Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 1 Review: ElliMax Is So Back…Or Not

Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 1 ‘Rack ‘Em Up’ brings the “dream team” of ElliMax back together for a case involving a murdered pool hustler. Detective Ellis’ return comes just in time for whatever was left of Detective Yates’ sanity. We learn early on that she’s way overloaded with cases and starting to snap. (Which, this is Yates we’re talking about here. She’s kind of unhinged to begin with, so that’s really saying something.) As Max and Ellis fall back into that easy partnership of theirs and — of course — close their latest case, everything just feels right. Or, at least, it does until it very much doesn’t.

Overall, it’s a good enough season premiere that does its job of setting up a new big mystery/heist now that we’ve gotten justice for Daniel and found Ashford’s millions. It’s maybe not quite as fun as the Season 2 premiere, which feels weird to say considering all the angst at the time. Back then, Max had hurt Ellis by breaking his trust, and he was a wee bit grumpy about all of it. Now, we spend the majority of the hour thinking that, while he obviously seems to think Max didn’t show up to run away with him because she didn’t feel the same way, he’s still in a really good place with her. But, well, somewhere in his travels, he found someone else and really, truly…seems to think he can keep things with Max purely professional or a friendship, at best.

In short, Cole Ellis a dope. Love him (and his arms), but he’s a dope. And so is Max Mitchell — because doesn’t tell him about the situation with her mom. They could rename this series to Dopes in Too Deep, and it would work!

To be fair, it’s actually impressive how well Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 1 managed to shock me with the Jessica reveal. This series is unapologetic about dealing in certain romance tropes and even about fitting comfortably into the partners-to-lovers land of greats like Bones and Castle. So, obviously, this is where we are. In fact, I kinda predicated it in my finale review: “If they do a Gina (Castle), a HANNAH (Bones), or even a Julie (Friends), I can’t possibly be held responsible for my reaction next season.”

Well, it’s next season. They did the thing, and my reaction is to call ElliMax big, dumb dopes. Two fools in love, who may be the stupidest yet since they know about Booth & Brennan and Caskett! In short, I’m upset. Maybe it’s especially upsetting that I can’t just say “oh, I don’t think this episode works” because that’s not even the case. How unfair is that? Absolutely rude.

MORE: See which ElliMax scene made our top TV ship moments of 2025.

ElliMax reunited: Yes, she missed you, you fool.

When the camera pulls out to reveal Detective Ellis sitting at Chief Li’s desk, his return feels like coming home for us. Now, here, the Wild Cards Season 3 premiere begins. Not at that first crime scene. Here. And ElliMax so very sweetly, haltingly them. Although Vanessa Morgan plays Max’s initial sense of shock and following insecurity very well, all we really get from Giacomo Gianniotti is just that soft, warm, fond smile. It’s not really until Li says he assumed they’d partner up again that anything seems the least bit different or off.

That pause and moment of wordless communication is, in retrospect, a red flag. But at the time, it doesn’t totally play as one. After all, Detective Ellis doesn’t know why Max didn’t leave with him, so when he looks to Max to see if she’s ok with working together, that’s a perfectly reasonable question for him to ask. And if she seems to be completely taken aback, like, “how could you even ask” that he’d ever even question it, that makes even more sense. (Even if it does kind of hurt.) They both still speak each other’s language well enough to know the partnership’s still solid, so it’s brief, manageable angst. Besides, the moment passes pretty quickly. So, good TV. No harm done.

What happens next is, yet again, awkward and hard to watch but still makes sense. Max tries a little too hard to play it casual, but anyone who bothers to pay attention can see the concerned sideways glances from Morgan as her character tries, somewhat desperately, to gauge how her partner really feels about her not showing up. And it’s obvious our dear detective is still woefully unable to detect anything when it comes to his partner. In what is, admittedly, a sweet move from Cole in case he did misstep and a well-played emotional beat from Gianniotti, Detective Ellis apologizes for asking Max to boat off into the sunset with him and Marc in the first place. If she actually hadn’t felt the way she does about him, this would definitely be the way to move forward in a partnership that means a lot to both characters.

