Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 4 Review: ‘Dial A for Alibi’

Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 4 splits ElliMax up and has Detective Ellis work with Detective Simmons, while Max winds up enlisting Detective Yates’ help in fighting crime. And this shouldn’t work — at all. When a series relies so heavily on the chemistry between two perfectly-matched opposites, taking that partnership out of the equation usually results in one big, fat zero. But, as has been the case with every other episode, ‘Dial A for Alibi’ manages to succeed where others like it tend to fail.

There are plenty of things we can point to that we enjoyed here, but there are probably two major reasons this episode is such a breath of fresh air. In the first place, it’s exactly what we’d expect, with its Rear Window setup and Dial M for Murder nod — in both the title and the murder plot Max witnesses — all while delivering something entirely its own. (There’s probably some kind of Hitchcock tie-in to the lottery ticket murder, too, but the brain is too TV rotted to also be sufficiently movie rotted. Apologies.) Sure, it’s a love letter to the classics. But it neither treats them as a mere framework nor leans in so hard as to lose the little details that make Wild Cards special.

The other major element that makes Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 4 so good, even with Max and Ellis spending the majority of the hour apart, is the way everything balances out. Neither Max’s ability to solve a murder before it even happens (with Yates’ help, of course) nor Ellis’ murder investigation with Simmons feels like a side plot or an afterthought. Furthermore, instead of taking the easy way out of showing all the ways Ellis/Simmons and/or Max/Yates are bad pairings, or even partnerships that are too good to be true, the story takes a turn into a really fascinating gray area. It’s not that Max and Yates are too much alike or far too different; it’s that they’re just right enough to be…not quite right at all.

The same goes for Ellis and Simmons, who used to be Chief Li’s “go-to guys” but are just kinda “fine” now. They actually complement each other very well. But they’re no longer the dream team and can’t be ever again — because the best partners, obviously, are ElliMax. In fact, they’re the best at what they do when they’re together…even when they’re not actually together.

So, sure. Max and Yates might have a blast with their cheeses, and talking too much, and being totally messy with their binoculars, spyglass, and spy glasses…but Max still needs to talk it out with Ellis when they get those quiet moments to share. The reverse is true, too. Ellis and Simmons solve their case based on their own observations and their own interrogation — their own detective work. However. Ellis still needs that encouragement to follow his gut, to just focus, and even, at times, to use the knowledge he’s gained from having Max in his corner. (Shoelaces have entered the chat.)

All of this is to say that Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 4 makes it abundantly clear that there’s more to ElliMax than just working together. Because they just…work. Together.

MORE: We can’t believe how far we’ve come. It was a rocky start in Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 1 and Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 2. But with a little help from “no man left behind” (and Marc!) in Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 3, it looks like we’re back on solid ground.

More on Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 4

“…we solve puzzles. You see, at first the job is nothing more than a flash of inspiration. An idea in your mind. It’s like a thousand scattered pieces on the floor that you stare at…until, eventually, a picture starts to emerge. But no matter how unsolvable the puzzle seems, there is always a solution.” Ok. So. A) This is lovely. And 2) …weird how ~~President Bartlet~~ Super Spy Guy is someone Max’s dad wants her to study or whatever…when all this advice seems to do is help her help Ellis.
“And stop sending me so many cat gifs.” “They’re so cute, though!!!” Team Max. And Team Marc.
“Ellis is gonna love that.” Funny. I didn’t see her looking in a mirror. But the look on her face is still very much like she’s texting her boyfriend something flirty, so we’ll take it. Besides, cat gifs are totally a love language.
“Let me tell you something. Max bored, alone, and on pain meds is not a good thing.”
“Admit it: You miss her.”
Dial A for Arms.
“With Yates, it’s usually a lot of ongoing commentary.” “Oh, trust me. If Max was here, this would’ve taken an hour longer. We would’ve had everyone’s Zodiac sign, favorite Backstreet Boy, current donut preference…” When you can’t just say you miss her so you pretend to complain.
“Max went on about shoelaces one time for like an hour. Don’t ask.” He loved it.
Vanessa Morgan is such a gift. The entire scene where Max watches Scarf Man’s rager and provides commentary — complete with voices! — is brilliant. Like, I would watch this show that she’s narrating. Seated. With popcorn (and/or, perhaps cheese).
…but I’d still need the ElliMax show.
“Don’t you know I’m an emotionally-stunted man baby who needs attention?” I LOVE HER.
“Oh, you did not just put your hand on Hottie’s lower back. That’s so brazen. It’s like the international sign for we’re banging.” If I speak about all the will they/won’t they ships and hands on lower backs…
PREZZIES.
Seriously like watching myself watch some good stories. So true.
“Ellis, shutup and listen.” Amazing.
Giacomo Gianniotti’s delivery on “ok. Did you see him put the body in the suitcase,” though. Clearly, Ellis thinks Max has lost it; but clearly, he knows better than to be too skeptical.
…and he’s gotta send someone to check on his girl anyway. Just in case.
“Are you…jealous?” “Are you not???”
But why is Amy Goodmurphy so hilarious, and how has this show made me actually like Yates?
THE CHEESE PUNS. SO. MUCH. FUN.
“Hey. It’s me.” So. Soft.
“I suppose I’ve always admired the indifference of time to the weight of memory. No matter what, it just keeps on ticking.”
Study Buddy, Homicide Homie, and cheese.
“This one’s both antiquated and judgy.”
The accent, the fidgeting with everything…love.
“Neither Scarf Man nor Hottie have a criminal record.” Why does it sound so much sillier for him to say these names?
The suspense with Max alone, and the shot of Hottie on the street, and the disappearance, and then she’s there, and…CINEMA. Such a classic slasher-style struggle, too. (Though, luckily, with no one getting hurt.) Again: A love letter to so much classic film.
That soft “hey.”
He picks her up?
“Here. I got you.”
“I had everything under control.” “Yeah. Sure you did.” That special little smile.
Like, look at them.
Ok. Don’t like Yates anymore because she interrupted a Moment.
“The love of your life may be right in front of you.”
“So. What about us?”
YES. WHAT ABOUT YOU.
…and we close with that adorable way Max is doing the talking too much, but it’s totally different than Yates talking too much. Because it’s Max. And because Ellis is listening and loooooves her.
TV IS SO GOOD.