Editor’s note: The following recap contains spoilers for Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 18.

After a quiet couple of weeks, the tension escalates! It’s rare for a show to elicit audible gasps, yet Elsbeth accomplished this twice in Season 2 Episode 18, titled “I Know What You Did Thirty-Three Summers Ago.” Elsbeth’s ( Carrie Preston ) journey to expose Judge Milton Crawford ( Michael Emerson ) was always expected to be challenging, but the outcome of this episode took me by surprise. I must admit, my predictions for the finale have been completely turned upside down, making it time for new speculations!

Exploring Judge Crawford’s History in ‘Elsbeth’ Season 2 Episode 18

The episode begins, as the title indicates, 33 summers ago, specifically in the summer of 1991. Three teenagers — Andy ( Ian O’Boyle ), Sherry ( Ava DeMary ), and another unnamed young man ( Ethan Dubin ), whose identity is easily inferred from a performance reminiscent of Michael Emerson — sneak into the yacht club where Andy works after hours to access the pool. Milton makes a move on Sherry that would impress any toxic man from the internet, but she shows more interest in Andy. Before Andy can join her, Milton interrupts, claiming Sherry said Andy was third-wheeling their evening. Sweet-hearted Andy apologizes and steps away, allowing Milton to join Sherry in the pool alone.

Sherry is shocked to see Andy leave, but her night turns tragic as Milton assaults her, disregarding her refusals. After she pushes him away, he strikes her and degrades her, but she manages to land a punch on him, calling him “the lurker” for his behavior over the summer. Unfortunately, Milton retaliates violently, drowning her. Elsbeth has never shied away from depicting the horrors women face, and this episode presents a particularly visceral portrayal of sexual violence. Andy nearly leaves the scene but returns to find Sherry lifeless in the pool, surrounded by blood. It becomes evident Milton intends to frame Andy as well.

The scene shifts to present-day Judge Crawford, meeting with Victor Landis ( Pun Bandhu ), a lawyer questioning him about his past, especially as he prepares for a nomination to a federal judgeship. Landis warns that people will attempt to discredit him and repeatedly asks if anyone from his past could do so. In a flashback to the night he killed Andy Mertens ( Quincy Dunn-Baker ), Crawford assures Landis that no one will come forward.

At the precinct, Captain Kearshaw ( Jen Colella ) meets with Elsbeth, Captain Wagner ( Wendell Pierce ), Detective Kaya Blanke ( Carra Patterson ), and Detective Rivers ( Braden De La Garza ), stressing the need to confirm Crawford’s guilt before accusing him of murder due to his status. Elsbeth is confident, recapping her theory involving Donna Summer. Rivers notes he didn’t record what music was playing during Andy’s attack, and Elsbeth recalls that Delia ( Meredith Holzman ) mentioned loud music during her trial, but neither side specified the genre. Elsbeth reveals Crawford referred to Andy as a “disco-loving pervert,” information he shouldn’t know unless he was present.

Wagner mentions Crawford has been problematic since Elsbeth started questioning his motives regarding Delia’s case, and with Kearshaw’s approval, he instructs Blanke to reexamine the case with Crawford as the prime suspect, ordering Rivers to shadow her for insights. Blanke suggests they start with motive, as Elsbeth’s theory lacks that component. However, she discovers Delia is present with a box of Andy’s belongings, which she took while they were together. Elsbeth finds a photo of Andy at the Stockport Yacht Club, which Delia states he worked at for one summer, while Crawford’s family were members there. Coincidence? Perhaps, but it’s time for a road trip!

Elsbeth Embarks on a Road Trip in Season 2 Episode 18

Back at Elsbeth’s home, Teddy ( Ben Levi Ross ) is there to dog-sit Gonzo while his mom goes to Stockport, and they review his LSAT results together. He scores a surprising 177, higher than musical Elle Woods but lower than movie Elle Woods, which convinces him to pursue law school after all, despite his prior indecision. While Teddy researches schools, Elsbeth heads out to meet Wagner, bringing an excessive amount of luggage. Meanwhile, in Crawford’s office, Landis scrutinizes his financials and questions his membership at the Stockport club. Although the membership appears legitimate, Landis notes Crawford doesn’t list his home near the club as a second residence. Crawford insists everything else is above board, but the scrutiny is just beginning.