But Ellis must have left his ability to read people somewhere at the bottom of the ocean because instead of relief — which someone who actually wasn’t interested in him would feel here — Max’s reaction is one of sadness. You might even call it heartbreak. Cole Ellis is the only person she really lets herself be this kind of vulnerable with, and he’s too blinded by his own broken confidence (and new…Jessica, as we later learn) to notice. As a viewer who roots for these two, it hurts to watch. But as far as who these two characters are, the entire interaction makes a frustrating sort of sense. One feels rejected and thinks he needs to move on, while the other feels guilty and is hiding a family secret.

Morgan and Gianniotti are great together as always, which of course is why ElliMax is a thing in the first place. And because their characters are also as great together as always, easily sliding back into their usual dynamic, it’s so very easy to just get lulled into that sense of safety and comfort that is ElliMax. This season premiere is packed with good news (until it isn’t). Ellis seems pleasantly surprised, and a little bit touched, to learn Max still has the badge he gave her. She fits in at the precinct, more than ever and obviously loves that. And if Max happens to constantly worry over the situation with her mom, we know it’ll all be fine in the end anyway. So, no need to worry…too much. Comfort show, comfort ship! ….right?

Besides, Ellis does, eventually, realize something’s on Max’s mind and even takes the time to ask her about it once they close the case. So, if she’s laying it on way too thickly when she’s all “nope! Not me!” that’s not a bad sign. Just the usual stuff we have to work through. And watch how he looks at her! Everything’s going to be just fine. In fact, when Max says she has “one more stop to make” and smiles that giant smile, we know exactly where she’s headed. The loving greeting to Marc, the egg rolls — it’s all just a nice welcome back party…until it’s not.

Well played, Wild Cards. (And thanks. I hate it.) This “comfort” ship is officially in some rough waters.

MORE: They might be off to a rough start in 2026, but ElliMax was still one of our favorite TV ships of 2025.

Where has Max’s mom been? And can we trust her?

Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 1 takes us back to the shocking moment that ended last season. Now, throughout the season premiere, Max’s memories help us fill in the gaps. So, what happened after she opened that door? The first flashback is easily the most powerful of them all, with Max and her mom sharing that tight embrace — like they’re clinging to each other for dear life — before her dad interrupts the moment with his own stunned reaction. Vanessa Morgan and Tamara Taylor have a lot of emotional heavy lifting to do here, and they both more than meet the moment. It’s all but impossible to remain unmoved after that “Mama” from Morgan, the aforementioned hug, and all those tears.

But can we trust Vivienne’s story? As the hour unfolds, we learn — in a series of conversations where George has his guard up, only to slowly let it down and start to believe her, while Ricky remains skeptical and Max…eh, I just want to hug Max — about a casino robbery gone wrong in which Vivienne unwittingly crossed an “untouchable” person George describes as “the Devil himself.” But if she’s part of this family, and even half as good at what she does/did as the rest of them, wouldn’t she have done her research? How could she not know who her target was? A question. Also, like Ricky points out, her showing up and asking for $100 million, allegedly to save everyone’s lives, “on the same night [they] finally get the Ashford money” is definitely “a little convenient.”

…but what if she’s telling the truth? If nothing else, she looks incredibly regretful during the big reveal — that the whole family was exposed. But…Tamara Taylor is a master at convincing the audience of what her character wants her scene partner(s) to believe, even when she’s also dropping little hints that maybe we shouldn’t be quite so convinced. Not to mention, it’s difficult to want to like or trust the person who showed up just in time to interrupt the big, romantic getaway moment. In some sense, given the way Taylor plays the nerves right there when Max first opens the door, combined with the moment when Vivienne and George first come face to face, I’d be willing to wager this is one of those situations where parts of her story are exaggerated while others…are not.

Regardless of whether she’s a loving mom come home at last, the biggest con artist to ever con, or something in between, the way Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 1 ends is particularly cruel. Not only does Max come home looking for comfort after meeting Jessica, only to learn she needs to magically produce an extra $30 million in 20 minutes, but her new family — Yates, Simmons, and (obviously) Ellis are now potential targets, too — and it means she has to go back to the life of crime she just told her partner she was totally through with. Yikes. Talk about a no good, very bad day.

