’s remains. If only you hadn’t committed a murder, sir!

Additionally, we discover that Arthur’s steadfast commitment to upholding his father’s legacy is more crucial than his efforts to preserve the family business’s esteem. Guided by Barb’s insights and intuition — a testament to the power of good counsel — Elsbeth ultimately visits Randolph as Arthur’s father. It’s now clear that she was aware of the suspicion surrounding the lightness of N.D. Longacre’s casket, which sparked the speculation that she wasn’t actually in it and might still be alive. We’ve also learned that Randolph informed Russell that Longacre was not in her casket. What we didn’t know before is that Arthur vowed to his father never to disturb Longacre’s coffin under any circumstances, as at the time of this promise, Randolph — grieving for his dog and affected by dementia — had mistakenly sent Longacre’s body to the crematorium instead of their pet Polly. Subsequent exhumation of Longacre’s grave revealed that Polly was buried in Longacre’s casket, and Arthur found it unbearable to take away his father’s dignity by disinterring the remains.

At a funeral where Arthur successfully persuaded the hesitant family to opt for cremation instead of burial, Elsbeth experienced one of her tightest moments proving a crime. Arriving slightly later could have meant that all proof of Russell sharing a coffin with a real client would have been destroyed by the flames from the cremation.

Everything turns out as favorably as it could given the situation, and in the climactic moments of the episode, we’re thrust back into this season’s main plot as Captain Kershaw alerts Captain Wagner that reopening a murder investigation involving a highly respected judge carries significant risk. Elsbeth, who has been cautiously approaching this impending confrontation for months, is now eager! Let’s get moving!

In This Week’s Tote Bag

Here are the three episodes left in this season, and I’m eager to know your thoughts on what might happen! It seems pretty clear that Elsbeth will find her romantic partner – Judge Crawford’s criminal actions won’t go unpunished. I’m even betting she’ll travel to Scotland for a heartwarming reunion with Angus, the poet, songwriter, firefighter, and coat enthusiast. After that, it’s anyone’s guess, so share your predictions!

In simpler terms, I only find harmless conspiracy theories credible, and the one proposed at the start of the episode regarding Arthur Greene & Sons launching Nichelle Nichols’ ashes into space serves as an excellent demonstration of this type.

At some point, Arthur sits down with a client to talk about the expense of an entirely eco-friendly funeral for their deceased relative. He provides a rather shocking estimate of $270,000. It’s not unusual, though, as this high cost has been highlighted before, particularly in Jessica Mitford’s groundbreaking book, The American Way of Death, where she delves into and criticizes the funeral industry.

Every week’s episode of Dan Lawson’s costume design leaves me impressed, but this time, two coats truly stole the show – a light pink dress coat adorned with abstract patterns reminiscent of Basquiat art, and an ivory cape reaching to the thighs, embellished with oversized pale pink peonies (or possibly camellias; they’re stunning either way!). The elegance is undeniable, but the contrasting hot pink accessories worn by Elsbeth gives it a playful, whimsical touch. Bravo!

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2025-04-11 06:55