At the Yacht Club, Elsbeth and Wagner meet Jordy ( Scott Drummond ), who worked with Andy and knew him from school. He shares that Andy initially planned to stay local for community college but received a last-minute scholarship to a school in New York, after which he never returned. While conversing, Elsbeth discovers proof of Crawford’s membership, finding his name on an old rowing trophy. Jordy mentions that the Crawfords have been members for a long time, but he and Andy never interacted due to staff and members not socializing. Although this seems like a dead end, things take an interesting turn when Elsbeth finds an old swim team photo, and Jordy reveals the club’s pool was closed in the ’90s after Sherry’s death.

They visit Sherry’s sister Laura ( Zoe Mann ), who recounts that Sherry often broke into the pool alone with alcohol. She expresses lingering anger that Andy skipped her funeral. As Laura steps away, Elsbeth connects the dots for Wagner, suggesting that Sherry’s close bond with Andy and her subsequent death could implicate Crawford. Laura returns with a box of Sherry’s belongings, including sealed evidence bags from the crime scene. Elsbeth and Wagner then meet with Detective Haines, who investigated Sherry’s death, at the site of the filled-in pool. Haines agrees that there are inconsistencies in the verdict, particularly regarding the empty bottle found at the scene and Sherry’s low blood alcohol level.

Elsbeth mentions a blood spot on Sherry’s fanny pack, which doesn’t make sense given the distance of her fall. While DNA testing wasn’t available in the early ’90s, it certainly is now. As they leave the club, Wagner acknowledges that covering up a murder could be a motive for Crawford to kill Andy, but they still need to prove he killed Sherry. Unfortunately, Landis overhears their conversation as he arrives to investigate the club as part of his process for Crawford’s confirmation. He calls Crawford, alerting him to Elsbeth and Wagner’s inquiries.

At the precinct, Rivers reports that despite reviewing Andy’s emails and call logs, there’s nothing linking him to Crawford. Even the fact that Crawford’s car was near Andy’s place before Delia’s arrest isn’t enough to confirm his presence at the time of the murder. Meanwhile, Elsbeth reads through Sherry’s diary, noting numerous mentions of Andy, culminating in an account of a bonfire party where Andy arrived with a “new friend,” a “rich creep” nicknamed “The Lurker.” She doesn’t name him, but Elsbeth and Blanke recognize this teenage behavior for what it is.

Crawford Intimidates Elsbeth in Season 2 Episode 18

With the investigation stalled, Elsbeth leaves for the night and receives a call from Wagner while heading to the subway. He informs her that the commissioner is now aware of their investigation into Crawford and has reprimanded him. Wagner reveals that Internal Affairs is investigating him, with potential repercussions. Elsbeth tries to convince him to shift the blame to her, but Wagner is more concerned about how the commissioner learned this information, suspecting Crawford’s involvement. Speaking of Crawford, he corners Elsbeth at the subway, asking about her road trip to the Yacht Club. Elsbeth confronts him, questioning why he didn’t recuse himself from Andy’s murder trial due to his connection to the victim, but Crawford feigns ignorance. He hesitates when she mentions Sherry, then issues a thinly veiled threat to Elsbeth’s safety, just as he receives a call from Agent Celetano, her boss at the DOJ, explaining that he was just fired, jeopardizing Elsbeth’s position as well.

Upon returning home, Elsbeth senses something is wrong with Teddy and Gonzo. Teddy reveals that his father called to inform him of an investigation by the Illinois State Bar regarding an ethics violation, the specifics of which are unclear, but it could lead to disbarment. The next day at the precinct, Elsbeth finds chaos as Blanke pulls her aside to explain that the commissioner has reduced their personnel by 25%, with one detective already reassigned. Blanke fears she may be among the first to go, being the last hired, but Elsbeth has little time for comfort as Wagner calls her into his office. Elsbeth updates Wagner on her conversation with Crawford, and while Wagner sees this as a positive sign, Elsbeth argues it’s merely Crawford trying to intimidate her into silence. It’s telling that Elsbeth suggests, for the first time, they might need to let Crawford evade justice to protect her loved ones.

That evening, Crawford hosts a fundraising event for the Historical Law Society, where he encounters both Wagner and his wife, Claudia ( Gloria Reuben ). They appear to be there to foster goodwill between their foundations, and Claudia offers to fetch Crawford a drink while he and Wagner converse. During their private discussion, Wagner informs Crawford that they are closing the Mertens case and effectively surrendering in exchange for Crawford alleviating pressure from the precinct and Elsbeth. Crawford agrees, but this truce is a ruse, as Wagner and Claudia leave the event with Crawford’s used scotch glass for Elsbeth to send for DNA testing.

