Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 7 Recap: How a Bell Tower Murder Exposed the Real Killer

What do Nuns, a Pop Star and a Convent have in Common?

Three nuns sit watching an Alaia Jade music video on tv. She's a pop star who made an offer to purchase their convent.  This sounds like a funny joke, if it weren’t really happening.  

In the church nave or sanctuary, Mother Constance Mary asks Monsignor Frank why they are selling it. He says Alaia Jade made an offer and the Vatican approved the sale. She’s doing a walkthrough tomorrow. Reverend Mother Constance knows the Monsignor is not concerned because he is trying to get the bishop’s job. He tells her to prepare to vacate and leaves. Reverend Mother Constance prays for a sign, and hears a bell ringing. She assumes that’s the sign. 

Later that evening, the nuns are in the tv room watching a police drama. Reverend Mother Constance sneaks out and unlocks the bell tower door, then returns to the tv room. She reminds the nuns that it’s bedtime. As the file out of the room, she stops Sister Darby and admonishes her about the bells for prayer ringing delay. Sister Darby is sure the bell ringing was on time. Reverend Mother reminds her that the sisters depend on the bell ringing to be exact, to structure their day. Sister Darby promises that won’t happen again. Reverend Mother makes Sister Darby do penance by washing dishes. While washing dishes, Reverend Mother Constance picks up her watch on the table, and changes the time setting.

Alaia Jade arrives the next day to walk through the convent. Reverend Mother Constance talks with her about purchasing the convent. Alaia Jade wants to convert it into a recording studio. She tells Reverend Mother Constance about wanting to change her manager. Reverend Mother told her about her doubts once, and how she resolved them. She went to the bell tower, looked out the west window and was inspired. She tells Alaia to go to the bell tower exactly at 5:42 pm as the sun sets, and she too can be inspired.

At 5:42 pm, Alaia goes to the bell tower and climbs the stairs to the west window. She looks out watching the sun set. Sister Darby comes in downstairs exactly at 6 pm to ring the bells. The bell in the tower knocks Alaia out the window, sending her to her death. The nuns are at prayers, and hear the noise and Reverend Mother Constance covers her face in shock at what’s happened.  The other nuns rush out to see. 

Crime Investigation Begins

Elsbeth, Detective Smulten and Officer Nikki Reynolds are on this case, and arrive at the convent, each having uneasy feelings from past experiences. Smulten asks Elsbeth if she knows Alaia Jade,and she does. She recalls one song that is particularly irritating. They go to interview the nuns.  Elsbeth asks them what they heard, and surmises from the sounds they heard indicate Alaia fell to her death after being hit by the tower bell. That sends Sister Darby into a panic because she thinks she killed her.  Elsbeth tries to calm her with a joke, but has trouble remembering how the joke went. Her confusion distracts Sister Darby and she chuckles. Reverend Mother comes over and tells Sister Darby to go to her room in an imposing manner. Elsbeth and the Reverend Mother introduce themselves. Elsbeth asks her why Alaia was in the bell tower. Reverend Mother says the convent now belonged to Alaia, but wasn’t sure why she wanted it. She tells her Alaia did a walkthrough, and was upset about the condition of the bell tower. She says she told her that the area was strictly off-limits. Detective Smulten and Officer Nikki listen intently.  She says the bell tower door was kept locked. 

Detective Smulten, Officer Nikki and Elsbeth go to check the door.  Smulten notices it was forced open. Reverend Mother tells him that the door is two hundred years old. He sees only one set of prints going up the stairs to the tower. He says it's clearly an accident. Elsbeth quickly spots some things that were moved by the dust patterns on the floor.  Reverend Mother suddenly leaves them to check on Sister Darby. Elsbeth finds some fiber on the “Do Not Enter” sign, and you can see the curiosity wheels churning in her mind.  She sees a crime was committed. 

Accident or Murder and Investigation Stalled

Detective Smulten and Officer Nikki present their facts showing Alaia’s death was an accident. Elsbeth doubts. Teddy and his boyfriend, Roy, give Elsbeth a background on Alaia, her music and manager/producer. The usual suspects were interrogated, Sister Francis who thought her prayers were answered but not the way she wanted. There was also a person who confessed. All found not guilty. Elsbeth returns to the scene of the crime to inadvertently interrogate the nuns. Elsbeth’s religion was also questioned. Through all this, the convent was still sold. The investigation was stalled after a scolding by Monsignor Frank.The police were banned from the convent premises.  

Violated Commandments, Murder Solved and Convent Saved by a Miracle

Religious spookiness threat from Reverend Mother Constance directed at Elsbeth in the belfry. How did Elsbeth get back to the convent? Why did Alaia Jade go up the bell tower? How did Alaia’s proof solve her own murder? What miracle saved the convent from being sold? Elsbeth delivers all the confirmed clues in commandment format to explain how Alaia died. Truly surprising for all the nuns, Monsignor Frank and the police.  

Teddy’s getting his own byline leads to a new mystery that may affect his mom’s new romance. What does his story research discover?  Will Teddy tell his mom what he discovered?

Elsbeth’s latest episode answered one major murder question, but introduces another unsettling question in the identity of a new, trusted character. This character is seemingly genuine and wants to help others, but questions about their true identity arise. This is a new unsettling tease. It’s just like the show to leave breadcrumbs and a subtle cliffhanger. I hope this doesn’t harm Elsbeth or her family. This episode was sometimes creepy, uneasy, and showed how easily people could be manipulated. But, it did have a happy ending for some. Diane Wiest was extraordinarily convincing in her great performance. I liked the church settings, as well.

This was another good episode and I gave it 4.8 Stars out of 5.

What did you think?

Change Image

• Loved it
• Hated it
• So/So