After How Elsbeth Finally Brought Michael Emerson Back As Carrie Preston’s Nemesis, I Get What He Wanted To Avoid On The Show

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In the 2025 TV lineup, Michael Emerson reappeared as Judge Milton Crawford, the leading lady’s adversary, opposite Carrie Preston, his real-life spouse. The significant episode titled “Foiled Again” was a highlight for guest stars, featuring not only Emerson but also Ben Levi Ross as Teddy Tascioni and Matthew Broderick as another alum from Season 2 of the Producers. However, in just one scene, Emerson underscored why Crawford poses a significant continuous danger to Elsbeth, making me understand why designers Dan Lawson and Emerson himself wanted to steer clear of certain aspects while working on Elsbeth following his role in Evil.

If you had seen Evil featuring Dr. Leland Townsend, portrayed by Emerson, before Elsbeth, chances are you recognized him more for his role as the psychopathic Dr. Leland Townsend instead of as Ben Linus from Lost or Harold from Person of Interest. The final episode of Evil came out, revealing Leland’s fate, only a few months prior to the announcement that Emerson would reappear as a new antagonist on Elsbeth. Previously, the actor had stated he didn’t want to take on the role of the villain in his wife’s show, as it would be too similar.

Reflecting on the events related to “Foiled Again” following Crawford’s comeback, when he confronted Elsbeth about the reopened murder case and his sense of being “untouchable”, coincidentally fell in line with my discussion with Dan Lawson, costume designer for Elsbeth, during SCAD TVfest in Atlanta. Interestingly, Lawson was also the costume designer for Emerson throughout all four seasons of Evil. During our chat, he discussed what they aimed to steer clear of with Judge Crawford’s arrival, as portrayed by him.

As a movie critic, let me express that Michael Emerson is indeed a refined and accomplished actor. To begin, he’s incredibly gifted, and collaborating with him was a delight due to the opportunity it provided to delve deeply into the essence of the characters, as they were distinctly different. Both of these roles, however, share a common trait of being somewhat unscrupulous, yet it was intriguing to unravel this new character’s enigma. Michael and I engaged in discussions about ensuring that his portrayal didn’t resemble the character he played on ‘Evil,’ for which I had designed costumes across four seasons. Our goal was to create a distinct persona, making it challenging yet enjoyable. The chemistry between us was instantaneous, and the process proved to be both fun and exceptional.

As a devoted film critic, I must confess that even ardent fans of “Evil” might struggle to confuse Judge Crawford and Leland in the near future. The creators, particularly Emerson, aimed to craft an intriguing antagonist with this new character, and the costume designer played a crucial role in achieving this. It will be thrilling to watch as Crawford potentially becomes more villainous as the season unfolds; at present, it remains a mystery whether he is indeed the masked killer wielding a baseball bat, as portrayed in “Elsbeth” Season 2.

On a positive note, the reappearance of Teddy also brings back Ben Levi Ross, who won over fans as Elsbeth’s son during the first half of Season 2. Although they had some disagreements in “Foiled Again,” they managed to resolve their issues by the end and the possibility for his return remains just as open as before.

Dan Lawson, who had previously designed costumes for ‘The Good Wife’ and ‘The Good Fight’ during Carrie Preston’s early portrayals of Elsbeth Tascioni, expressed enthusiasm about discussing the latest addition to Season 2, stating:

At long last, I had the pleasure of meeting Teddy! A heated debate ensued among us: Should Teddy remain an enigmatic figure? Should he be forever unnamed and unseen? But when I saw Ben bring Teddy to life with such tender affection, it was as if a light bulb went off in my head. ‘Of course, we must see Teddy! It’s Ben!’ What a fantastic decision that turned out to be!

In my opinion, Ben Levi Ross made a strong debut as Elsbeth’s first recurring character on TV, and both his and Carrie Preston’s acting left no doubt in my mind that they portrayed a mother and son. When I mentioned this to Dan Lawson, I even checked if Ross and Preston were actually related due to their convincing portrayal, and the costume designer confirmed:

Isn’t it fascinating? You can make out a hint of facial features, and we attempt to style him in a subtle manner, not overly eccentric like her, but there’s a touch of playfulness, if you catch my drift, in his appearance.

It’s uncertain when or if Teddy will reappear, given Roy’s move to New York City and his encounter with his mother. The chances appear favorable, however. As for Judge Crawford, with Elsbeth seeking incriminating evidence against him urgently, we can expect him to make another appearance soon. Meanwhile, Elsbeth must deal with a murder case involving guest star Jordana Brewster in the upcoming episode, as hinted by the promo.

Every Thursday at 10 p.m. ET, don’t miss the latest installments of “Elsbeth” on CBS. As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that this captivating drama is one of the nine series the network has decided to continue, ensuring we can finish Season 2 without fretting about future seasons. And here’s some fantastic news for fans of Michael Emerson and Carrie Preston’s past collaborations or the four seasons of “Evil”: Both shows are now available for streaming on Paramount+!

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2025-02-25 03:07