Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 2 Review: ‘Doll Day Afternoon’

Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 2 is about as fitting an hour for this series as it gets. In fact, now that it exists, it’s kind of difficult to believe an opportunity for Elsbeth Tascioni, as well as our real-life cast and crew, to go have a blast (pun not quite intended — sorry to that one giant plushie) with a bunch of toys didn’t come up sooner. As far as execution goes, this second episode is just as good as the season premiere. It might even be better. Yes, that’s mostly the result of all the fun and (literal) games, but plenty keeps this story from being only about floor keyboards, and doll doctors, and lemon cakes.

In the first place, there are the performances. Aside from the always-strong work from the usual suspects (Carrie Preston and Wendell Pierce), David Cross stands out as a man so committed to getting his daughter a doll she asked for three years ago, he would literally commit murder when the deal falls through and kidnap a bunch of people out of sheer, feckless panic. Ok. That last part might be more to save his own skin…but still. Cross delivers the perfect mixture of unhinged desperate criminal, dad with way too many regrets, and humor to keep this whole story going. And there’s an obvious dedication to the bits that really works throughout. (Just one perfect example: the toy bullhorn and “Lichtenburg.”)

Then, there are all the little details that make this episode so delightfully on brand without feeling like it’s just the same old thing. Just like Elsbeth getting to meet Scotty Bristol before his murder in the previous episode, the hostage situation is a slight tweak of the series’ usual format. Now, we’re not investigating the opening murder so much as trying to escape from a retail wonderland. Speaking of: The toy store — the toy store! Everything Elsbeth needs is right there! A nanny cam after Nolan makes sure the security cameras are knocked out, an Easy Bake (knockoff?) oven for when folks get hungry, prank puke and some costumes to help make an escape…and so much more. Oh, and as always, there’s some real heart right in the middle of everything. This time, it’s when Elsbeth and Nolan talk about their kids…and their regrets.

Last, but most definitely not least, ‘Doll Day Afternoon’ has a recognizable artistic vision and style that at least this viewer always appreciates. For as different as the two series are (no demons here, for one!), there are places where Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 2 feels like it could be an episode of Evil. It totally messed with my mind, hearing “Pop Goes the Weasel” come back just in time for a giant stuffed animal to have its insides blown all over the place. Shades of “Alouette” and “Feliz Navidad,” to the point where I could’ve sworn “Pop” got used over on that other show in some memorable form or another. But, weirdly, I can’t seem to find evidence. So, I guess not so much.

And then, there are some of the shots, that feeling of being watched…that surveillance van full of dark-clad cops looking into the camera where we know Elsbeth is (and soon see her again, hand raised to volunteer). The perspective from inside the trunk…so many other images that could easily fit on that series just as well as this one. Even the use of so many fun things, like the toys or the birthday tape, for something more sinister… it kind of feels like being back there in all the best ways. In fact, Evil even did an episode involving possibly-possessed toys!

But nothing ever feels recycled. Absolutely not. It’s just that an episode of television co-written by Robert King and Anju Andre-Bergmann (who also worked on Evil, as well as both The Good Wife and The Good Fight — Elsbeth’s original homes) and directed by King as well…is one that you expect to have a certain sort of flavor. And that flavor is pretty much always a great one, possibly one of the tastiest. I kind of love being nerdy and obsessed with TV enough to identify it.

MORE: The Elsbeth Season 3 premiere gave us late night comedy, improv, and even some Sondheim references.

Elsbeth gets to be a lawyer again…sort of

Out of all the many, many smart ways this episode effectively uses the toy store setting, Elsbeth’s mock trial toward the end is easily a favorite. For one thing, there’s the nostalgia element. Remember back in 2010, when we first met this bizarre, colorful character on The Good Wife and simultaneously thought “I love her” and “LOL WTF?” We’ve never forgotten her original job — the series, has in fact, reminded us from time to time…often in a much less light-hearted way than we saw in Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 2. But with that being said, experiencing the joy and familiarity of watching her build her defense of Nolan in front of a jury made up of a mountain of stuffed animals is a great reminder of just how good she was at it. How creative, unique, and special she always was — and still is.

However.

There are two sides to that story. Yes, it’s nice to watch Carrie Preston do her thing with the character’s legal mind, but the absurdity of the situation helps drive home a larger point. That isn’t actually Elsbeth’s thing anymore. In fact, as soon as she finishes spinning just the right tale to make those sympathetic members of the stuffed animal kingdom decide her pretend client is innocent, she says it herself . “…and that’s how I used to defend my clients. By finding a bigger villain. I’m, uh, not proud of it now but…it worked.” What she can be proud of now is helping to catch the most ridiculous band of killers of all time, of building relationships with people like Captain Wagner and Kaya, and repairing her relationship with Teddy.

