Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 9 Recap: A new year means new problems for Elsbeth Tascioni Played by Carrie Preston. In Unalive and Well, the risks are greater than ever. As Elsbeth continues to figure out her life in New York, she has to deal with both her own problems and a strange case that forces her to face the limits of the persona she has carefully built for herself. This episode is a great mix of mystery, character growth, and emotional depth. Elsbeth’s happy exterior starts to break under the weight of her past and her complicated present.
Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 9 Recap
The episode opens with Elsbeth walking into a storm. The New York View, a notorious tabloid, has published a damning story about her past. The article accuses her of suppressing evidence of domestic abuse in her former client Mark Van Ness’s divorce case. The revelation sends shockwaves through her professional and personal life. Her coworkers are very quiet when they see her at the precinct, and even her best friend, Kaya, is upset by the news. Kaya asks Elsbeth to take back what she said, but Elsbeth’s vague answer—that she did the best she could with the information she had at the time—makes things worse between them.
As Elsbeth deals with the fallout, Captain Wagner gives her and Kaya the task of looking into the strange death of Cole Campbell, a young man who died while driving from what seemed to be an allergic reaction. Cole had just come back from a pricey wellness retreat at the Heiwa Zen Center, which promises to make you mentally and physically clear. One question that comes to mind is how a healthy young man with an EpiPen in his car could have died. What does the Heiwa Zen Center have to hide?
The Investigation: Figuring Out What Happened Elizabeth, Kaya, and Detective Smullin go to the Heiwa Zen Center and meet Tom Murphy, who is played by Eric McCormack. Tom looks like the perfect wellness expert. He wears expensive linens, is calm and sure of himself, and has a huge carnelian ring on his finger that makes it look like it’s screaming, “I’m spiritually awake and also very rich!” Elsbeth agrees to stay at the center without being seen. She wants to find out the truth about Cole’s death and get away from the rumors about her scandal.
Elsbeth starts to piece together Cole’s story as she enjoys the retreat’s guided meditations, seed cycling classes, and flowy pajamas. Cole went to Heiwa to honor his sister June, who died there 15 years ago after a controversial treatment called Combo, which involved tree-frog venom that made people lose their minds. Cole thought Tom might not keep his promise not to give Combo again after June’s death. Determined to prove Tom was still using the banned treatment, Cole had demanded to undergo the Combo ceremony himself—a decision that may have cost him his life.
At the same time, Kaya and Smullin look into Cole’s past. Cole had been going to the retreat under the name “Billy,” and Tom had let him do it because he respected Cole’s “journey.” They also find out about the private deal Tom made with Cole’s family after June’s death. This detail raises the stakes: if Cole had Combo in his system, Tom would owe the Campbells a fortune.
While investigating, Elsbeth forms a bond with Cheryl, a fellow retreat participant who had been Cole’s journey partner. Cheryl’s warmth and sincerity provide a safe space for Elsbeth to open up about her struggles. In a heartfelt conversation by the campfire, Elsbeth confesses her guilt over her past actions and her fear of losing her friends’ trust. Simple but wise, Cheryl tells Elsbeth that she needs to be honest with the people who care about her. She feels like she doesn’t need help because she is so good at everything. Cheryl tells her this.
Elsbeth decides to talk to Tom directly after hearing what Cheryl said. She wants to go through the Combo ceremony by herself, but Tom says no because Cole brought his own and did it himself. But Elsbeth later finds Midori, the tree frog that was used in the Combo ceremony, living in a geodesic dome greenhouse. This news backs up what she already thought: Tom is still using Combo, even though he said he wouldn’t.
Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 9: Ending
Back at the police station, Kaya and Smullin find more evidence that proves they are guilty. Cole didn’t die from Combo; he died from hypersensitivity to sesame oil. They also find out that Tom has had medical emergencies at Heiwa before and has changed the waivers for the center to protect himself from lawsuits. Finding out that Tom poisoned Cole by putting mustard seed oil (which is related to sesame oil) in Cole’s car snacks is like putting together all the pieces of a puzzle. This was a last-ditch effort to avoid having to pay the $2 million fine for giving Combo.
Elsbeth, Kaya, and Smullin tell the retreat participants about Tom’s crimes in a dramatic confrontation. When Tom’s loyal assistant Starlight turns on him, she won’t call his lawyer and instead sends him “positive energy… IN JAIL.” At the end of the episode, Tom is arrested, and Elsbeth does something to make things right with Kaya. Some parts of Kaya’s heart still don’t forgive Elsbeth but she agrees to help her as long as Elsbeth is honest about her past.
Elsbeth’s life changes when she reads Unalive and Well. Because of the case, she has to face the emotional walls she’s built around herself and the results of the things she did in the past. By the end of the episode, she starts to feel comfortable being weak because she knows that being strong means asking for help and being honest with people who care about her.
In another case, Captain Wagner moves toward justice by asking his bosses to reopen the murder investigation involving the baseball bat. This case has been bothering Elsbeth and has put her at odds with—Judge Crawford. The episode ends on a hopeful note with Elsbeth’s signature scarf—a beautiful work of crocheted color that reminds us that her bright spirit lives on even in the worst times.
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