I Thought Elsbeth's Bloody Judge Crawford Twist Had To Be A Fake Out, But Now I Have Questions For The Season 2 Finale
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
Spoilers ahead for Episode 18 of Elsbeth Season 2, called "I Know What You Did Thirty-Three Summers Ago" and available streaming now with a Paramount+ subscription.
The Season 2 finale of Elsbeth is quickly approaching in the 2025 TV schedule, but the latest episode delivered a twist so big that I thought it had to be a fake out when there are still weeks to go until the final credits roll. Michael Emerson returned as Judge Milton Crawford, and Elsbeth getting some serious dirt on the Moriarty to her Sherlock resulted in retaliation that ranged from close to home like Captain Wagner to all the way back to Elsbeth's ex in Chicago. The plot was seriously thickening...and then Delia turned up and shot Crawford dead.
It all happened so quickly that I was waiting for Elsbeth to wake up from a dream or snap out of a hallucination. Surely the big bad of the season wasn't already dead, right? Wrong! Despite two episodes left in the season, despite Crawford's friends in politics, despite Elsbeth and Co. getting the dirt they needed to put the judge behind bars the right way... Delia shot and killed him.
This completely upended my expectations for how Season 2 was going to end, although in hindsight perhaps I should have been suspicious that Milton wouldn't make it to the finale earlier this spring. CBS released the description for the finale back in March, revealing that the leading lady "comes face to face with many familiar suspects" while trying to solve a murder, complete with a list of the guests. Not among them? Carrie Preston's real-life husband, Michael Emerson. Check out the list:
Stephen Moyer – theater director Alex Modarian
Retta – matchmaker Margo Clarke
Gina Gershon – plastic surgeon Dr. Vanessa Holmes
Elizabeth Lail – tech CEO Quinn Powell
Arian Moayed – bar owner Joe Dillon
André De Shields – fashion designer Matteo Hart
Alyssa Milano – mafia princess Pupetta Del Ponte
The former Evil actor was never a recurring or regular part of the cast, with his appearances usually revealed ahead of time. With him missing from the finale cast list, should I have known to question whether he would live to the end of Season 2? Perhaps, but I was just picturing Crawford bringing back a parade of killers who ended up behind bars thanks to Elsbeth, possibly exposing her unconventional approach to cracking cases.
So, with Elsbeth's Season 2 nemesis dead, will there be a serialized element to the finale that ties all the guests stars together? Or are we in for glorified cameos from each and every one of them? Could Crawford have some vengeance that he arranged before his death just in case? Was this truly the end of the storyline?
Well, we can only wait and see on that front, but the promo for the next episode doesn't suggest that Crawford is still on Elsbeth's mind. Take a look:
Tune in to CBS on Thursday, May 1 for the "I've Got a Little List" episode of Elsbeth, airing at 9 p.m. ET since Matlock already wrapped Season 1 with its finale and vacated that time slot. You can also revisit past episodes of the hit drama streaming on Paramount+.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
16 minutes ago
- CBS News
Grand Rapids man wanted for carjacking and kidnapping killed in shootout with Arkansas State Police
Woman accused of firing on repo man; Michigan man accused of threats to president; other top stories Woman accused of firing on repo man; Michigan man accused of threats to president; other top stories Woman accused of firing on repo man; Michigan man accused of threats to president; other top stories A Michigan man was fatally shot Wednesday during a confrontation with Arkansas State Police after a multi-state manhunt. Felipe Millan-Gomez, 33, of Grand Rapids, was wanted in connection with an armed carjacking and kidnapping Monday in Manistee County, Michigan, according to Arkansas and Michigan authorities. During that incident in the village of Okenama, he was accused of threatening a woman with a handgun and forcing her to drive. She was able to jump out of her sport utility vehicle and flagged a passerby while the suspect slid over to the driver's seat and took control of the vehicle. Several hours later, Manistee County deputies found the abandoned stolen vehicle in Benzie County, where they believe an accomplice picked up the suspect. "Law enforcement considered Millan-Gomez armed and dangerous," the Arkansas report said. At about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Arkansas State Police troopers, along with U.S. Marshals Service officer,s stopped Millan-Gomez on Interstate 40, near the city of Carlisle, Ark. "Millan-Gomez exited his vehicle and brandished a weapon. Troopers fired on the suspect, striking him," the report said. "Millan-Gomez died at the scene." His body was transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory. ASP's Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the shooting and will submit a case file to the Lonoke County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, which will determine if the use of lethal force was consistent with Arkansas law. In the meantime, the Manistee County Sheriff's Office in Michigan says it will continue to investigate the case in hopes of identifying an accomplice. Michigan agencies involved in the case also included the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan State Police, Manistee City Police and Manistee Central Dispatch.
CNN
16 minutes ago
- CNN
Live updates: Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' trial coverage
Update: Date: 13 min ago Title: The judge is on the bench Content: Judge Arun Subramanian is on the bench. Testimony is expected to resume around 9 a.m. ET. Update: Date: 15 min ago Title: Special agent expected to take the stand next Content: Testimony in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial is set to resume today around 9 a.m. ET. Prosecutors said they plan to call a special agent as their next witness. Judge Arun Subramanian said yesterday he needs some time to decide whether the prosecution can show jurors a text from 2015 that Sean 'Diddy' Combs' security guard sent him. The text recounts a violent incident between Combs and Gina that the security guard says would get him arrested, 'even if she begged' the police not to do it. Prosecutor Christy Slavik confirmed that Gina is identified as the third victim in the indictment tied to alleged violent acts. Slavik also said there are records putting Combs, Gina and the security guard in Atlanta at the time to corroborate the messages. Defense attorney Jason Driscoll accused the prosecution of trying to get 'two bites at the apple' because Gina isn't expected to testify. Update: Date: 31 min ago Title: What Jane said on her final day of testimony yesterday Content: 'Jane,' one of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' accusers testifying under a pseudonym, concluded her testimony yesterday after undergoing cross-examination and redirect questioning. Here's a look at what she said on her last day on the stand: 'Breaking point': Jane testified again about the physical altercation she and Combs had in 2024 over a woman she believed Combs was spending time with on a trip. 'At this point, I had just reached my breaking point in the relationship,' she said. Jane testified that after things escalated, she called the woman from Combs' phone and the two traded insults. She said Combs also FaceTimed his assistant, Jonathan, who told Jane that the other woman did not go on the trip. Confusing cycle: Jane testified that the reason she sent Combs affectionate text messages after the 2023 Turks and Caicos trip, which she had previously described as disappointing, was because of a confusing cycle in which Combs would 'shower' her with 'love and affection,' with 'sexual exploitation in between.' She said she was able to 'compartmentalize all the bad stuff' and focus on 'the good parts.' Other women: When asked why she brought up 'hotel nights' to Combs during discussions about other women in his life, Jane testified that she was trying to express, 'Why do I have to be degraded in order to be with you?' Becoming emotional, she added that she was trying to say, 'Why do I have to break all my boundaries and compromise on myself … but they can still experience you in the way I want to?' Rent threats: Jane testified that she began telling Combs she didn't want to participate in 'hotel nights' in 2021 but became more vocal about it in 2023. She said that by 2023, Combs had been paying her rent for several months and would often mention her rent in connection with 'hotel nights.' Jane added that Combs threatened to stop paying her rent 'in all different types of ways.'
Fox News
21 minutes ago
- Fox News
WATCH LIVE: Karen Read trial nears finale as closing arguments begin
All times eastern FOX News Radio Live Channel Coverage WATCH LIVE: Karen Read trial nears finale as closing arguments begin
