Elsbeth showrunner Jonathan Tolins has talked about how the late Judge Crawford will continue to wreak havoc in season 3. The corrupt judge, who was the primary antagonist of Elsbeth season 2, was shockingly gunned down by Delia in Elsbeth season 2, episode 18, and died on the steps of the court.
The death of the villain put an end to Elsbeth’s immediate problems, but this might not be the end of the struggles. In fact, according to Tolins, the impact and havoc caused by the judge might continue to be a key part of the upcoming season, and Elsbeth might have more problems to deal with.
Per TV Line, Tolins revealed that Elsbeth season 3 will continue to feel the influence of Judge Crawford, despite his death. The corrupt judge’s actions set events in motion that will continue to impact the show. Sending IA after Wagner, and threatening her ex-husband Mike’s career, which could have long-running repercussions.
Tolins discussed how he wants the show to be one that continues to be relevant, and focuses on storylines that will continue to impact the narrative. He talked about the importance of not discarding ideas too soon, and that Elsbeth season 3 will seek to continue exploring these kinds of storylines. Check out his comments below:
Elsbeth‘s Judge Crawford set about getting retaliation against everybody — he set Internal Affairs after Wagner, Elsbeth’s ex-husband was facing disbarment…. Will there be more fallout to explore in Season 3? –Suzanne
“That is certainly something we are going to be talking about Day 1 in the writers’ room for Season 3. We like to have a show where we don’t just throw out things and never think of them again. We like the idea that things are constantly having repercussions moving forward.”
What This Means For Elsbeth Season 3
The Specter Of Crawford Will Loom Large
Crawford was one of the most memorable Elsbeth characters, and was a brilliant villain across season 2, and him locking horns with Elsbeth is going to be missed. However, Tolins’ comments suggest the show is aware of the impact of Crawford as a character, and that season 3 will seek to keep him a core part of the show.
The fallout from Elsbeth’s conflict with Crawford is going to have genuine ramifications for her and the rest of the team. Crawford’s influence should loom large over the season, although it’s curious what that’s going to look like in practice, since the villain is no longer a physical threat to the show.
Our Take On Crawford’s Elsbeth Season 3 Impact
While He Won’t Be Part Of The Main Story, Expect Crawford To Strongly Influence The B Story
Losing a villain as great as Crawford has the potential to hurt the show, and this is why it is important that he remains part of the story. While it’s not really feasible to base the main storyline around Crawford, it’s possible that an unknown ally of the judge is introduced to take over what he started.
As a nemesis, he was one of the best, and Elsbeth’s discovery that he committed murder is something that certain people may wish to cover up. There is also the question of what happens with Delia, and her prison sentence for gunning down Crawford, and this will likely be an important plot point in Elsbeth season 3.
