Elsbeth Season 2 (Episode 15 Added) | TV Series

Elsbeth Tascioni tackles New York’s elite killers with quirky brilliance, facing personal and precinct challenges.

Review

Elsbeth Season 2 elevates the howcatchem formula into a 20-episode romp that’s equal parts fizzy and fraught, cementing Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth Tascioni as a Columbo-esque icon with a wardrobe to match. After Season 1’s consent-decree setup, Elsbeth’s now a fixture at the NYPD, sniffing out high-society murders—opera buffs (Nathan Lane in Episode 1), space-race billionaires (Episode 2), even psychic grifters (Tracey Ullman in Episode 15)—with her disarming charm and uncanny eye. Wendell Pierce’s Captain Wagner and Carra Patterson’s Kaya Blanke deepen as partners, wrestling with morale dips and past scandals (the Van Ness leak in Episode 9), while Michael Emerson’s Judge Crawford emerges as a recurring thorn. Standouts include Episode 11’s transatlantic flirtation with Ioan Gruffudd’s Angus—a Scottish fireman twist that delighted X users—and Episode 14’s Mafia throwback with Alyssa Milano.

The expanded season (up from 10 episodes) lets subplots breathe, like Kaya’s detective dreams and Elsbeth’s son Teddy’s visits, but it’s not flawless: midseason lags (Episode 9’s wellness cult) and a crowded guest-star roster (Laurie Metcalf, Matthew Broderick) occasionally dilute focus. Production sparkles—NYC feels alive, costumes pop—though some CGI (Episode 2’s space crash) wobbles. Posts on X laud Preston’s “loveable” chaos, and a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score backs its buzz, but gripes linger about predictable cases. With five episodes left, including a teased Italian restaurant showdown (Episode 16, March 20), it’s a deliciously eccentric ride—best when it leans into Elsbeth’s whimsy over procedural grit.