Critic’s Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
4.5
If you’re still laughing after this hilarious episode of Elsbeth, you’re in good company. Granted, we were always in good hands with a guest appearance from Laurie Metcalf.
I’m just going to get this out of the way now: I would watch “Father Crime” and be enthralled with every episode. “Wavey” for life, am I right?
In all seriousness, this episode of Elsbeth did what viewers have been hoping for since the start of the season. However, we will get to that in a minute.
We have to talk about how the show came back from “One Angry Woman” with comedy to spare. Between Laurie Metcalf and the throwaway jokes, Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 8 had audiences in stitches from laughing.
Laurie Metcalf Embodies Every Behind-The-Scenes Difficult Actor Trope You Can Think Of
Again, absolutely no one was surprised that Laurie Metcalf killed it as Regina, a delusional actor who doesn’t realize their career is fading. If you’re like this TV Fanatic, you couldn’t tear your eyes away from her.
While Miss Metcalf is lovely and sweet in interviews, she knows how to play a loud and antagonistic character in the best way. The actress is fantastic, and pairing her with an equally talented comedy actor will guarantee hilarity.
Case in point, does anyone else still have the insult match between Regina and Jack rolling through their noggin? Dominic Fumusa was incredible as Jack, but coming off Nurse Jackie and The Godfather of Harlem, that’s no surprise.
Regina: Brainless action movie moron.
Jack: You wanna compare films? Oh, right, you don’t make any.
Regina: You’re an embarrassment.
Jack: You’re twenty years too old for your part.
Regina: You’re twenty years too old for your girlfriend.
Jack: When’s the last time you had a date, Regina?
Regina: When’s the last time you called your kids, Jack?!
To be fair, it’s all too common for actors who despise each other to have fantastic chemistry while acting. It’s probably some psychological thing about expressing emotions without being vulnerable.
If it worked for Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in The Notebook, it could work for two veteran actors who have been on a declining procedural for two decades.
Hopefully, Laurie Metcalf (The Conners) will make another appearance at some point in the series.
Imagine Elsbeth needs advice only Regina can give her. She visits Regina in prison, and Regina tells her she started a prison theater troupe where they perform “The Scottish Play.” You can see it, right?
Campy And Bizarre Are The Bread And Butter Of Elsbeth
Well, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I definitely did not have “death by stiletto heel” on my Elsbeth Murder Bingo Card. That’s pretty campy, even for a show like Elsbeth.
Yet, it was somehow also the most gruesome. Something about just the idea of the heel going into the showrunner’s eye made me clench up in anticipation. I’m getting chills just thinking about it.
However, at least one good thing came from this bizarre murder. Kaya (Carra Patterson) met that tall drink of water, Dr. Cameron Clayton. Excuse me, I think I’m coming down with death and need to see Dr. Clayton immediately.
All jokes aside, did anyone else notice the glaring issue with Cameron and Kaya? How are they going to be potential love interests and roommates at the same time?
That is a recipe for disaster that Kaya doesn’t need right now as she works toward becoming a detective.
Speaking of detecting, Detective Grandpa (Fleming) was back on the scene in all of his adorable, seasoned investigator glory.
There are some characters you expect to take seriously most of the time, like Captain Wagner (Wendell Pierce), and then there are characters like Buzz Fleming, who you love to watch no matter what they are doing.
The character is so refreshing from the usual “annoyed with Elsbeth” detectives who scowl at every word she says. Elsbeth and Kaya were literally giggling at the adorable man while he interrogated that extra from the set.
However, Buzz wasn’t the only one delivering light-hearted laughs. There were a few meta jokes that were very “blink and you miss it.”
While Elsbeth and Kaya were watching “Father Crime,” Kaya remarked that it’s no fun once you know who the killer is, to which Elsbeth disagreed.
We are right there with the titular character because “howcatchems” are shaking up the mystery game. It’s why shows like Poker Face are so beloved.
However, the joke that takes the cake in this episode comes toward the end when Elsebeth pulls out a pharmacy receipt almost three feet long and says, “All this for a pack of gum.”
It was a simple but ridiculously funny joke. Make sure you enjoy those laughs while they last, too.
The Other Shoe Finally Drops On Elsbeth
Judge Milton Crawford is coming for Elsbeth’s wig through the most diabolical way possible: The Justice System.
The character radiates villain energy in the most fun way. Again, that husband-and-wife chemistry between Carrie Preston and Michael Emerson makes their rivalry so fun.
While the two characters didn’t square off in this episode, Captain Wagner found himself smack dab in the middle. Suffice it to say that Season 2 has a lot of burners going at once.
If you read the Elsbeth Season 1 Episode 8 Spoilers, I mentioned that the series has too many plates spinning in the air. Well, this episode certainly made me eat my words.
It has to be said that this was some genius plotting on the writers’ part. Since Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 2, viewers have been clamoring for answers about the Chicago divorce case Elsbeth is caught up in.
Judge Milton became the central root of Elsbeth’s problems in one fell swoop. That’s certainly one way for the series to give viewers something to think about during the holidays.
Sadly, we will have to wait a little while as “Toil and Trouble” was the Elsbeth Season 2 winter finale. However, there is still more coming our way when the show returns in early 2025.
Until then, Elsbeth fans can relive every exciting episode of Elsbeth Season 1 and Season 2 on Paramount +.
What has been your favorite moment from Elsbeth Season 2 so far?
Which character have you most liked, whether leading, recurring, or guest?
Please drop a comment below to let me know what you liked about this episode, and join me again when I review another episode of Elsbeth!
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