Michael Emerson lastly returned to Elsbeth within the 2025 TV schedule to play the main girl’s nemesis, Choose Milton Crawford, reverse real-life spouse Carrie Preston. The episode in query, known as “Foiled Once more,” was a giant one for visitor stars, with not solely Emerson, but in addition Ben Levi Ross as Teddy Tascioni and Matthew Broderick because the second Producers alum of Season 2. However with only one scene, Emerson reminded why Crawford is a serious ongoing menace for Elsbeth… and it clicked for me about what he and costume designer Dan Lawson needed to keep away from on Elsbeth as his first appearing job after Evil.
When you watched Evil with a Paramount+ subscription previous to Elsbeth, you doubtless acknowledged Emerson extra for his work because the psychopathic Dr. Leland Townsend somewhat than as Misplaced‘s Ben Linus or Individual of Curiosity‘s Harold. The collection finale of Evil launched to find out Leland’s destiny only a couple months earlier than information broke that Emerson can be recurring as a brand new antagonist on Elsbeth. The actor had beforehand stated that he did not wish to “play the villain” on his spouse’s present as it will be “too on the nostril.”
Recalling all of this for “Foiled Once more” after Crawford’s return to confront Elsbeth about that homicide case being reopened and showcase how “untouchable” he feels occurred to line up with my dialog with Elsbeth costume designer Dan Lawson at SCAD TVfest in Atlanta. Lawson additionally occurred to be the costume designer for Emerson throughout all 4 seasons of Evil, and he shared what he and Emerson needed to keep away from along with his arrival as Choose Crawford:
Michael Emerson is a real gentleman. I am going to simply begin there. He’s immensely gifted, and it was nice working with him and with the ability to actually begin from the purpose of character, as a result of they’re two very totally different characters. They each find yourself being naughty, not very good, however it was attention-grabbing to find who this new character was, and he and I talked, and we needed to be sure that he didn’t appear to be the character that he had simply performed on Evil, and who I had costumed for 4 seasons. We needed this to be totally different, so it was difficult and enjoyable, and one thing that he and I simply instantly had a shorthand with. It was actually enjoyable and terrific.
I feel it is secure to say that not even diehard Evil followers can be complicated Choose Crawford and Leland any time quickly, which was what each Emerson and the costume designer have been going for along with his new antagonistic character. It must be enjoyable to see if Crawford will get any extra overtly villainous because the season continues; at this level in Elsbeth Season 2, no person is aware of for certain simply but that he was the baseball bat-wielding killer.
On the brighter aspect, the return of Teddy meant the return of Ben Levi Ross, who endeared himself to followers as Elsbeth’s son within the first half of Season 2. Whereas mom and son had a little bit of battle in “Foiled Once more,” they resolved it by the tip and the door appears as huge open as ever for him to show up once more.
Dan Lawson, who was additionally the costume designer for The Good Spouse and The Good Struggle for Carrie Preston’s earliest appearances as Elsbeth Tascioni, was excited to speak concerning the Season 2 newcomer, saying:
We lastly bought to fulfill Teddy! One of many huge discussions was, ought to we see Teddy? Ought to Teddy at all times be this kind of unnamed, unseen character? And it is so nice as a result of Ben, who performs the half, performs Teddy so lovingly and so properly. It was like, ‘After all, now we have to see Teddy! It is Ben!’ It is terrific.
Elsbeth has been Ben Levi Ross’ first recurring function on tv, and I for one was instantly satisfied by his and Carrie Preston’s performances that they have been mom and son. As I famous to Dan Lawson, I additionally regarded Ross as much as see if he and Preston have been truly associated due to how properly he bought it, and the costume designer responded:
Is not that tremendous? There is a little bit of a facial construction there that you just see it. And we attempt to costume him a bit of, not as quirky as she is, however there’s a bit of wink, if you’ll, to his look.
It stays to be seen if and when Teddy will pop up once more, however the odds appear fairly good with Roy relocating the New York Metropolis and surviving assembly his mother. As for Choose Crawford… properly, we will certainly rely on seeing him once more now that Elsbeth has much more motive to get filth on him ASAP, however she’ll have a homicide involving visitor star Jordana Brewster to deal with within the subsequent new ep. Check out the promo:
Watch On
Maintain tuning in to CBS on Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET for brand spanking new episodes of Elsbeth. Carrie Preston’s hit drama was among the many 9 reveals not too long ago renewed by the community, so followers can get pleasure from the remainder of Season 2 with out worrying about whether or not there can be a Season 3. Plus, if you wish to revisit Michael Emerson’s earlier episodes reverse Carrie Preston or all 4 seasons of Evil, you’ll find each reveals streaming on Paramount+ now.