It is worth mentioning that a show like “Elsbeth” not only exceeds the expectations of the audience, but also exceeds the expectations of the audience and creates new content. It’s a good sign when the show’s biggest competition was last season.
Who would have thought that a show about a plucky lawyer who moves to New York would tell such a beloved story? Anyone who has seen anything by Carrie Preston, that’s her.
Preston fully embodies Elsbeth’s campy tone and whimsical theatricality. The actor’s greatest strength, however, is allowing her character to maintain a natural feel throughout her many quirky nuances.
Somehow, the series not only manages to stay fresh, but also capitalizes on its quirky nature so that each episode never feels repetitive or contrived.
A lot of that is due to the over-the-top murder, coupled with the memorable and hilarious characters portrayed by beloved TV and movie veterans.
Elsbeth writers go to great lengths to create an unforgettable experience in every episode
You know that thing that Disney always got right when I (and maybe many of you) were kids? Villains. That studio knows how to create a bad guy that you love to hate.
This seems to be Elsbeth’s bread and butter, because by the end you almost find yourself rooting for some murderer. Stay with me for a minute.
Take Joan Lennox, played by Jane Krakoski. First off, her character will likely be the same one she played in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
By the end of the second episode of Elsbeth’s first season, you’ll discover that while Joan is wonderful, she’s also a broken woman recovering from the pain her victims inflicted on her growing up.
How do you try to rise above something like this? If you were Elsbeth in Season 2, you wouldn’t. Instead, you come up with a bigger, crazier idea that makes the previous idea a complete failure.
Of course, I’m talking about the dazzling Vanessa Williams as Roslyn Bridwell, the robbing Upper West Side elite. What kind of person would squeeze a thousand apple seeds just to get trace amounts of cyanide in her system for a drug test? A woman dripping with diamonds is such a person.
Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 4 shows just how willing the people behind the show are to provide loyal fans with an unforgettable experience every episode.
Elsbeth is where the most brutal murder techniques flourish
Some of these murder plans border on the ridiculous, but that’s what makes them all the more interesting.
If you followed TV Fanatic during the first season of Elsbeth, you know that I chronicled some of the most ridiculous murder tactics.
In Elsbeth Season 1 Episode 5, there was a case where a dose of sports towels was improperly mixed with erectile dysfunction medication. A man was beaten to death with a stick.
Sounds crazy, right? What kind of mind could contemplate campier forms of murder? Enter Elsbeth Season 2.
Let’s see; there’s some gunfire, some beatings, a guy burned to death – oh, I know. What about the man who was electrocuted and then impaled on a reindeer antler?
No? Is Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 6 not crazy enough for you? Well, what if a stiletto heel was inserted through a person’s eye and into his brain? Now, we’re paying attention.
Honestly, this one is self-explanatory. Not to mention, Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 8 stars the hilarious Laurie Metcalf as the brutal murderess Regina Coburn. This is good television.
Elsbeth is bringing Disney-level villains to CBS
It’s like the Elsbeth writers didn’t know they’d knocked it out of the park, what did they decide to do with their plot formula? They dropped napalm in season two in the form of Michael Emerson.
First up, we have an actor known for his iconic villain roles. We then find out he’s married to none other than the titular character himself. Finally, word came that he was playing her rival.
How dare CBS give us everything we want and then everything we didn’t know we needed? Emerson has only been in two episodes so far, but he’s killing it, with a role or two left.
He did a lot of damage to Elsbeth in a short period of time, and I hate to say it, but his character was amazing. He has “Disney Villain” written all over him.
As Elsbeth returns for its second season, fans should brace themselves for more interesting killers and their brutal murderous ways.
Lord knows things are far from slowing down.
What’s your favorite episode of Elsbeth Season 2?
Who do you think is the best guest star?
Leave a comment below to let me know what you think, and please join me again as I bring you more interesting questions and opinions about Elsbeth!
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