Elsbeth Set Michael Emerson Up As A Big Bad, But I Want More Teddy Now That Carrie Preston Can Speak Freely About Him

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As a seasoned TV enthusiast who has seen more courtroom dramas than I can count, I must say that the twist at the end of Season 2 of “The Good Fight” left me on the edge of my seat! Michael Emerson‘s portrayal of Judge Crawford as the new big bad has certainly raised the stakes for Carrie Preston’s character Elsbeth. With Emerson joining the cast as Preston’s real-life husband, I found myself eagerly awaiting his arrival on the show.

However, it was Ben Levi Ross’ portrayal of Teddy, Elsbeth’s son, that truly stole the show for me. His subtle yet powerful performance in the dinner scene between mother and son has left me craving more of their interactions. The way he skillfully navigated the complexities of his character, sensing his mom’s vulnerabilities while gently pushing her to confront them, was nothing short of mesmerizing.

I find myself crossing my fingers that we’ll see more of Teddy in Season 2, as he provides a unique perspective on Elsbeth and offers an outlet for her to face the questions she’s been dodging. Ross’ portrayal of Teddy as both a confidant and a grounding force has made him an essential addition to the show, in my humble opinion.

In short, I can’t wait to see what the writers have in store for Elsbeth and Teddy, and I’ll be tuning in faithfully every week until the end of the season! And who knows, maybe they’ll even throw in a surprise guest appearance by Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson – just kidding (or am I?).

In the TV schedule for 2024, Season 2 of the show left off with a suspenseful cliffhanger when Judge Crawford, played by Michael Emerson, revealed court documents from Elsbeth’s past in Chicago. These documents could make the coming year challenging for Carrie Preston’s character. Throughout the season, Judge Crawford has been established as the main antagonist. It remains unclear if Wagner will provide enough assistance to Elsbeth for the remainder of the season. As Preston put it, taking down Judge Crawford is almost impossible due to his powerful position.

As a keen fan, I can’t help but reminisce about the intriguing conversation between the leading lady and Ben Levi Ross regarding Elsbeth and Teddy, which has sparked a strong desire within me to see Elsbeth’s son return to our screens as soon as possible in the 2025 TV lineup, especially with Emerson making an appearance as Preston’s real-life spouse. The excitement for his arrival was already palpable, but this revelation has definitely added fuel to the anticipation fire.

How Season 2 Set Up Teddy For More In 2025

From the onset of Season 2, Teddy appeared to primarily lift Elsbeth’s spirits when she was at her gloomiest on the series, with CBS skillfully concealing Ben Levi Ross’ debut until the climactic Christmas episode. In the following episode (streamable with a Paramount+ subscription), it was revealed that Teddy could circumvent some of his mom’s typical evasive tactics regarding her choice to depart from Chicago.

At dinner, when she began weeping and admitted that she wished he would visit more from Washington, D.C., if he loved New York, Teddy responded by saying:

OR

During dinner, she started crying and revealed that what she truly desired was for him to visit more often from Washington, D.C., if he could love New York. In response, Teddy told her:

Well, let me tell you something from my perspective as someone who has lived a bit of life, it seems to me that your actions have left quite a stir, buddy. Leaving Chicago outta nowhere, huh? That sure did turn heads and raise questions, I’ll tell ya! People are asking Dad why you disappeared like that, and he ain’t got no answers for ’em. Makes me wonder if you thought it was worth blowing up your whole life just to get a little closer to me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love seeing you, but is that really what you had in mind?

And another thing, you seem to think I’m hard to figure out, but let me tell ya, I ain’t no closed book. You just gotta take the time to look a little closer and listen a bit more, and you might find I’ve got depths you didn’t know were there. So, if you’re curious about me, stick around, ask questions, and who knows? Maybe we can get to know each other better.

But hey, that’s just my two cents from someone who’s seen a bit of the world. Take it or leave it, buddy!

Elsbeth swiftly diverted the conversation by querying if he had ever sampled the halal cart. Successfully leading him astray, she managed to coax out of him that he was in a relationship with a man named Roy, which served as her daily trivia tidbit. It turns out he hadn’t shared this detail about Roy’s clothing size with his mom yet, and he steered the discussion back to the original topic.

