Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 6 Recap: Elsbeth Faces Danger, Romance, and Corrupt Power

A social media post by a young woman, Emily Fogarty, tells about having dinner at a creepy billionaire’s home. She tells of him taking her to a dungeon in his house. The creepy billionaire, Craig Hollis Fintech CEO, and his lawyer/fixer with the Meridian Group, Anders Whitman, are talking about what happened with Emily. He shows him the safe room in his home. It’s not a dungeon like Emily described. Caig calls it a riot retreat, in case of social unrest. He says he took Emily there and they stayed there for four hours. Craig started explaining to Anders the room’s features, and the things he has stored in there from drones to a microwave temperature that can microwave a human body. Anders thinks it’s a bit of a diabolical place. Craig gets offended and goes haywire when Anders mentions Craig’s ex-wife, Kelly’s comments about his behavior. 

He thinks they are trying to kick him out of his own company.  He locks Anders in the safe room, and.turns up the heat. Anders promises he won’t go to the authorities if he lets him out. In the other room, Craig searches through some of his equipment, but can’t find what he needs. All this time, Anders is sweating in the safe room. He yells to Craig that he got some minor burns, but at least he won’t go see a doctor. He just has to open the door. Craig finally opens the door and attacks Anders with a sledge hammer.  He knocks him to the floor and locks him in again. That’s the last time Anders is seen alive. 

At the police station, Alec Bloom makes a surprise visit to see Elsbeth. He was in the neighborhood and came to ask her to come with him to a renovation fundraiser for the city law library. She doesn’t want to be gossiped about. Elsbeth is curious as to why, because she thought it was another publicity arranged date by Marissa. Alec assures it’s not, and would understand if she didn’t want to be seen with him in public. He’s being his irresistible charming self, and Elsbeth can’t resist. 

Officer Nikki Reynolds is talking with a gentleman in the squad room. His name is Stu, a skip tracer, an insider term for processor.  He’s been looking for Anders Whittman, but can’t find him anywhere.  Stu came to the police to report him missing, but Officer Reynolds and Elsbeth think he’s dodging him. Stu would think that, too, except for a dog. He’s telling her about a neighbor who complained about hearing a dog in Anders’ apartment.  Captain Wagner gives them the authorization to send an officer out to check on the dog, but doesn’t warrant a missing person’s case.  Elsbeth and Officer Nikki go to Captain Wagner with a possible case proposal, and since Anders is a fixer with the Meridian Group/Crisis Management, an investigation might be necessary. 

Wagner has a low opinion of that group of fixers. Lieutenant Connor enters Wagner’s office and states his opinion of them: intimidating assault victims, paid off officials, silenced witnesses, anything to protect the people who hire them.  Elsbeth and Officer Nikki are horrified.  Connor brings them Anders Whitman’s phone records, and finds out the last person Anders spoke with was Craig Harris.  Captain Wagner tells Officer Nikki and Elsbeth to go see Craig Harris, but Lieutenant Connors thinks it should be assigned to a detective. Wagner says it’s nothing and can be handled by Lieutenant Connor, Elsbeth and Officer Nikki. 

Lieutenant Connor, Elsbeth and Officer Nikki get to Craig Harris’ mansion, and they ask him about Anders Whitman. He lies and tells them Anders cancelled their meeting. Elsbeth sees chocolates on a table and asks if she can have some. She snoops around chewing on the tasty treats.  Craig voices his irritation on how tech founders are treated. Lieutenant Connors understands Craig’s plight. Craig normally can’t stand humans, but can tolerate Connor.  He tells them he has an appointment, and sees them out.  What they don’t know is that Anders is downstairs in the safe room yelling for help.

This story is an unusual one, one that oddly reflects current times. The show changes the standard format this time. It begins with an investigation before there’s a murder victim. There’s a dog, fruit flies, Swiss chocolates, deranged tech CEO, Lieutenant Connor, a social media post by a terrified ex-girlfriend, a nuclear-grade, tech enhanced safe room with a kidnapped victim, and a new police officer, Officer Nikki. All make for a very interesting, eerily realistic story. The weird, intimidating, paranoid perpetrator toys with his live victim. Also, Elsbeth’s budding romance continues with a politician, Alec. A curious “art imitating life" parallel with “The Great Gatsby” book reference is evident. The book is a literal digital key to the safe room, unknown to the intrepid police crew.  It draws Elsbeth’s attention several times, and is a crystal clear depiction of the life of wealthy people, the corrupting influence of money and how the rich insulate themselves from consequences of their behavior. Toss in Alec’s fundraiser event was for Judge Milton Crawford, Elsbeth’s nemesis.

She gets to meet his widow.  Does the kidnapped victim live? How did Elsbeth’s date go? Does Craig Harris get arrested?  Does Elsbeth finally talk with Judge Crawford’s widow?  Why did they go to an escape room, and do they escape? Did anyone check on Anders’ dog?  How do fruit flies solve the case?  All pertinent questions that  weave a story of intrigue with frightful results that can be answered when you watch the show. It was impressive with a hint of a possible new nemesis for Elsbeth. 

This was a Great Episode, and I gave it 5 out of 5 Stars.

What did you think?

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