Elsbeth Recap: Love Is In The Air

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Normally, we viewers are aware of who committed the crime at the start of each episode of Elsbeth. However, for “Tiny Town”, even though we don’t know the identity of the culprit before our favorite investigators, Elsbeth and Kaya, the focus shifts to the blossoming transatlantic romance between Elsbeth and a charming Scottish singer-songwriter and [profession temporarily hidden]. Yes, the key witness to the murder of cosmetics researcher/developer Hayley Ritter is fulfilling his civic duty abroad, thanks to Iris, the continuous video connection linking a small plaza in Manhattan and a quaint Scottish fishing village.

In a casual, engaging manner: Angus Oliphant-Donnachaidh, a man with a strong civic spirit, often found strumming his mandolin and composing tunes while sipping copious amounts of coffee provided by Fiona. There’s a certain pair of coffee lovers in Manhattan who seem to frequent the same spot regularly, and Angus, along with Fiona, have developed a bit of an interest in these repeat visitors.

Based on the young woman’s consistent appearance with a rose and their intense interactions, Fiona and Angus have come to believe that they’ve found a Tinder match, affectionately referring to them as “The Lovers.” Their scene in the plaza, reminiscent of Jimmy Stewart’s neighbor observations in Rear Window, maintains a heartwarming atmosphere until it takes an unexpected turn. This shift mirrors the plot twist in Rear Window, as Hayley’s apparent beau fails to appear, leaving her with an untouched box of chocolates. Suddenly, a different man arrives and argues with her, their confrontation escalating into physical violence. As she falls to the ground, he departs, and Hayley appears to choke to death as Angus can only watch in shock, helplessly gesturing at oblivious tourists whose backs were turned toward the tragic scene.

Angus and Elsbeth instantly connected, transitioning swiftly from gesturing to conversing over the phone. He divulges as much information as possible and finds himself quite smitten with Elsbeth’s vibrant hot-pink jacket, boasting oversized lapels that merge into a hood at the back. This jacket happens to be her favorite color, and surprisingly, I think Angus is sincere when he claims it’s his favorite color as well. Given how puzzled many New Yorkers appear by Elsbeth’s eccentric fashion sense, this small compliment holds significant weight.

It turns out that Elsbeth isn’t the only one receiving attention from a suitable man, as Cameron – also known as Dr. Claydel, the attractive and compassionate medical examiner who resides under Kaya’s roof – coincidentally drops by the precinct to discuss Hayley’s autopsy findings in person, rather than sending them via call or email. Considering he was nearby, it seemed more convenient for him to visit (and catch a glimpse of Kaya as well). Professionally speaking, it was the right thing to do! The cause of Hayley’s death was found to be a fentanyl overdose, which left the head of security and her ex-colleague from Elle-Même Cosmetics, Mr. Thorwald, saddened and left Charles, her boyfriend who is grappling with both grief and suspicion, utterly puzzled.

Thorwald admitted that she had tested positive for fentanyl during a regular drug test earlier in the week, which led her to be fired for an instant offense. Charles firmly dismissed this notion: despite their relationship being strained at present, they were actively working things out through couples therapy and IVF treatments, making it highly unlikely that Hayley would resort to drug use while trying to conceive.

Elsbeth and Kaya find it hard to reconcile this man’s strong defense of Hayley’s sobriety with the threatening behavior Angus observed Charles displaying towards Hayley just before her death. Suspecting her of infidelity due to her use of an encrypted messaging app and turning off her phone location sharing, Charles was proven wrong when Kaya and Elsbeth discover that the man Charles believed Hayley had been unfaithful with wasn’t a Tinder match but an investigative journalist named George. According to his partner, George is meticulous about ethics and privacy, using only secure messaging apps for source communication and keeping all aspects of his work confidential, even from his partner until he publishes.

It’s sadly not shocking to discover that George, who had apparently gone to consult a source the day of Hayley’s murder, has also passed away. His body was found in a park near the plaza where Angus spotted him and Hayley meeting, and remarkably, his death was due to an overdose of fentanyl. Coincidentally, he was preparing to file a major expose just before his death. Does investigative journalism appear as perilous as it seems in the world of Elsbeth, given that George is now the second journalist on the show known to have been murdered?

Throughout this episode, Elsbeth revisits the ship Iris and frequently chats with Angus over the phone, for both professional and adorable reasons. He reveals Charles as the man who crossed paths with Hayley, sketches George in great detail for the police artist, praises another marine blue dress coat she’s wearing, and overall proves helpful while dishing out endearing details about himself. He’s a songwriter, with tunes available on Spotify under the title “Scottish Moments” (no bagpipes, he assures). He admits these tracks aren’t great because writing bad ones is so much simpler. He shares Elsbeth’s fascination for New York City. Although he hasn’t been there before, he dreams of visiting one day; however, first he intends to perform some shows in Edinburgh. As their affections for each other deepen, it reminded me of my earlier season request that Elsbeth would do justice to the show’s title by portraying men who are smitten with her, not despite her unique quirks but because of them.

