The Insufferable New Character That Brought Out the Best in Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth

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“Here’s a heads up: If you haven’t watched Episode 13 of Elsbeth Season 2 yet, titled ‘Tearjerker’, I strongly recommend catching up before proceeding. You can stream it now with a Paramount+ subscription.”

This season, Michael Emerson’s Judge Milton Crawford emerged as Elsbeth’s primary antagonist, but the path wasn’t smooth, with some obstacles that paled in comparison to her Moriarty. In “Tearjerker,” a new character named Detective Rivers (played by Braeden De La Garza) was introduced. Captain Wagner (Wendell Pierce) had to recruit him due to a favor owed to the NYPD captain who reopened the baseball bat murder case. For the characters, Rivers seemed like an unwelcome addition to the team in the 2025 TV schedule. However, I found him beneficial for Carrie Preston’s character and Wagner’s.

At their initial crime scene visit on that day, Rivers left a less-than-favorable impact on Elsbeth and Kaya. Regrettably, due to his seniority, he held a position that neither Elsbeth nor Kaya could effectively restrain without a serious violation occurring. It didn’t take long for such an incident; throughout the case, Rivers frequently jumped to conclusions and added complexity, but when his sexist remarks towards Chloe (Jordana Brewster) became intolerable, Elsbeth decided to assert herself and prevent him. Eventually, Wagner intervened and ejected him from the interrogation room.

If Wagner had the chance, he probably would have dismissed him from his team; however, he received some inconvenient information: Rivers is the nephew of the head detective. As a result, Wagner found himself stuck with what he referred to as a “nepotistic detective.” This suggests that Rivers might be sticking around for a while, and I’m uncertain if he will become as beloved as Lt. Connor, who was once a challenge for Kaya and Elsbeth.

Elsbeth skillfully crafted an incredibly challenging character, one that was truly exasperating, yet I wholeheartedly support its return. This frustrating character, played by Rivers, served to highlight the strengths of our main character and Captain Wagner, making their performances all the more remarkable.

Firstly, Elsbeth doesn’t always fulfill her consent decree duties as expected, because her colleagues typically don’t require the level of supervision that Rivers did. Often, she acts more like an assistant detective alongside the team. However, on this occasion, she took a firm stance, reprimanding Rivers for interrupting, accusing him of stealing ideas and intuitions, and not tolerating his disrespectful behavior towards Chloe. She didn’t hesitate to voice her concerns about Rivers to Wagner.

She received Wagner’s unwavering backing throughout this episode, which brought to mind the remarkable growth of their friendship from the initial season. Despite discovering that he couldn’t easily dismiss the nepotistic detective, he sternly reprimanded Rivers, leaving the officer humbled. Wagner advised him bluntly:

Regardless of your familial connection to the Pope, you are required to undergo compulsory counseling, and there will be a formal note in your record regarding your conduct. This is not how you make a positive impression on me. Wear a tie and demonstrate that you are worthy of another chance, or else you’ll be dismissed.

Could Rivers transform significantly once he returns to working alongside Kaya and Elsbeth? I’m hopeful that he picked up on some lessons during his absence and will minimize the issues he caused for Elsbeth and Wagner as portrayed in “Tearjerker.” However, a well-crafted villain can add depth to this series, and Rivers was exceptionally menacing as the rogue cop in this episode. It’s impressive how Elsbeth and Wagner establish their authority, making for a compelling watch.

It’s yet uncertain whether Rivers will appear in the upcoming episode, but viewers can anticipate Elsbeth delving deeper into the world of magic soon. Here’s a sneak peek at the episode that includes Alyssa Milano:

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Don’t forget to catch the latest episodes of Elsbeth every Thursday on CBS! Next week promises a special family-oriented episode featuring Carrie Preston’s real-life spouse, Michael Emerson, reprising his role as Judge Crawford. Meanwhile, Ben Levi Ross will return as her on-screen son Teddy. To catch up on all the previous episodes of Elsbeth, simply tune into Paramount+!

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2025-03-01 02:38