Elsbeth Recap: Shot Through The Heart

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Hearty congratulations, Kaya Blanke, on your new role as detective! This promotion is long overdue and truly merited. I must say, your stylish suit looks great on you! May it mark the beginning of many successful cases, including the intriguing investigation into Tim Pearson’s murder. Of course, we don’t condone violence in any way, but if such unfortunate incidents persist, Detective Blanke’s exceptional abilities and compassion would undoubtedly be valuable in solving them.

This week’s murder is skillfully executed with a touch of theatricality. We already know that Tim’s (Max Jenkins) killer, Marilyn Gladwell, portrayed by Tracey Ullman, provides comedic relief and an unexpected dose of empathy. Marilyn serves as the psychic consultant to Tim’s stepmother, Phyllis, whom she has been assisting since Tim’s father’s demise two years ago. Phyllis pays Marilyn $200,000 per year for her services, which amounts to approximately 133 hours annually or about 2.5 hours each week. Keep in mind that Jordana Brewster’s character in “Tearjerker” earned around $250,000 from her most significant client with similar services. Just like Nathan Jordan before her, Phyllis Pearson (Jill Eikenberry!) is Marilyn’s most valuable client.

Marilyn’s absence of an obvious motive and her solid alibi on the night of Tim’s arrow-related accident in the city park while waiting for an online date suggest she’s not a prime suspect, but there’s something peculiar about her. Her vague Eastern European accent, her evasiveness about her hometown, her extraordinary ability to tap into a spiritual realm that seems outside our everyday life – it all seems inconsistent. Moreover, Tim had been strongly against Marilyn continuing her work, stating that the cost was too high and suggesting she find a therapist like other typical neurotic individuals. Additionally, George’s advice, as relayed by Marilyn, to not sell the Bakewells family company to their competitor Snackerdoodles contradicts Tim’s plan to do exactly that at an upcoming Bakewells board meeting.

Despite having additional leads to explore and a fresh approach, the team presses on. With Kaya moving up to detective, Elsbeth‘s patrol officer is now Nikki Reynolds, who presents a more formal demeanor than Kaya but falls short of Lieutenant Connor’s stiffness. A round of applause for Nikki’s colleagues for swiftly adapting to using correct pronouns, fostering camaraderie! It’s heartening to witness such respect among peers! Nikki (portrayed by the actor famously known as b) values maintaining a clear boundary between work and personal life. Initially, Elsbeth perceives this as Nikki being judgmental; however, I believe she has evolved enough over the past year to understand that her open and friendly nature might be perceived as aggressive despite her intentions of merely seeking common ground. Their shared passion for dogs — Nikki dreams of joining the K-9 unit one day and accepts Elsbeth’s offer to walk Gonzo together — could help Elsbeth learn to collaborate effectively with someone whose communication style differs significantly from her own.

During Nikki and Elsbeth’s second visit to Marilyn, Kaya discovers valuable video footage of the park where Tim was murdered at the Park and Rec department, as well as a hilarious five-minute routine from the duo known for their independent pest control. The members of the Rodent Death Society shared valuable insights, such as advancements in rodent-killing arrows featuring blunt tips that can’t penetrate a human chest and the risks of rat poison to birds of prey. Interestingly, a similar situation was depicted in “All Creatures Great and Small” not long ago, where a dog died after consuming a rat laced with strychnine poison that wasn’t buried deep enough. The more we educate ourselves!

Their investigation takes an unexpected turn when forensic analysis reveals useful information about the arrowhead that killed Tim. They managed to retrieve a serial number from the artifact, which led them to contact Harlan Wike, co-owner of Wike’s Hardware Store in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. During a detailed Zoom call, Mr. Wike explained that the type of arrowheads in question had been discontinued due to advancements in modern, more precise and lightweight carbon fiber arrowheads. As someone deeply involved in this field, Mr. Wike shared his extensive knowledge about arrowhead design, technology, and production, which is crucial for his line of work given that Bucks County is renowned as the woodchuck-hunting capital of the Northeast. Interestingly, much of what he shared was new to me. This episode featuring Elsbeth was one of the most informative I’ve seen so far.

