Sweet Justice

We had been enjoying Elsbeth more and more as the season progressed, but this one was a stinker.

Easily the worst show of the season. The mystery was lame, and the script was worse. The recurring actors were mostly just sleepwalking through this one-- they looked as bored as we felt-- and the guest stars were surprisingly bad.

Aside from the uninteresting mystery, the alleged corruption scheme that has been simmering all season was apparently resolved in the laziest, most cliched way imaginable, with a denouement that would have embarrassed the writers of Adam-12.

I hope that they just buried their weakest show in a shallow grave as the penultimate episode, and the finale will be better.

Please don't send Elsbeth back to Chicago!

The episode ended with just that threat. Elsbeth has become a refreshing alternative to the usual crime show where the focus is on guns, violence and bloodshed.

How refreshing to see a crime drama which emphasizes intelligence and competence mixed in with a bit of goofiness and humor.

Yes, it's a throwback to Peter Falk's Columbo, the also goofy detective. We know the outcome in the first five minutes of the show but that doesn't take away from the joy of the chase.

Elsbeth herself is a likeable character who doesn't take herself too seriously. No, she doesn't carry a gun (thank goodness) but she does carry a desire to always do the right thing at the right time.

Hopefully, Elsbeth will move to an earlier and better time slot in her new season. Like so many others, I'm looking forward to it!

Sweet Justice is the name of a cocktail invented by Joe Dillon (Arian Moayed.)

He is a renowned mixologist, his bar is frequented by Wall Street types. Joe is also regarded as a thoroughly nice guy.

Not so is Gemma Nelson, an obnoxious and rising entrepreneur. Self centered and selfish. She made life hell for Ivy Benson who was in college with Gemma.

When Ivy mentions of her troubles with Gemma. Joe decides to dispense with sweet justice. Only to kill the wrong person.

The police and Elsbeth eventually horn in on Ivy after pressure from Gemma. She then decides that Joe is the likely suspect who carries a torch for Ivy.

For a change the murderer has some redeeming features although Elsbeth does work on his arrogance to catch him out.