Critic’s Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
4.5
Honestly, this episode of Elsbeth should have been called “The Mama Bear Mittens Are Coming Off.” There was no holding back on this culturally infused installment from everyone’s favorite Chicago attorney.
For one thing, how adorable was Henry, the tour guide? I don’t know who that actor is, but he is popping up more and more in different shows and movies.
However, the award for the most over-the-top acting on Elsbeth goes to Alyssa Milano. Was her character a little too much? Check the fingernails. But what the actor did with the role was epic.
It will be a long time before viewers forget the name Pupetta. Although, that’s probably because the character’s name sounds like a side dish that comes with eggplant parm.
Every TV Fanatic Knows It’s Only a Matter of Time Before Alyssa Milano Ends Up on Your Favorite Show with the Actress’s Decades Long Career of Legendary Roles
Some actors inspire core memories from roles they’ve played in the past. However, the ones with longevity usually have various roles in their back pocket that keep multiple age demographics excited to see them.
Regardless of your personal opinion, Alyssa Milano has been a Television staple and icon since her breakout role on Who’s the Boss with Tony Danza.
From there, she became a generational icon, being the number one crush of young men all over the country.
I mean, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) from Guardians of the Galaxy even named his spaceship “The Milano” after her. To be fair, the first time I heard the name, I immediately thought of the cookie.
For me, Alyssa Milano will always be Phoebe Halliwell from the beloved 2000s series Charmed, where she played the rebellious and free-spirited younger sister with the power of premonition.
After a few seasons, like the actress, Phoebe evolved and became a strong woman of conviction.
It also didn’t hurt that she gained the power of levitation and empathy before marrying Coop, the Cupid. Man, that was a wacky show.
However, the actress has not slowed down, having moved on to shows like My Name Is Earl, Insatiable, and Mistresses.
So, it was only a matter of time before Milano began making her way through the CBS catalog. Who knows? Maybe she’ll end up on Matlock or Fire Country next.
Those shows have definitely been shelling out some star power with their guests.
As for Milano’s character of Pupetta, that was by far one of the actress’s most comedically campy roles.
The Cases on Elsbeth Prove That the Series Is More of a Caricature of Real Life, And That’s Why This Show Is So Addictive
First, although Pupetta sounds like what you would name a Shih Tzu, it fits perfectly for Milano’s character.
“Pupetta” means “little doll” in Italian, and she was as terrifying as Annabelle, watching Elsbeth around every corner.
Honestly, Milano gave Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty) a run for her money in the overacting department.
Remember on Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 4 when Vanessa’s character faked cyanide poisoning by dramatically passing out on a chaise? This series is seriously more of a caricature of real life, and I love it.
The best part of this episode is that it brought back Detective Buzz Fleming, aka Detective Grandpa, to finish his “White Whale” case.
Given the complicated history of this case, I don’t blame Buzz for keeping this one in the back of his mind all these years. The real twist would have been if Pupetta wasn’t the killer.
In the end, it was nice to see Fleming get a win because he is by far the most adorable detective at the NYPD.
However, he would have been neck and neck with another officer for that title if Wagner hadn’t been dragging his feet about Kaya.
There Are Small but Substantial Shake-Ups Happening on Elsbeth That Could Send the Series in a Whole New Direction
Can someone explain to me why Kaya and Elsbeth can’t be paired up for Officer Blanke’s cases when she gets promoted?
I’ve yet to see Elsbeth on a case without a detective, so why can’t Elsbeth tag along with her?
It’s not like Elsbeth (Carrie Preston) has to be on every case because there are usually multiple open investigations simultaneously.
Not to mention, this is a scripted TV show where the writers can make whatever they want happen.
Did someone ask for this? How will it make the story better by separating Elsbeth from the first friend she made in New York City?
It seems like a cheap ploy from the writers to incite sympathy for the titular character, and it is working, dammit.
In that regard, I understand where Captain Wagner is coming from by taking his time promoting Kaya (Carra Patterson). The precinct just won’t be the same without those two side by side — Oh, God. I’m gonna cry.
One thing that Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 14 proved is that, sadly, the show could work without Elsbeth consulting with the NYPD.
The Drama Coming Elsbeth’s Way Is Not Exactly What Audiences Thought It Would Be Given All the Unresolved Arcs Still Floating Around the Plot
If you recall, this whole case started because Elsbeth was on a tour with Teddy when she stumbled upon a secretly unsolved murder.
Sure, from there, she needed the police to give her the rundown and history of this decades-old killing.
Still, Elsbeth is nothing if not resilient, and she certainly does not back down from a challenge. Did you see how she squared up to Pupetta when Milano’s character threatened Teddy?
Speaking of Teddy, I gave the character a lot of grief in Elsbeth Season 1 Reviews for being an excessively absent son, but I have since come to see that he’s just too cute to stay mad at.
However, he’s starting to act childish, right? I don’t want to make this personal, but he should be singing praises to the moon for having a loving and thoughtful mother like Elsbeth.
Now Teddy is thinking of breaking up with Roy, and it’s obvious that the main reason is because Roy and Elsbeth have become so close. He’s acting like a spoiled brat.
Then again, I still think Teddy and Lieutenant Connor would make for a hilarious coupling.
Can you imagine Elsbeth trying to get to know Connor in the same way? Or having movie night where he would undoubtedly give a monotone commentary the entire time? We can always dream.
While we’re on the topic of couples, let’s finish things out by talking about Carrie Preston’s real-life husband and current adversary, Michael Emerson‘s Judge Milton Crawford.
Did anyone else think things between Elsbeth and Milton would have heated up by now? The judge has been surprisingly chill since his Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 7 debut.
I thought they would surely be at each other’s throats by now. Then again, bureaucracy kills momentum because the legal system isn’t exactly known for its speed.
We’re coming up on the last quarter of Elsbeth Season 2 with the next episode.
Hopefully, things get moving, but it’s starting to look like the Judge Milton case will lead into Season 3, which the series has, in fact, been renewed for.
At least one thing we know about the show is that no character, not even a guest star, stays away for too long.
Did you see how Keegan-Michael Key was worked into “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant?” That was brilliant writing.
What was your favorite part of the episode?
Do you think Judge Milton’s arc will lead into Season 3?
Please drop a comment below to let me know what you think, and join me again when I review another episode of Elsbeth!
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