In the crucial moments for the investigation, Angus remembers he had momentarily stepped away from Hayley’s dying moment to assist Fiona with her spilled coffee. Luckily, the gossipy sisters of his town — known for their bickering — witnessed it and are eager to share their version of events. They describe a man wearing a surgical mask who may have coughed or sneezed on Hayley, but they can provide more details. The sisters are particularly intrigued by identifying the tartan pattern on the scarf of Hayley’s attacker. At first, it appears to be Murray of Atholl, but then another suggestion is made – Mackenzie. However, a bystander who got a glimpse proposes Robertson Hunting tartan, making the situation more puzzling because there are two registered variations of this tartan. Since all the potential suspects’ tartans belong to the blue-and-green family, maybe this detail, combined with the perpetrator’s masked face, will aid in identifying him.

Equipped with this crucial information, Elsbeth confronts Mr. Thorwald regarding an inconsistency in her recent drug-free IVF bloodwork results versus her fentanyl-positive test from the following day. The Elle-Même report’s date is unclear as well. In a private moment within Thorwald’s office, Elsbeth has a chilling epiphany that Thorwald himself is the murderer, as she notices his jacket and scarf, a blue and green plaid pattern (though it appears more like a windowpane check), and discovers a surgical mask in one of the pockets. Indeed, Hayley was an informant, preparing to expose a carcinogen in the concealer she was developing. Thorwald silenced her as a potential problem by falsely accusing her of drug use, then using one of Elle-Même’s mini perfume atomizers to spray fentanyl in her face and stealing the chocolates (which also contained a thumb drive of confidential company data) she’d intended to exchange with the unlucky George.

For the first time I remember, Elsbeth seemed to be in real peril. It was a massive relief when Wagner and Kaya suddenly burst in to apprehend Thorwald. However, one might wonder if they had psychic abilities. How did they manage to arrive here? Elsbeth’s phone battery was critically low, and she hadn’t been able to call for help. As it turned out, that helpful young man from Scotland called the NYPD tip line to report he and the Murray sisters had found the killer, and that Elsbeth was in his office right then!

Elsbeth feels disappointed because she can’t reach Angus to express her gratitude; his phone appears to be switched off, and it seems Fiona doesn’t know his whereabouts either. Fortunately, two other pairs are having a wonderful Valentine’s Day! Captain Wagner surprised Claudia by taking dance lessons for five weeks to make sure she had the right partner (how sweet!) for their wedding anniversary. Kaya politely refuses Cameron’s work cupcake offering, explaining that “a morgue cupcake certainly isn’t the mood” and suggesting an impromptu bodega date to grab some ice cream (and for a hint of practicality, dish soap).

Angus has developed a strong affection for Elsbeth and has long desired to visit New York. Is it feasible for him to do so, considering the time limitations? It seems not, unless Angus is related to Montgomery Scott, the Chief Engineer from Star Trek’s U.S.S. Enterprise, who possesses a transporter for personal use. However, I won’t argue further about it. Ioan Gruffud and Carrie Preston perfectly capture the excitement, tinged with a hint of restraint that characterizes such significant gestures (or being on the receiving end of them).

Angus dismisses Elsbeth’s worry about him skipping the Edinburgh gigs they discussed. His music career won’t be affected since it’s more of a pastime rather than a profession for him. By the way, his actual job? He’s a firefighter.

In This Week’s Tote Bag

We’re going to need a second tote, because I have notes galore!

As a film enthusiast, I’ve got to say, “Thanks, Angus Oliphant-A-Blunka-Blunka!” and “We have a witness in Scotland???” are two of the most hilarious line deliveries by Carrie Preston and Wendell Pierce that had me rolling with laughter during this episode!

It’d be great if we could find a way for Elsbeth to drop by at Sesame Street. With her eye-catching Glamour Muppet attire, she’d blend seamlessly. She could share knowledge on observing things that others often overlook with Big Bird, and engage in discussions about opening up emotionally with those you care about, Oscar The Grouch.

If you’re yearning for more intriguing murder mysteries with a Scottish backdrop, give “Shetland” a try on BritBox! Unlike “Elsbeth,” it falls under the modern category of detective stories where lonely men unravel murders, but it’s highly recommended and boasts nine seasons to keep you engaged.

When Elsbeth scribbles her phone number on her palm to let Angus dial it, instead of using the Iris for sign language, I pondered what would transpire if I dialed that number. Would it immediately forward to voicemail? Or would it offer an encounter similar to They Might Be Giants’ legendary Dial-A-Song service? Regrettably, (312) 555-0172 does not exist and is out of service, but the Dial-A-Song service remains operational!

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2025-02-14 08:55