MORE: Last season, George was finally released from prison. We hope he sticks to being “a proper father” to Max, whatever that even means with this latest jam they’re now in.

More Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 1 reactions

Max is so 100%, totally, at home and in her element now. That opening sequence with her greeting all the unis, hilariously brandishing her badge and getting so offended when the new guy tells her “that’s a toy,” and then even gossiping a little bit with the cop who comes over to back her up is great. That’s the Wild Cards I know and love, with just enough forward movement in the time between seasons to show that this character is finally settled and sure of where she belongs. Given what we learn about her family situation over the course of the hour, all of that hits even harder on a second watch. But I also can’t help but wonder if her being so very friendly with everyone is yet another con — this time, lying to everyone (and herself) about how “fine” she is.
“What do we got?” “Murder.” “I’m gonna need this.” (Takes Max’s coffee, leaves her there for an UGH moment.) I see the Amy Goodmurphy/Vanessa Morgan buddy comedy remains nearly as good as the actual romantic dramedy at the core of this series. They were fantastic together last season, and if Max’s actual partner has to go and be a big ol’ dummy, she could do a lot worse than Yates.
“Can I have my coffee back?” “No.” You know Yates is a great character when I’m not instantly calling for her to be severely punished for stealing coffee and refusing to return it. (Coffee is important, ok? Also a hilarious little moment when she smacks that guy’s hand away from the office coffee machine that she refuses to share, much less put back.)
I’m kind of wishing I took a drink every time Max ignored a call or a text from her dad. Might’ve made me numb enough for the ending.
“Heyyy!” “Hi.” “You’re back.” “I’m back.” Just kiss already.
“Well, that’s great because Yates has been very overwhelmed with the case load.” JUST SAY YOU MISSED HIM.
“We think he lost a bet.” Again, it’s we because she’s fully part of the team now. Also very cute how she stumbles all over herself in her rush to reassure Chief Li “not that I don’t like it. Because I love it. Your old silky mane made you look soft. Now, you look like a bullet. Deadly and mean.” (The growl in her voice on the end is very much giving “baby tiger.”)
“It was just, after years of trying to find Daniel’s killer, once I finally did, it was like…I was lost. And I was reaching out for something to hold onto. And — and I was wrong.” This will work as an apology after he realizes he’s got the wrong woman on the boat. Later. After we suffer through however many episodes of this and whatever nonsense Max does to cope.
He’s so soft on the “so, it’s really good to see you.” Totally a way to talk to your work partner!
“You, uh, proved me wrong.” Wait until he realizes what else he’s wrong about.
“We can move on. Onward, upward, movin’ on up” fails to convince anyone who can read the room. Also, Vanessa Morgan’s smile doesn’t even reach her mouth, much less her eyes, here. It’s a grimace. As it should be.
“So…nothing new in the exciting life of Max Mitchell?” Uh. About that.
Somehow, the camera work puts an exclamation point on that awkward facial expression and the way-too-high-pitched “ummm.”
…which, of course, Detective Dummy doesn’t notice.
Well. At least they still sit way too close together. There’s that. Crumbs!
Simmons is so happy to have his partner back.
“Did she just call me the new guy?”
Beverly Elliott steals every scene Myrna’s in. Also: A great time in TV to steal scenes while playing a character named Myrna, considering Jeanette O’Connor’s work in The Pitt Season 1.
Jason Priestley is so good as “husband who’s had the same fight 1000 times and is now like ‘I told you so.'” That “the one I said was too dangerous and out of our league?” line lands particularly well. On the other hand, poor George is on quite the emotional rollercoaster; Priestley’s even better at delivering that.
“Must be something in the genes.”
The thing is, I know better than to trust any character Tamara Taylor plays who has an answer for everything and, also, drove a car off a cliff and into a body of water. Because, you know, Angela Wheatley in Law & Order: Organized Crime. At the same time, her also having played Cam on Bones is particularly hilarious on a series that’s referenced that one before, and has the same sort of structure in terms of the core relationship. TL;DR I watch too much TV. And I think Taylor is incredibly well cast not just for her talent but also for my own, personal enjoyment having allowed the TV to rot my brain so thoroughly.
