Elsbeth finally realized Alec was a liar, and the way she found out was elegant.
Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 13 offered a seemingly offhand comment in the middle of a fantastic cozy mystery about a dead crossword puzzle editor, but it turned out to be more important than it seemed.
This was all on-brand for Elsbeth, but will it lead to the beginning of the end of this Alec Bloom nonsense? I hope so.
The Case Was as Ridiculous As Always, But Steve Buscemi Made a Chilling Killer
Elsbeth excels at creating quirky killers and suspects who take something seriously that most people don’t care about, and “Murder at Six Across” was no exception.
Steve Buscemi’s turn as the killer was one of the best in the series, though.
Buscemi’s Simon Carroll was someone who took crossword puzzles very seriously, wanted to belong, and took out his anger on the crossword editor when the editor threatened him with permanent disqualification from the tournament.
Then, Simon did something that many of the killers on Elsbeth do: he turned off his anger and pretended to be a completely different person so that he wouldn’t be suspected.
It backfired, of course, but the lies he told the team during Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 13 were particularly chilling because they were so opposite of who he really was.
Elsbeth usually picks up on inconsistencies right away, but this time she got fooled.
She was genuinely surprised when Simon was not a pop culture expert who loved the new puzzles, but instead a chronic complainer who was always angry about something.
It takes a lot to trick Elsbeth in that manner, but even more to be the kind of person who can pull it off.
While most of the killers on Elsbeth are able to pretend to be calm, rational people when Elsbeth first questions them, Simon was different.
Although his crime seemed impulsive, his reaction afterward was cold and calculating, from dumping Milton’s body upstate to spinning a believable tale about how Milton was someone he greatly respected.
Simon’s Downfall Came From Forensics, Not Missed Details
One of the most charming things about Elsbeth is that she often notices inconsistencies others miss, which fuels her ability to solve the case.
I enjoy that type of detective, but this time, Elsbeth only figured out what happened and needed forensic science to prove it.
That was a nice break from the usual. I prefer Elsbeth and the cops working together to everyone doubting that she has the right idea, even though she almost always does.
I would have preferred the audience to be a bit more clued in to what she was thinking, though.
I was genuinely confused when Elsbeth went to take a paper from the machine and realized what she’d been missing.
Until she revealed to Simon that she knew he’d bought a paper to do the crossword with and therefore his fingerprints were on the quarters in the box, I had no idea what she was thinking.
Was it just me, or did Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 13 not leave enough clues before this point?
It’s one thing not to notice something, but another if, after the reveal, you can’t look back and find what you missed.
Still, the clue was logical, so it’s possible I just didn’t get it.
Simon’s Arrest Was One of the Most Tragic, Too
I usually don’t care much about what the villain stands to lose.
They killed someone, so it’s hard to be sympathetic.
However, I found it sad that on Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 13, Simon’s arrest ruined his chances with Elaine when he probably would have won her over had he not turned to murder.
It wasn’t so much that he lost her by getting arrested, but that he went to an unnecessary extreme that not only ended a life, but stopped him from achieving the goal that had turned him violent in the first place.
As Elsbeth said, you should never use a bag in that manner. (One of the funniest lines in the episode, by the way.)
The Most Important Part of Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 13 Was The Last Two Minutes
It had to have been a shock for Elsbeth to hear her exact words about her favorite movie coming out of Alec’s mouth, especially since he’d told her he’d never seen ET.
Now Elsbeth knows that Alec makes things up — but the question is, what is she going to do about it?
At least she and Teddy seem to finally be on the same page about this.
I’d love for mother and son to team up to trap Alec and take him down for once and all!
That would be the ending this story deserves, although I still hate that Elsbeth ruined Marissa’s character in this way.
What did you think about Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 13?
Hit the comments with your opinions, and don’t forget to share this article with your Elsbeth-loving friends so they can join the conversation!