Up above, I said that this hour just fits. Well. Elsbeth herself fits, right where she is, being that bright pink spot in a sea of dark suits. Should it make sense? No. But does it? Yep, more and more with each quirky, little investigation.

MORE: Realistically, this episode would be even better with Carra Patterson, though.

“He was incredible, Mom, standing up to that Tully guy”

There are ways to handle a situation without it becoming deadly, and there’s…whatever Wagner’s old rival Tully does. One is good policing; the other is…common. So, in the middle of all this heightened absurdity, with Elsbeth’s lonely bags sitting, abandoned on the steps in front of the store and “playful” music that just won’t turn off, we really get an image of how nuts the “shoot first, worry if you’re going to hit a civilian or not later” approach to law enforcement really is. Commander Tully, as Elsbeth puts it during her plushie court trial, wants to “proooooove his equipment [insert muscle pose here].” But Wagner…isn’t having it, to say the least.

Some of Wendell Pierce’s best moments are, somewhat unsurprisingly given his range, completely at odds with one another. On the one hand, Wagner shows us that command and authority that suits him so well. It’s that “no, he’s with me” when another cop tries to get a very lost-looking Teddy to leave the scene. Or, the quick “he’s not my guy” and very obvious dislike (to say the least) when Teddy brings up Tully as part of his story about a previous hostage situation that went sour. And why did it end in tragedy? Because not-Wagner’s-guy Tully and his marksman were too trigger happy.

We also see a more playful sort of dynamic from Pierce. That’s most notable when Wagner and Tully are basically…bickering and taking turns tattling to the boss. There’s always at least a little bit of comedy in what Pierce brings to the character — this is, after all, that kind of series — but here, he gets to really push the lighter side. It’s in the quick back and forth with Campbell Scott, the physicality of pushing each other out of the way to get to that phone. It’s also impossible not to chuckle when he frustratedly jerks that cap on and exits the van after abruptly stopping, mid-sentence, when the call didn’t quite go the way Wagner hoped it would.

Again, it all shows just how…nuts it is to prioritize shooting the suspect over saving the civilians. How absurd this world we live in is, where the people meant to protect and serve us are so disconnected from us, and trying to one-up each other, and (at least in the case of Tully) totally lacking in empathy when a hostage’s son is right in front of them. And why are grown men acting like children over who gets to tell Dad (the Chief, in this case) how things are going and why the other guy is totally messing them up? If you want to act like kids, do the normal thing and go play in the toy store like Elsbeth!

MORE: Elsbeth made our list of shows to binge watch over the summer. See what else we suggested!

More Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 2 reactions

• Employees held hostage at work, where the usual soundtrack already makes them feel crazy and held hostage enough — plus one shopper who can’t escape the store despite not even caring about what he’s there to buy. Now, there’s some commentary on capitalism, huh.
• “It won’t make her love you.” Given what we learn later in the hour, dude totally snapping after that line makes a dark sort of sense. I mean, it’s still wrong. But it makes sense.
• Ok but that doll is creepy AF. Are we sure it’s not one of the possessed toys from that Evil episode?
• “This view, it makes me want to paint. You ever wish you were an artist?” “I’ve always wanted to be a cop, and that question makes me uneasy.” Really good delivery here.
• Honestly wouldn’t have been surprised if the upside down name was this cop’s actual name. Elinrewwus? Elivrewwus? Whatever it was.
• All these toy store characters are great. Case in point: It had to be so difficult for the toy soldier character to be so even keeled in the face of all the wacky stuff happening around him, right from meeting Elsbeth through to the very end. And yet, he does it.
• The puppets!!!! So much fun. Let’s just stay here forever (without the guns and danger, though).
• Of course she has to make several of those cute lil’ pandas talk.
• The arm pump and grin before she goes to dance along that keyboard. Never, ever change. Please.
• “Oh, I’m the doll doctor.” “I wish I’d known that was an occupation when I was a kid.” I LOVE HER.
• From fun and games to super tense in the blink of an eye.
• “Get out, or Raggedy Ann goes home in a body bag!” Am I a monster if I laughed?
• Look at the initial scene with the cops getting set up outside the store. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 2 really amps up the difference between the toy store shenanigans with the feckless criminal and the very serious police business at every opportunity, and it works.
• Wagner’s reaction to that officer losing his gun because of the lack of auto-lock on his dad’s holster, though.
• “We did a musical. …or was that a dream?”
• Wagner vs. Tully again: See how Tully treats Elsbeth when she starts telling one of her stories, versus how Wagner does. We have come a long way.
• “I’m a performer, not security.” It’s giving McCoy from Star Trek.
• “Look, I was just here to get a birthday card. I don’t even like the person. I can just go.” When you’re stuck in corporate capitalist he**.
• Elsbeth with one phone to each ear.
• “Uh, yeah. Store, yeah. I want the store.” “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that!” “Store? Uh, a human person? Front counter?” “I’m, sorry. I didn’t catch that!” Purely demonic. 100% would’ve judged Tully less if he wanted to go on major offense against the robots in the phone.
• The hilarity of the hostages sitting criss-cross on the floor, holding hands like it’s story time while Nolan sits on, what…some kind of throne?
• “No, no, no, no. Stop. I’m not stupid. I’ve seen the movies. I know these people are the only thing keeping me alive.”
• Raggedy Ann doing that TikTok: Smart on Elsbeth, probably begging to get killed on a more serious cop show.
• Once again going to have to praise Carrie Preston’s physical comedy. Like, the way she shoots out of that chair with her hand raised to shout “THESE ARE MY PLAIN CLOTHES” is brilliant.
• And here we have Wendell Pierce, putting the drama back in this dramedy with how much urgency he brings to Wagner trying to get Elsbeth not to go in there.
• “Can you sneak attack and get his gun?” “That would be fun, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately, that’s not my area of expertise.” Life is such an adventure for her, huh.
• “I know, but when I get nervous, I have to go.” Relatable.
• No but they seriously had to have so much fun with this set/location/whatever it was. LOOK AT ALL THE ANIMALS. Just excess, everywhere…but in a totally fun way!
• The slowwwwwwww entrance from that cop trying to come through the vent, Elsbeth dancing away (have I mentioned I love her)…and then…POP GOES THE WEASEL.
• “Don’t worry. Your mother’s very good at talking her way out of things.” Annnnnd back to the closeup of her with the birthday tape on her mouth.
• So, Elsbeth’s dad wanted a boy, wouldn’t let her have a toy oven because he said she’d burn herself…and now, here she is, with childlike joy in every situation. Pretty sure she wins.
• “I used to buy my son eeeeverything he asked for. I was making up for working 80 hours a week as a lawyer. He’s an adult now, and…there’s no substitute for spending time with him.” “Do you think you can…get closer to somebody later in life, even if you…blew it completely earlier?” “Absolutely.” My heart.
• “I think he watched a lot of Die Hard and Dog Day Afternoon in prison.”
• Ok but like. That cartoon voice that the toy bullhorn settles on after all the goofy starts and stops…does it sound familiar to anyone but me? Leland’s Bumblebee Valley character in Evil, maybe?
• “Well, then why did you eat it?” “I was really hungry.”
• “Captain Wagner?” “Absolutely not.” We know.
• It’s the way Wagner hushes Tully for me.
• “ONE SEARCH FOR BELLA LATER”
• Love the image of Wagner slowly creeping toward the door, passing between Elsbeth’s abandoned bags, to put that phone down…so Nolan can use a toy claw to get it and talk to his daughter.
• That poor girl. Absolutely crushing.
• “This is a mistake…seem to be making a lot of those these days.” I feel bad for him. Sue me.
• “In situations like this, we are equals. I’m not his superior.” And yet, Wagner’s still actually superior to this guy.
• “I’m not a big fan of lawyers.” “You’ve never had me before.”
• “For whom.” Ok, Ross Geller.
• She’s got Summerlin sweating back there.
• THE WAY HE YANKS THAT PHONE AWAY.
• “Elsbeth Tascioni is my mother.” “Tough break. Get out.” I would like to reach through the TV and hurt this man. (Super delivery from Scott, but I said what I said.)
• “…but I can get you the best attorney practicing today. She’s in DC, but she also practices in New York.” “What’s the name of her law firm?” “You know, it keeps…changing. I’ll text you.” I absolutely love Preston’s delivery here, with the confused pause going a little too long to play it up before the sharp “I’ll text you” with the fingers.
• Also: OMG DIANE MENTION.
• But also also: You want to see a law firm that changes names a lot? Ask Wendell Pierce about that one show he was on…
• Super buildup and tension with that sniper shot…and the giant teddy collapsing on them.
• Wagner’s voice through that itty, bitty bear.
• “Also, hi. I came here.” Love him so, so, so, so, SO much.
• “My left arm is complete again.” “I feel like my dad and granddad can finally love me again.” Notice that quick reaction from Wagner, though?
• “Not good work, Mom. Don’t do that — don’t run towards the fire.”
• “I meant what I said. I’ll call my lawyer friend. Diane.” I’m absolutely losing my mind at this.
• The heartbreak with Nolan having to see his daughter through the window when he’s in the back of that cop car. And it’s even worse, watching her having to watch her dad taken to jail again…
• That image of the doll with the bullet hole in her head, though. Exquisite.
• …sounds sick of me to say that last part, but I’m sticking with it! The minds involved in making this series!

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 2 ‘Doll Day Afternoon’? Leave us a comment!

New episodes of Elsbeth air Thursdays at 10/9c on CBS.