Mother, could you give ear for a moment? You left behind everything familiar and relocated to this fresh environment, and now, I receive an urgent message from your colleagues asking me to rush over, leaving me in a quandary about your wellbeing. Are you alright? Could you please let me know how you’re doing?

As a movie enthusiast, I can tell you that during one of my chats with Elsbeth, she admitted to having some personal matters brewing, but what she truly yearns for is more encounters with him. That was the extent of the deep dive into her past that we’ve seen in The Good Fight since Elsbeth made her entrance. Contrary to Laurie Metcalf who left a lasting impression during her guest role, it appears Ben Levi Ross, as Teddy, might revisit us again. Fingers crossed for more intriguing interactions between Elsbeth and Teddy in the future!

After Ben Levi Ross made his debut, Carrie Preston was no longer required to keep quiet about the Teddy secret, and I can’t help but reminisce about her feelings towards her on-screen son at that time!

What The Stars Said About Elsbeth And Teddy

After Ben Levi Ross entered as Elsbeth’s son, I got the chance to converse with Carrie Preston, and since his arrival wasn’t a secret anymore, we could discuss it freely. When asked about maintaining the secrecy for so long and moving on from it, she graciously disclosed:

(or)

Ben Levi Ross’s appearance as Elsbeth’s son no longer needed to be kept under wraps, allowing me to talk with Carrie Preston. Upon being asked about preserving the secret for such a duration and overcoming it, she willingly divulged:

I’ve been eager to discuss Ben, who is simply delightful and affectionately known by me as Teddy Ben, a nickname derived from the traditional Teddy Bear. He recently joined our company, fitting seamlessly like a well-crafted glove, showcasing his talent but also the quality of our work environment. It’s been a pleasure having him around, allowing me to delve deeper into Elsbeth’s maternal side and observe how she navigates her complex relationship with this grown son she adores so dearly. Balancing between nurturing him and respecting his independence has been an interesting dynamic to witness, especially when she wishes she could move in with him but must instead allow him to live his life autonomously [laughs].

As a dedicated Elsbeth fan, it’s hard not to yearn for Teddy’s swift return after Carrie Preston’s glowing praise for Ben Levi Ross and her insights into delving into her character’s maternal aspects. The thought of their interactions resuming has always been something I’ve hoped for; now, I might need to add a few more toes in the wishing line.

Additionally, I discussed with Ross the need to conceal his casting and his deepest fears about portraying Teddy, specifically focusing on the dinner scene involving his mother. I was curious about his perspective on whether Teddy’s character is pivotal in Season 2, given that he might pose questions that Elsbeth has been avoiding. The actor responded:

Teddy’s role could indeed be crucial for Season 2, as it provides an opportunity to ask the unanswered questions that Elsbeth has been dodging.

From my perspective, it seems quite likely. It strikes me that incorporating him as a character in the series serves a purpose: she understands that she can no longer evade her son, and he has the ability to perceive her true situation. In Episode 7, you notice hints of his intuition regarding her emotional state, and I anticipate this will provide an effective avenue for Elsbeth’s character development throughout the series.

As a fan deeply appreciative of Elsbeth’s friendship with Kaya, I found it fascinating to witness another character delve into her hidden vulnerabilities and aspects of her past that have remained veiled to everyone in New York City. Putting it in my own words, it was intriguing to see Ross explore these unexplored facets of Elsbeth’s life.

When she’s experiencing a sense of unsteadiness or lack of control, Teddy serves as a comforting presence for her, helping remind her about the essential aspects of life. I appreciate your observation – he poses questions that she has been avoiding, and in the scene we witness, she continues to dodge them too. However, running away isn’t an option forever.

Thankfully, there are still numerous episodes remaining for Elsbeth in Season 2, allowing CBS to further explore this narrative when the series resumes following its winter break. The potential predicament facing Elsbeth could be the actions of Judge Crawford, given the repercussions from his decision at the end of the fall finale. (It’s also been clarified that this episode shares no similarities with Law & Order: SVU.)

Don’t miss CBS on Thursday, January 30 at 10 p.m. Eastern Time for the winter debut of Season 2. As always, Kathy Bates’ Matlock will be airing. If you’d like to catch up on previous episodes this season, which I strongly suggest as they showcase an interesting relationship between Elsbeth and Teddy, you can find them on Paramount+.

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2024-12-31 15:08