As a seasoned crime-drama enthusiast who’s seen her fair share of heists and investigations, I must say that this week’s episode was as captivating as a high-stakes poker game at a Monte Carlo casino – full of twists, turns, and a dash of French flair.
Among all episodes from the new season, “Elsbeth‘s Eleven” is my top pick: The guest actors excel in every scene, evidently enjoying themselves, and the plot revolves around a heist masterminded by unsavory characters who ultimately fail due to a well-executed counterheist. To make things even more intriguing, one character pulls off another heist within the initial heist (a triple heist! Can this get any better?). Moreover, the episode delves into various themes such as the value of solidarity among different classes over charity, egalitarianism over exclusivity, secure retirement plans based on defined benefits instead of market fluctuations, and genuine relationships based on openness rather than adherence to traditional notions of propriety.
To reach our destination, let’s take a moment to rewind and discuss the financial struggles faced by the affluent yet cash-strapped character named Roselyn (portrayed by Vanessa Williams). Despite having been married and divorced three times with considerable success, she might find herself short of funds, a mere $1 million, which, surprisingly, isn’t enough to sustain her lavish lifestyle for the upcoming 30 years.
Being faced with this brutal reality is bad enough, but to learn of it while trying to leverage the wealth and influence she thought she had is even worse. It turns out that Vivienne’s, the highly exclusive Manhattan luxury shopping club she’s been a member of for over 20 years, is now enforcing rules Roselyn didn’t know existed and finds hideously gauche. Being required to show proof of funds prior to shopping? In a store where, if you have to ask how much an item costs, you surely cannot afford it? This country really is going to the dogs! She’s also learning that, thanks to Vivienne’s new managing director, Valentina (Katie Lee Hill), and her comprehensive rebrand in the run-up to the store’s grand reopening after a five-year renovation project, no new members are being admitted for the time being. This makes Roselyn look foolish in front of her friend, prospective member, and struggling frozen-yogurt magnate Celeste (Jenn Lyon), and she simply can’t have that. The obvious solution to this problem is one that will make Vivienne pay for the embarrassment they’ve forced on Roselyn and Celeste and will refill their own coffers at the same time: a heist. How elegant! How simple! How … murder-y? Wait, what?!
In just a bit, we’ll address that matter. The strategy for our heist is well-conceived and draws inspiration from the Met Gala jewel theft in Ocean’s 8. This involves exchanging fake jewels with real ones, a process facilitated by a contrived bathroom emergency. Roselyn and Celeste collaborate with Judith (Becky Ann Baker), a longtime sales associate who is being compelled towards early retirement, which she can barely afford given the meager benefits provided by Vivienne. Valentina, referred to as “that pop-tart,” masterminds the entire operation, so Judith is all in with a fiery determination. Celeste’s bag counterfeiter, Huey (Adrian Martinez), will disguise himself as a plumber and secretly swap replica jewels into loaned pieces for the gala reopening, which Roselyn and Celeste will wear.
In an impulsive action, Roselyn ends up poisoning Claude, her security chief and gemologist, after he refuses her invitation to participate in the heist and threatens to inform Valentina about her plans. Delivering a villainous monologue during such a situation is quite unprofessional and immature, but killing him seems excessive. As Claude leaves a vague voicemail for Valentina nearby, Roselyn swiftly takes some cyanide-laced silver polish from his desk and mixes it into his tea.
In a dramatic turn of events, Claude perishes swiftly after delivering a witty remark, much like Heather Chandler in the movie “Heathers.” Roselyn skillfully stages the scene to make it appear as if Claude’s death was an accident, even suggesting poisoning. She subtly plants a clue – a silver spoon from the polishing set – and attempts to cover her tracks by consuming large quantities of home-pressed apple cider (which contains cyanide when ingested in sufficient amounts). The casual manner in which Roselyn and Celeste explain Claude’s tea incident to Judith is both amusing and chilling. It seems that a touch of Agatha Christie-style poisoning is just par for the course among the affluent, where prestige outweighs everything else. Judith finds this disturbing, but by then it’s too late, and Roselyn, echoing Laura Dern’s character in “Big Little Lies,” declares defiantly, “I will not be middle class!” To me, joining a club that resembles a Costco for the affluent seems distinctly upper-middle class.
