Warning: SPOILERS for Elsbeth season 2, episode 18, “I Know What You Did Thirty-Three Summers Ago.”
The darkest episode of Elsbeth to date finally draws the curtain on Judge Crawford’s time as the series villain, but that doesn’t mean Carrie Preston’s character is out of hot water just yet. If anything, the episode’s conclusion might set our lovably quirky protagonist up to face one of the most difficult challenges she’ll ever encounter ahead of Elsbeth season 3. There are plenty of things fans would love to see in the show’s future, such as more cameo appearances by The Good Wife characters. But season 2, episode 18 proves the series also does darkness quite well.
Only two episodes away from the season finale, “I Know What You Did Thirty-Three Summers Ago” finally puts Elsbeth head-to-head against Judge Milton Crawford for a final showdown that affects just about everyone in Elsbeth’s cast of characters. Crawford shows the true reach of his powerful influence like he never has before, and there are at least two points at which Elsbeth’s life itself seems to be in danger. Things seem resolved when the former suspect in the Mertens case guns Crawford down on the courthouse steps, but the real trouble might only just be beginning.
Judge Crawford Gets DOJ Agent Celentano Fired In Elsbeth Season 2, Episode 18
It’s Never Confirmed Whether Crawford Undoes The Damage
Considering the real-life connection between Michael Emerson and Carrie Preston, it’s somewhat ironic that Crawford poses his biggest threat in the episode by going after Elsbeth’s personal life. He has Wagner investigated by Internal Affairs, Teddy’s father investigated for potential disbarment, and forces Connor to downsize the NYPD, threatening Kaya’s job. But DOJ Agent Fred Celentano was the one who authorized Elsbeth’s consent decree to investigate Captain Wagner in season 1, and Judge Crawford manages to get him fired. That leaves the fate of Elsbeth’s job more than a little uncertain.
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Technically, it’s unclear whether Celentano is still gone from the DOJ. Wagner forges a dishonest truce with Crawford midway through the episode in the hopes that he’ll call off his dogs, and Crawford pretends to fall for it. Unfortunately, the episode makes no mention of Crawford’s various threats to Elsbeth’s loved ones throughout the rest of the runtime. Everyone acts as if things have calmed down, but there’s no verbal confirmation that Celentano has his job back. To make things even more complicated, it might not matter whether he does or not.
The Circumstances Of Crawford’s Death Could Further Jeopardize Elsbeth’s Consent Decree
Elsbeth Called Attention To Herself In All The Wrong Ways
Judge Crawford’s death marks a huge change to Elsbeth’s procedural format, as it’s the first time she’s failed an investigation. It’s already had a massive impact on both her and Teddy. Elsbeth feels like she failed because she was too late to keep suspect Delia from becoming a murderer for real, while Teddy is reversing his decision to attend law school because he no longer trusts a corrupt system. Worst of all, however, Elsbeth’s proximity to the murder and association with the killer could put her consent decree at further risk.
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On top of that, Elsbeth stormed into the courthouse only minutes before to confront Judge Crawford with several of his colleagues present. As Crawford gleefully points out, none of them appear to take her seriously. She then argues with him on the courthouse steps mere seconds before his shooting. With Crawford now being honored by the press, his equally powerful colleagues might be gunning to finish what he started by threatening Elsbeth’s consent decree. Even if he does still have his job, Celentano might not be enough to save Elsbeth from the consequences of publicly villainizing a murder victim.
How Tascioni Can Protect Her Consent Decree In Elsbeth Season 2
She Might Have To Take On A Role Outside Of Her Comfort Zone
Although Elsbeth’s Judge Crawford threat never resulted in an attempt on Elsbeth’s life (which certainly felt like a looming possibility), things could be still dicey for Elsbeth in the last couple of episodes in season 2 with her consent decree hanging in the balance. But even if Crawford’s connections do come after her, Elsbeth might be capable of defending her consent decree without help from Agent Celentano. The evidence against Crawford seems to have been destroyed, but Elsbeth doesn’t need to prove his guilt in order to defend her good name.
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It all comes down to an observation made by Lieutenant Connor earlier in the season. One of many new allies added to The Good Wife spinoff in season 2, Connor overcame his initial hesitations about Tascioni when he noticed the positive effect she has on the detectives’ professionalism. It could be a unique twist on the typical Elsbeth format to see her take more of a backseat, following the intended purpose of her consent decree by assessing the NYPD’s methods rather than steamrolling their investigations. More importantly, it’s a twist that just might save her job.
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