At the precinct the following day, Elsbeth updates Delia on their progress. Delia requests that they ensure Crawford is held accountable for his actions, as the trial devastated her life. Although she wasn’t convicted, she struggles to find employment or housing due to Crawford’s actions. She has nothing left to lose, which should sound more ominous than it does at this moment. In Crawford’s office, Landis is waiting for him, expressing lingering concerns about what Elsbeth and Wagner may uncover, which Crawford assures him is nothing. With that reassurance, Landis promises to inform the nomination committee about Crawford’s impending appointment as a federal judge.

Meanwhile, at the precinct, Blanke learns from Andy’s alma mater that his scholarship was funded by the Historical Law Society, of which Crawford’s father and uncle were members. She also discovers that Crawford was already in law school when the murder occurred, making his advances toward a high school girl even more disturbing. She and Rivers speculate that the scholarship was intended to silence Andy, but they lack proof of what kind of silence Crawford sought. Elsbeth suggests that someone as paranoid as Andy wouldn’t have kept in touch with Crawford through his own devices but would likely use Delia’s phone instead. Elsbeth reveals that a search of Delia’s phone found contact information for the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Andy attempted to contact to blow the whistle on Crawford. As the committee retains voicemail records, Elsbeth plays the message Andy left, which appears to reference Sherry’s murder, but he was killed a week later before he could follow up. With motive established, they only need a forensic link, prompting Blanke to contact Cameron ( Sullivan Jones ) at the morgue for an update on the blood sample.

While waiting for news, Teddy visits Elsbeth with dinner, and she seizes the moment to critique his law school application essay. She believes it’s too generic to make an impression and encourages him to express himself more authentically. He suggests writing about how her transition from a high-powered attorney to someone who seeks to hold the powerful accountable inspired his own decision, albeit sarcastically. Surprisingly, this earnest approach resonates with Elsbeth, and she believes it would serve him well — even if his initial idea was to apply with a “my mom is my hero” essay. However, the moment of joy fades when Blanke informs Elsbeth that the lab has no record of any evidence submitted for testing: no fanny pack, no blood sample. With the stakes rising, it’s evident that Crawford is outmaneuvering them at every turn. Elsbeth’s frustration escalates until she storms out of the office, caught between rage and anxiety.

Crawford Meets His Fate in ‘Elsbeth’ Season 2 Episode 18

Elsbeth storms into the courthouse to confront Crawford after his nomination ceremony, asserting that he won’t escape justice for his actions. After some thinly veiled misogynistic remarks about hysterical women, he reveals he saw through Wagner’s ruse with the glass, which alerted him to the DNA testing. She follows him to the door, vowing to prove he killed both Sherry and Andy, but Crawford remains skeptical, insisting she won’t succeed. He nearly confesses, framing it as hypotheticals, claiming all evidence of Sherry’s death is gone, and the only person who could confirm anything is Andy, who is also dead, rendering the case a dead end. Outside, he taunts her, declaring that despite her faith in justice, it is the powerful who prevail.

However, he is not invincible, as Delia arrives and shoots him in the chest, killing him. She had told Elsbeth she had nothing left to lose, a warning that Elsbeth should have heeded. While Elsbeth is horrified and insists they would have eventually caught Crawford, Delia feels no remorse. Given Crawford’s earlier attempt to assault a minor, I can’t say I’m saddened by his violent demise, but I worry about the implications for Elsbeth. She has been seen threatening to catch Crawford, and with no formal charges against him, her investigation may come under scrutiny. Initially, I believed the season finale would involve Crawford using people Elsbeth had previously arrested against her, but now I question whether those individuals will instead be called to help incriminate Elsbeth for her involvement in Crawford’s death.

Back at the precinct, Wagner expresses frustration over the situation, describing it as lawless behavior, while Blanke is upset that Crawford is being treated like a martyr, even in death. Teddy visits Elsbeth, shaken by the events, and declares he no longer wants to pursue law school, disillusioned by a system that allows behavior like Crawford’s to go unchecked. Wagner advises that the approach in such cases is to strive for justice, but he turns to Elsbeth for support, only to find that this case has finally pushed her optimism to its limits, leaving her unable to affirm Wagner’s hopeful stance.

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