Coming into the third season of a show like this and shaking things up, while also needing to have that sort of wordless communication with Priestley’s George, would have been difficult for a lot of people. Not Tamara Taylor.
No, seriously. Someone hug Max. (Preferably, the guy with the arms, in the present timeline.) Morgan does such a good job of having her…slip back into being more of a child. In all the flashback scenes in Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 1, it’s very much like Max is just this lost, little girl who keeps glancing at her dad for guidance and reassurance.
“Then, last month, my whole life flipped like a pancake.” And here we have our con artist, skillfully drawing from personal experience to sell her story.
“Hey, Siri. Remind me to get a dog.” BUT YOU HAVE A STEP-CAT. HIS NAME IS MARC.
“Did you learn anything interesting?” “Please. Does Netflix cancel every show I like?”
“Why do you have a…pencil voodoo doll of Ellis?” “To control him.” I love this exchange. First off: Hilarious. I’ve very much missed Yates and her “ok but you’re an idiot” tone whenever she answers anything her partner asks that, to a “normal” person, would be a rational question.
“Find me licorice and a marshmallow. I need to make one of Max.” I will buy her every licorice and marshmallow I can afford if she forces EllliMax to do all the things they need to do to become official.
“My blood pressure, cholesterol, and rent.” All of the above are, in fact, up for most of us.
“…sending it over the cliff and into the sea. Rather operatic, I know…” I am, once again, making the Organized Crime reference.
“…just missed you both. So terribly.” See, this I believe. Which either means I shouldn’t and am going to get burned…or I should and am going to get burned.
“…I felt like I’d been cut off from my heartbeat.” So much emotion from her, and he’s trying to cover it…but failing.
“…their…love boat…started leaking?” Yeah. It sure did. Oh, wait. We mean the people involved in the pool shark murder. Whatever.
“Nothing like a messy romance to foul up a good partnership.” THEIR FACES. Kill me now.
“You’re cops?!” “Yeah. We are.” “I’m a cop. She’s not.” “I have a badge.” Her little annoyed look at this happening again and the way she gestures at herself. Amazing.
“…it’s bedazzled. Max.” “He’s just jealous” They are so married. We are so back.
Abby Ross is great here.
That little heart cutout on Max’s shirt. Yes, you did cut out our hearts, Wild Cards. Thanks for asking!
That “got him” look when Max turns away from Salvatore…
“WHO ARE Y’ALL LOOKIN AT?!” I love her.
“She’s. CRRRRRRR-azy!” The exaggerated hand motion.
“…and by the way, Sal? Never hustle a hustler.” Max doesn’t even need to look to shoot her shot and sink it perfectly. Amazing.
“Just like old times.”
“Just solved another case. So…drinks on us.” “Drinks on you.” Fist bump. “Drinks on me.”
“Nice work today. Partner.” The emphasis on “partner” there is 100% this man trying to separate himself from his feelings and 100% not going to work in the long run.
“I guess the…dream team. Is back together.” “Yeah. Guess it is.” THE LOADED LOOKS.
CAN Y’ALL STOP IT.
(Don’t stop it.)
“It felt like, I don’t know, like…there was something on your mind.” The halting way he asks? And the way he looks at her????
I’m Team Uncle Ricky.
HI MARC. LOOK AT YOU.
No, no, no. Her face. After she was so happy to see Marc! (Same.)
She brought the egg rolls, you dope!
The way he stares after her and is all dreamily like “yeah, she is” after the third wheel is says Max “seems really nice,” though.
Thanks, I hate it.
If there was ever a time for a feline uprising, I do believe Marc should lead it. Now.
“We need two pints of ice cream and a 90s romcom, stat.” Make that three. I’m coming over with some Americone Dream.
“Oh, that is sooooo sweet of him.” Well, we see where Max gets the exquisite sarcasm from.
“You may be willing to risk your lives, but will you risk…theirs?” “What’s the job?” She is so resigned and just…eyes glaring daggers (if looks could kill!) while simultaneously a wreck. Imagine having Detective Arms break your heart with a surprise Jessica, yet realizing you’ll still always risk your life for him. Ouch.
Ricky looks resigned AF the second he sees who “the others” are, too.
If Max gets herself a Dr. Motorcycle Boy next…[string of expletives deleted].