Elsbeth Recap: Nothing To Lose

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Title “I Know What You Did 33 Summers Past”: While this episode may seem like a filler, it manages to both entertain and progress the plot smoothly. As the second-to-last episode of the season, it serves as a reminder for longtime viewers of the ongoing events while introducing new viewers to the storyline. The episode is divided into four main segments: Predator’s Trap, Peak Quirkiness, Counterattack, and Next Steps. This structure effectively maintains viewer engagement and keeps the story moving forward.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but appreciate how the show “To Catch A Predator” cleverly raises the tension for each viewer based on our connection with Elsbeth. By skillfully blending flashbacks and explanatory dialogue, it sets or reinforces the stakes of their investigation. The question that sparks curiosity is: Why are Elsbeth, Captain Wagner, Kaya, and Detective Rivers so determined to discredit Judge Milton Crawford? After all, he’s a highly respected sitting judge with federal ambitions. However, that’s precisely the reason they’re covertly investigating him – it all stems from Elsbeth’s unease during her jury duty on a murder trial where Judge Crawford seemed to push for a quick guilty verdict despite questionable behavior and a weak prosecution case. With his impending move to the federal bench, time is running out, but Crawford seems almost untouchable – as the team will soon learn, he’s far more powerful and ruthless than they ever imagined.

In a flashback to the events of 1992, we discover why Judge Crawford and financial advisor Andy Mertens became entangled in a deadly secret. Young Crawford, played by Ethan Dubin, is depicted as a self-absorbed rich prince who lacks empathy for others. One evening at the Stockport Yacht Club, he brags about his family’s status and leaves Andy to spend time with a pretty girl named Sherry (Ava DeMary). However, Crawford’s intentions towards Sherry are far from innocent, and when she rejects him, he attempts to rape her. Their struggle leads to Sherry hitting her head on the pool edge and dying. To cover up his crime, Crawford forces Andy to claim they were both present during the accidental death of Sherry. This sets in motion a series of events that ultimately lead to Crawford beating Andy to death many years later.

It has been established that Crawford is at least a two-time killer, unapologetic about his actions. Is this the kind of person fit for the federal bench? That’s what a lawyer named Victor Landis (Pun Bandhu) has been tasked by the White House to decide. If Crawford has any hidden secrets, he should reveal them now so Landis can address them promptly. Unfortunately for Crawford, and fortunately for true justice, Elsbeth and Captain Wagner have ventured to Stockport to revisit Crawford’s and Andy’s old haunts. Here they uncover the tragic details of Sherry’s death. They discover that Andy worked at the yacht club that summer but, as a local kid with limited resources, amazed everyone by securing a last-minute scholarship to an elite university in New York and never returned to his hometown. Meanwhile, Sherry’s sister has always believed her death was accidental, and offers Elsbeth and Wagner a collection of Sherry’s keepsakes, including her diary and an evidence bag containing her slightly bloodstained fanny pack. What a meticulous detail from that era in acid-wash denim!

Transitioning from here, we move into a scenario where Elsbeth conducts her investigation with utmost sincerity and amplifies her eccentricities to their peak. At the location of the now-filled-in pool, she passionately reenacts the night of Sherry’s death, causing even the retired detective assigned to the case to question her sanity before admitting that watching her work is more entertaining than playing pickleball. Previously, we were entertained by her comically poor JFK impression (enhanced by a nod to Little Edie Beale from Grey Gardens), noticed the extensive luggage she brings for a short stay (I too am a packer, but even I think two bags just for snacks is excessive), and appreciated her appreciation for Sherry’s stylish wardrobe. Every episode features some mention or reaction to Elsbeth’s vibrant attire, her ability to be in multiple places at once, her meticulous questioning style, and it seems this heavy dose of oddball behavior is mainly aimed at new viewers.

It’s Elsbeth herself, unaware of Victor or his thorough background checks on crucial judicial nominees, who alerts Crawford about her and Wagner’s investigation. Overhearing their conversation at the yacht club as they were about to leave, he swiftly contacts Crawford. I find this character distasteful, just as if he were a genuinely awful person in reality, and his Empire Strikes Back tactics sent chills down my spine.

The extent of Wagner’s knowledge about Elsbeth and her influential associates, along with his knack for causing harm to them, is astounding. As a result, Wagner receives a stern reprimand from the police commissioner, faces potential internal affairs investigations, and discovers that the budget for his precinct will be reduced by 25% effective immediately. This budget reduction may impact Kaya significantly since she’s the most recently promoted detective. Recall Agent Celetano, Elsbeth’s contact at the Department of Justice? He’s been dismissed! The agreement under which she’s been attached to the NYPD could also be dissolved. Elsbeth’s former spouse is also feeling the heat from Crawford, as he learns that an investigation into misconduct could lead to his disbarment. This potential sanction applies in Illinois.

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I’m well aware that Elsbeth isn’t about to make a sharp turn into noir territory, but Crawford’s extensive maneuvering has us hurtling towards an irreversible point. His actions border on the alarming, and even his stalking and threats at the subway station appear tame in comparison. However, Crawford isn’t content with merely ruining lives connected to Elsbeth; he also seeks to obliterate any remnants of her investigation into Sherry’s death. Using his power yet again, he manages to expunge all records of the evidence Elsbeth and Wagner collected in Stockport, as well as the DNA sample Claudia managed to secretly obtain from his glass of Scotch.

The situation deteriorates drastically from bad to extremely bleak when Andy’s girlfriend Delia (Meredith Holzman), who was being manipulated by Crawford to be declared guilty to divert suspicion away from him, shoots him on the courthouse steps during the day of Crawford’s nomination. In her final moments before being apprehended by police, Delia confesses to Elsbeth that she had nothing left to lose. I suspect that if there are any details surrounding the murder, they will be disclosed in the upcoming episodes of this season.

With Crawford’s demise, the havoc he caused persists, leading us to our concluding act, What Do We Do Now? Kaya astutely observes that Crawford’s assassination might elevate him to the status of a legendary figure or a martyr for justice. Our protagonists are now grappling with this predicament. Teddy, disheartened and nihilistic, reconsiders his plans for law school, unable to stomach the thought of functioning within such a corrupted system. Kaya frets about her job security, while Elsbeth grapples with guilt over endangering her friends, contemplating abandoning the whole endeavor. Captain Wagner’s resilience and unwavering determination are commendable, as his closing speech resonates with the spirit of Coach Taylor. Despite their dismay, he encourages them, asserting that “we do what we can every day to try to make the system a little better.” To him, the essence lies in trying, for even though the outcome may be uncertain, when you’ve made an effort, you know you didn’t stand idly by while you had the opportunity to act. His words ring true: In a corrupted system or other dire circumstances, the goal is to persevere.

In This Week’s Tote Bag

The episode’s most striking coat belongs to Elsbeth, worn during her confrontation with Crawford at the courthouse. Unlike her usual outerwear selections, this one features bold, yet not overly vibrant, diagonal stripes arranged diagonally, resembling stylish rain in a strong wind. The stripes move in only one direction, and their symmetrical pattern, similar to chevrons, implies balance. This coat subtly communicates the chaos and disarray that has ensued.

• Discovering that Elle Woods, the character in the movie version of Legally Blonde, scored higher on LSAT than her stage counterpart, and using this fact to praise Teddy for his own LSAT success — friends, I had to pause, rewind, and watch again just to laugh. It’s no surprise that Elsbeth would notice such details; in hindsight, it’s clear they’d make a great pair!

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2025-04-25 06:56