I must admit, the resolution of this murder mystery has been quite clear-cut since my recent tour of locations where Mac was spotted on Halloween night. Elsbeth and Kaya harbor suspicions towards Roselyn, despite Valentina’s swift conclusion that Claude’s demise was an unfortunate accident, confirmed by the medical examiner. However, I find it peculiar that Roselyn’s display of grief seems more like a well-rehearsed performance rather than genuine sorrow. Additionally, her lipstick is conspicuously smudged not only on the exterior but also the interior of the teacup – something unusual since one would typically see it only on the outside. To top it off, it appears she’s been disposing of apple pulp following a minor exposure to cyanide poisoning.
By joining forces with the means, opportunities, and the financial incentive they discover with some financial investigations and information about the original heist after turning Judith, Elsbeth, Kaya, and Detective Donnelly are left only to lay a trap for Roselyn, Celeste, and Huey. It’s time for a twist on the usual – a reverse heist! Detective Donnelly (Molly Price), who has been waiting for this moment, eagerly accepts the opportunity to work with Elsbeth and Kaya again since she enjoys a good heist. Judith plays a key role in their plan, feigning loyalty to the first heist team so that her former accomplices in actual crime carry out the crimes they’ve been plotting. As anticipated, the potential heisters follow through with their plans, and once again Elsbeth, Kaya, and Donnelly have helped apprehend their colleague’s suspect.
The fast-moving crime investigations in this episode allow for extra exploration of various storylines, such as Captain Wagner’s worries about team morale and his leadership image, along with Kaya and Elsbeth’s budding friendship. Wagner ponders hosting a raffle for lunch with him as an idea, but he might need to reconsider and brainstorm something more meaningful instead of contrived. Meanwhile, Kaya has temporarily moved in with Elsbeth during their house renovation, which is expected to last several months. It takes them some time to align on financial matters, with Kaya proposing to contribute towards rent, making Elsbeth feel awkward about potentially mixing business and friendship. However, Kaya’s stand on this issue shows her determination, creating a healthy tension that strengthens their bond—a positive sign for any relationship!
For Vanessa Williams’ appreciation, I’ve saved the most thrilling surprise till the end: Judith is able to live out a luxurious version of her enforced early retirement, thanks to an unexpected turn of events. When Roselyn pushed her and her “tacky handbag” into the closet brimming with jewels, Judith managed to get her revenge by emptying Roselyn’s safe. Now, she spends her days savoring exquisite croissants in Paris, all while benefiting from the funds she acquired as the successful thief and quasi-class warrior of the episode – truly enjoying retirement! I only hope that there are no extradition treaties between our countries for her sake.
In This Week’s Tote Bag
This episode features two outstanding music selections that serve as its highlights: “I Don’t Like It,” by Christian Padovan, and Julie London’s rendition of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” (Note: The original uses more formal language and technical terms, but this version is more casual and easier to understand.)
The accolade for outstanding achievement was jointly received by Elsbeth’s jacket, reminiscent of a mythical Missoni x Bargello partnership with rich, vibrant autumnal hues, and Roselyn’s, embellished with a striking floral design in soft metallics against a dark backdrop.
I’ve become so deeply influenced by Derek Guy’s knowledge of menswear that I couldn’t help but exclaim when I saw how skillfully Claude’s outfit combined layers, patterns, and textures. His dress shirt showcases a small windowpane check in shades of blue and gray on a white backdrop, worn under a black-and-charcoal Glen plaid vest and a possible gray/navy/black floral tie (I’m not entirely sure).
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2024-11-08 08:54