In the latest episode of Elsbeth, a wealthy poet’s mysterious death leads the unconventional detective into New York’s competitive arts scene, while a surprise reunion pulls her into the high-stakes world of a mayoral campaign. “Poetic Justice” sees Elsbeth Tascioni investigating a murder where the victim, a woman in her 90s, had been playing a long game of her own. At the same time, her old friend Marissa Gold returns with a political favor that quickly becomes complicated.
The Case of the Suspicious Death
The episode begins with Elsbeth attending a charity benefit with her friend, Dr. Yablonsky. There, he shares his regrets about the recent death of his friend, Dolores Feinn, a 90-year-old poet and donor to a prestigious literary journal called Pigeon Print. Dolores died in an apartment fire believed to be caused by her cigarette igniting the oxygen-rich air from her portable tank. Dr. Yablonsky feels guilty for previously thinking her oxygen tank was a fake prop she used to get the best tables at restaurants, as the pressure gauge never seemed to go down.
Elsbeth’s sharp intuition tells her the story does not add up. She gets approval from Captain Wagner to reopen the case. She focuses her attention on Gary Pidgeon, the founder of Pigeon Print and a friend of the victim. Gary had reported Dolores’s death and seemed overly eager to praise her legacy. Elsbeth and Detective Rivers discover that Gary was desperate for funding for his journal, repeatedly stating that “the arts are under attack.” His main hope was a promised $200 million bequest from Dolores in her will.
A Killer Exposed and a Scam Revealed
Elsbeth’s investigation reveals Gary’s motive. Dolores was about to reduce her large donation to his journal unless he agreed to publish her epic, and seemingly unreadable, poem, “Quest For Eternal Spring, Or: The Blood Circus.” To secure the funds, Gary loosened the valve on her oxygen tank, causing the fatal explosion.
With help from a former fire marshal and a local dry cleaner, Elsbeth stages a deception for Gary. She presents him with fake evidence, claiming that high oxygen levels left a unique bleach-like residue on Dolores’s clothes, which would be impossible to remove. Faced with this authoritative-sounding proof, Gary breaks down and confesses to the murder.
The final twist comes when Dolores’s will is read. Gary does not receive the $200 million. It is revealed that Dolores was not wealthy at all; she lived in a $250-per-month rent-controlled apartment and had sustained herself for years by convincing arts administrators to wine and dine her for potential donations. Gary is bequeathed her unpublished poetry and just $413.17, less accounting fees. The wealthy donor was, in fact, running a long-term, victimless scam.
An Old Friend and a New Political Problem
During the case, Elsbeth has a happy reunion with Marissa Gold, her old friend from their legal days. Marissa has moved to New York and is now the campaign manager for Alec Bloom, a charismatic mayoral candidate. Elsbeth and Alec immediately connect, sharing a love for New York’s tourist attractions and even singing a few lines from the song “Manhattan” together.
Noticing their chemistry, Marissa devises a plan. She asks Elsbeth to be seen on a dinner date with Alec to help his campaign appeal to women voters and position him well on policing issues due to her consent decree work with the NYPD. Elsbeth agrees, but the situation escalates when photos are leaked to the press, dubbing Elsbeth Alec’s “mystery redhead.”
Elsbeth feels used and asks Marissa and Alec to kill the story, emphasizing she has serious work to do and does not want to be a pawn. Marissa agrees but later reveals she was the one who leaked the photos. She tells Elsbeth not to make any moves or talk to anyone about it unless she says so.
“Don’t tell Alec, but I’m the one who leaked the photos in the first place,” Marissa confessed. “I said I didn’t want to be that person. Turns out, I am that person… Elsbeth Tascioni, the future of New York is in your hands.”
This confession sets up a new, recurring story arc for the season, with Marissa and Alec scheduled to return in a later episode.
Elsbeth’s Foray into Poetry
A memorable comedic moment in the episode comes when Elsbeth, in an attempt to connect with suspect Gary Pidgeon, decides to share her own poetry with him. She gushes over his journal and presents her piece, titled “Emotional Whole.” The poem consists of her repeating the word “father” nine times with different emotional inflections, followed by a single, gravelly uttered “Saddam Hussein.”
William Jackson Harper, who plays Gary, reacts with perfectly portrayed cringing and near-disbelief. After hearing her work, Gary tells Elsbeth directly that it is not good. At least she is willing to learn, though her poetry lessons will have to wait for another day.
Key Appearances and Returns
The episode features several notable characters. William Jackson Harper guest stars as the killer, Gary Pidgeon, delivering a performance that expertly mixes desperation and comic frustration. Sarah Steele returns as Marissa Gold, a character from The Good Wife and The Good Fight universe, now set for a recurring role this season. Daniel Davis also reappears as the charming Dr. Yablonsky, a friend who has appeared in each of Elsbeth’s three seasons.
This episode, titled “Poetic Justice,” was written by Leah Nanako Winkler and directed by Robin Givens. It successfully blends a classic murder mystery with new, ongoing personal stories for Elsbeth, setting the stage for more political intrigue as the season continues.
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