In a thorough examination, Nikki found several significant aspects about Tim’s dating profile: he consistently used the same opening line for every match, frequently faced being blocked, and his last connection, Kristy Brown, turned out to be catfishing him. Despite planning to meet at the park, Kristy unexpectedly blocked him at the last second. If genuine, Kristy might have been Tim’s ideal match due to their striking commonalities in Italian horror films, basketball, and cryptocurrencies; however, it appears she’s a fabrication concocted by Tim’s killer.

Nikki’s relentless examination of the park videos from the night of Tim’s murder appears pointless until Elsbeth notices an unusual detail. It seems as if a bush is moving oddly, similar to how her father, an avid duck hunter, would move in his full camouflage outfit called a ghillie suit. Given that Tim’s assassin was skilled with a bow and arrow (as Mr. Wike points out, modern carbon fiber-tipped arrows are easier to shoot accurately and less likely to deviate than traditional metal ones), it’s plausible that they would also be familiar with and use such a camouflage suit to blend in perfectly.

Did you recall the hardware store in Bucks County named Wike’s? It’s interesting to note that Marilyn’s assistant, Reagan (Kate Rigg), grew up in the same area as Marilyn herself, who was then known as Mary Lou Grunderson. In her childhood, Mary Lou served as Reagan’s babysitter, and their bond eventually led them to work together professionally, with Marilyn as a psychic and Reagan as her assistant. Marilyn relies on Reagan so much that she sometimes lets her handle phone consultations with new clients, including the one on the night of Tim’s murder. Interestingly, this consultation served as Marilyn’s alibi, claiming she was at work using her landline to speak with a client. However, it appears that this alibi is now questionable.

It’s evident that Marilyn had both motive (standing to lose $200,000 annually and potentially gain as a Snackerdoodles shareholder if their acquisition of Bakewells succeeded) and opportunity (being absent the night Tim died). The means, ultimately, sealed her fate. Even if she changes her name, Mary Lou Grunderson’s local notoriety as the 1971 Woodchuck Festival Champion of precise archery will forever remain. Elsbeth, Kaya, and Nikki recruit Phyllis to set a trap using the fictional Aunt Bitsy, whose recent death Tim often mentioned in his dating app messages. In the end, it was Tim who fell into the trap, implicating himself multiple times in the process.

After Marilyn is securely arrested, Captain Wagner requests her aid in attempting to contact the spirit of a young man whose demise he feels responsible for not averting. Generally skeptical about psychics, he was intrigued by her earlier insights during the investigation when she enquired if an old blue station wagon held any significance for him. As it happens, this station wagon belonged to a serial killer who targeted male college students, and Wagner had been unable to apprehend him, resulting in another student’s death. Marilyn deduces that Scotty Fenton’s spirit has departed from our world, implying that he has found peace, which at least offers some solace to Wagner.

Towards the end of the episode, Marilyn experiences another premonition, foreseeing perilous times for Elsbeth, filled with blood, water, a menacing figure in dark robes, and an eerie stillness. Despite her being a murderer, I can’t help but hope that we’ll encounter Marilyn once more as we near the end of the season-long saga involving Judge Crawford – a man of ill repute.

In This Week’s Tote Bag

It’s clear that the hair and makeup team enjoyed collaborating with Tracey Ullman on this episode. Her wig, prosthetic teeth, and grand, Anna Karenina-inspired fur hat are all impressive. While I don’t typically appreciate hats, I must admit that this one might just win me over.

As a flock of crows flying above them guided Marilyn, Elsbeth, and Kaya to Tim’s lifeless body, Elsbeth commented that such a group of crows is known as a “murder.” Collective nouns are incredibly descriptive and whimsical, and the ones for birds, in particular, are delightful. For instance, a group of ravens is called an “unkindness,” while owls gather in a “parliament” and larks soar together in an “exaltation.” (Would you like more examples? Here’s a wealth of possibilities.)

It amused me that Lieutenant Connor invited Captain Wagner to confide in him about Scotty, pointing out his “flat affect” as something that draws people who need to unload their feelings. He’s so insightful and compassionate, and I’m pleased that Elsbeth’s 20-episode season has taken the time to develop this character and actor Daniel K. Isaac with such depth and subtlety.

In this episode of “Elsbeth”, I distinctly remember feeling a bit emotional as Elsbeth’s late grandmother communicates an empowering message via Marilyn. The extravagant use of color and fashion by Elsbeth could be seen as a continuation, even a tribute, to her charming family heritage.

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2025-03-14 07:58