CBS just dropped a sneak peek of Stephen Colbert’s upcoming Elsbeth appearance, and it hints at a favorable time frame for the return of another beloved guest star. The network already released a handful of first-look images of Colbert’s Elsbeth premiere, but their new video reveals more about his character’s personality and Elsbeth’s current place in the show’s overarching storyline.
Naturally, Colbert will be far from the only guest star to grace Tascioni’s presence in Elsbeth season 3. It’s furthermore expected that not all guest stars will be newcomers after the season 2 finale brought several memorable guests back at once. But a seemingly offhand reference to another iconic side character could answer one of Elsbeth season 2’s biggest questions.
Elsbeth Season 3’s Sneak Peek At Stephen Colbert Reveals Elsbeth Has Just Visited Angus
It’s Only Fair The Couple Would Take Turns Visiting Each Other
Of four sneak peeks released by CBS, the only scene from the Elsbeth season 3 premiere to feature Colbert’s Scotty Bristol reveals upon their first meeting that Elsbeth has just returned from visiting her boyfriend Angus in Scotland. She then corrects herself immediately, uncertain as to whether “boyfriend” is the appropriate word. This has major ramifications after Elsbeth season 2.
Tascioni previously considered leaving New York when Kaya Blanke’s Elsbeth season 2 detective promotion led to her departure from the precinct. The quirky crime-solver’s return to New York from Scotland suggests that Elsbeth’s decision to stay hasn’t stood in the way of pursuing a romance with Angus. And, since he visited her first, it was naturally her turn this time.
Following that logic, the ball is now back in Angus’ court, and there are plenty of people ready to see him return. Showrunner Jonathan Tolins, when speaking on the possibility of Angus returning to Elsbeth, has suggested that guest star Ioan Gruffudd himself would be interested in reprising his role. There’s only one potentially heartbreaking catch, as Tolins has explained:
“I would love to have Ioan [Gruffudd] back on, and I think he’s interested. I would love to have him come back and visit New York again or take the show to Scotland. Although I will say that we are not looking to sort of pair up Elsbeth. I think one of the things about our show is that this is a woman who’s reinvented herself, who is divorced, and is really focused on her work and not looking to be permanently attached to another person. And I think that’s fresh and true to the character. But yes, we love Angus, and I would love to see him back on.”
Tolins said this in May, and a lot can happen in a writers’ room over the course of a summer. While it makes sense that Elsbeth isn’t necessarily ready to settle down with a man she’s hardly seen in person, her uncertain reference to Angus as her boyfriend suggests she may be coming around. But she needs to decide soon.
After 8 Months, The Show Can’t Keep Waiting To Label Elsbeth And Angus’ Relationship
They’ve Had An Administration’s Worth Of Time To Make Things Official
Elsbeth met Angus Oliphant-Donnachaidh in Elsbeth season 2’s Valentine’s Day episode, and she’s waffled on how to define their blossoming relationship ever since. He seems like the best match she could hope for, from the dulcet tones she and Gonzo enjoy on Spotify to the fact that he’s the first firefighter to appreciate Elsbeth’s personality more than her red hair.
While anyone would reasonably think twice before diving into a long-term relationship with someone who lives across the ocean, eight months is a long time for two people to stay on the hook without one of them reeling it in. And, since the Elsbeth season 2 premiere suggests the series follows a real-world timeline, that’s how much time they’ve had.
However, the most important point isn’t whether Angus and Elsbeth decide to throw their lots in together. Whether they make things official or decide to call it quits, what matters most is that they shouldn’t make a final ruling on their relationship status offscreen. The series needs to put them in a room together before they can work things out.
Up to this point, fans invested in Elsbeth’s relationship with Angus have only seen it play out through FaceTime requests and conversations about futures Tascioni’s considered between episodes. It almost feels as if the audience themselves are in a long-distance relationship, but there’s luckily a perfect built-in time frame for Elsbeth and her highland lover to finally have “the talk.”
Elsbeth Season 3’s Best Time Frame For Angus’ Return Is February 12, 2026
It’s Just One Day Off From Their Unofficial First Anniversary
At the time of writing, only a few Elsbeth season 3 guest stars have been announced, with Gruffudd’s name nowhere on the list. This means that he could appear at any point in the season, but it makes the most sense for them to call back season 2 by reconnecting on Valentine’s Day. Elsbeth’s timeslot places that on February 12.
Their initial Cupid’s Day meeting aired on February 13, 2025, meaning their reunion would just nearly mark the real-life anniversary of the night fans fell in love with their relationship. It also makes sense that it would take a few months into season 3 to reunite, since, story-wise, they’ve seen each other too recently for him to reasonably travel sooner.
Of course, this prediction could be off the mark for several reasons. Angus’ first visit was extremely impulsive, so it isn’t technically beyond his character to visit sooner than seems logical. There are also production schedules to account for. But it does seem likely they’ll reunite at some point, given that even Elsbeth’s Carrie Preston wants to see Angus return:
“Ioan, of course, is so great, and he was so game and so excited to be a part of the world… He put all of his efforts into making a wonderful and dynamic character, and it was such a great premise, too, that we had to meet through screens, and it was so Elsbeth that she would meet somebody through an art installation thousands of miles away, and it was in the Valentine’s Day episode. All of that is a perfect recipe for romantic comedy at its best, and so, we’re very glad that the audience loved it.”
If “romantic comedy at its best” isn’t a sales pitch for Angus’ return, it’s hard to imagine what is. Should the series deliver its best-case scenario, Elsbeth could bring Angus back to Manhattan on Valentine’s Day for him and Elsbeth to finally become more than FaceTime buddies. If Elsbeth chooses independence, however, fans may be in for one bittersweet February.
