It is surprising to see how many foes appear in Season 2 of Elsbeth. I use the term “foe” because I do not call Lt. Connor (Daniel K. Isaac) a villain. He works with a strong sense of duty, even though he sometimes prioritizes his mandate over teamwork. Since joining the team, Elsbeth (Carrie Preston) has faced many challenges.
She has dealt with Mark Van Ness (Michael Park), a client from her past who returns unexpectedly, and she has managed the constant threat posed by Judge Crawford (Michael Emerson).
In Season 2, Episode 13, titled Tearjerker, the series introduces another foe who seems very real in today’s time. This foe is a toxic, misogynistic nepo baby who adds a modern edge to the story.
The episode also presents several other events that contribute to its intrigue and suspense. This review explores the events of the episode in clear and simple detail to show how each moment builds the narrative completely.
The Mysterious Death of Nathan Jordan
The episode begins in a stylish restaurant that offers an excellent view of Manhattan. In the restaurant, billionaire Nathan Jordan (Larry Pine) sits with his much younger date, Chloe (Jordana Brewster).
The attentive restaurant staff notices that Chloe brings a youthful energy to Nathan, and they observe that he eats and drinks in a way he has not done for a long time. They also remark that he appears happier than he has in recent memory.
After they order another round of drinks, Chloe points to the view outside. At that moment, Nathan suddenly looks sad as he reflects on the problems with his building and feels that he has disappointed the city. Chloe reminds him of all the good he has accomplished despite these issues.
Then, while Nathan is distracted, Chloe secretly opens a capsule containing a clear liquid and pours it into his drink. Nathan drinks the altered beverage without noticing the change under the dim lighting.
After finishing their drinks, Nathan and Chloe leave the restaurant together. Chloe requests two orders of tomahawk steak to go, stating that one is for the dog. As they walk toward the elevator, Chloe tells Nathan to wait a moment and then heads into the trash room. She sends one bag containing the steak down the chute.
Back at Nathan’s apartment, Chloe helps him change into his pajamas and tucks him into bed. Wearing gloves, she adds a bottle of pills to his collection of medication and opens the balcony door before leaving. She then sends the second steak down the trash chute.
The loud sound of the balcony door swinging in the wind wakes up Deborah (Victoria Clark) and Jason (Phil Nee). When Deborah enters Nathan’s apartment to remind him to close the door, she finds him dead on the bed. The shocking discovery leaves everyone troubled and forces an immediate police response, causing deep sorrow among all witnesses.
Detectives Unravel the Truth
The next morning at the police station, Captain Wagner (Wendell Pierce) works with Captain Kershaw (Jen Colella) on the case. Wagner makes a remark about Nathan Jordan’s death and expresses his dislike for Manhattan Towers and similar buildings.
Captain Kershaw suggests that Detective Rivers (Braeden De La Garza), who she calls “her guy,” might be a good fit for the investigation because he led the Mertons case before. She believes that his work, though flawed, can improve with proper guidance.
At the crime scene, Elsbeth and Officer Kaya Blanke (Carra Patterson) meet Detective Rivers. Rivers acts rudely and assumes he knows more due to his higher rank. His behavior implies a lack of respect toward the women present, especially Officer Blanke.
Despite working under Captain Wagner now, Rivers continues to display his arrogance and insensitivity. The officers begin their careful work on the case, determined to uncover every clue and bring the truth to light.
At the apartment, Elsbeth and Officer Blanke begin questioning Deborah, who explains that Nathan was her husband. She tells them that the button-up pajamas and snap closures in his drawer helped him manage his arthritis.
When asked if she had assisted him with dressing, Deborah stated she had not because she was at her own apartment with her boyfriend, Jason. Detective Rivers immediately accuses Deborah of being a gold digger involved in an affair.
Deborah defends herself by mentioning that she supported Nathan by sending him to school and that they had been separated for years. She adds that they rarely spoke after he was declared medically incompetent.
Elsbeth asks Deborah to recount her routine since she administered Nathan’s medication, believing that he might have accidentally taken too many pills.
On the counter, they find a pill bottle left by Chloe that contains pentobarbital, a powerful sedative. This discovery raises new questions and deepens the mystery surrounding Nathan’s sudden death.
After leaving the apartment, Elsbeth and Officer Blanke noted that the pentobarbital bottle was closed with the cap turned upside down, unlike the other child-proof bottles.
They discuss how it seems easier to open and wonder about its significance. Blanke also questions why Deborah would use Jason as her alibi if they were colluding. Elsbeth concludes that someone else was present with Nathan the night before, and they must identify that individual.
The officers then return to the precinct and review Nathan’s CashShare app profile, similar to Venmo, which Nathan left public. Blanke explains that many users forget to set their profiles to private. They notice a recent payment from Nathan with emojis indicating “Above the Sky,” referring to a restaurant.
Uncovering Chloe’s Role and Nathan’s Plan
Elsbeth visits Chloe’s office to seek further answers. At the entrance, she is stopped by Chloe’s assistant, Desire (Han Van Sciver), who inquires about her purpose. Elsbeth explains that she is a consultant, without revealing too many details.
Soon, Chloe appears and warmly invites Elsbeth into her office. Inside, Elsbeth sees a wall lined with names of Chloe’s mostly male clients and a wardrobe filled with various outfits ranging from elegant to alluring.
Chloe assumes Elsbeth is there as a referral and turns on her charm, which makes Elsbeth slightly uneasy. Elsbeth then states that she works as a consultant for the police and asks Chloe to describe her role.
Chloe explains that she is a lifestyle consultant who advises on cuisine, fashion, and the arts, helping clients improve their lives in exchange for gifts such as designer bags and a painting.
Back at the precinct, tensions rise as Detective Rivers aggressively interrogates suspects. He takes charge of questioning Jason, insisting that his only mistake was having been involved with Chloe, which gave her access to his pills.
Meanwhile, Deborah is brought in, and her testimony reveals that Chloe and Nathan had been together for years, though Deborah did not mind the affair because it kept Nathan distant.
Elsbeth reviews security footage from Manhattan Towers and notices that cameras unexpectedly pivot toward the trash room during key moments. The security guard explains that the system is AI-controlled, though he does not understand the unusual camera movements. Elsbeth theorizes that someone used the trash chute to distract the cameras, allowing undetected entry and exit.
In the final stages of the investigation, Elsbeth pieces together the complex motive behind Nathan’s death. She explains that despite his chronic pain and medical incompetence, Nathan planned to take his own life on his own terms. He arranged for Chloe to seduce Jason so that she could obtain the necessary pills and then use them to end his life while also framing Deborah and Jason to keep his wealth secure.
The elaborate plan involved distracting security cameras with heavy food orders and using the building’s faulty design to create confusion. Elsbeth concludes that Chloe did not commit murder for money but acted out of care and even love for Nathan, as evidenced by her emotional reaction when reading a Keats poem.
Although Officer Blanke later arrests Chloe, Elsbeth offers her legal advice and recommends that the valuable Cezanne painting be displayed in a museum. This resolution brings clarity to the case and restores hope for true justice.
Summary
In Elsbeth Season 2, Episode 13 (Tearjerker), billionaire Nathan Jordan dies mysteriously after a night out with his much younger companion, Chloe. Initially suspected to be a natural death, Elsbeth and Officer Blanke investigate further, uncovering hidden motives.
Detective Rivers, an arrogant and misogynistic officer, complicates the case with his aggressive approach. Evidence points to pentobarbital poisoning, and security footage reveals suspicious activity in the trash chute.
Elsbeth discovers that Nathan orchestrated his own death, using Chloe to acquire the necessary pills and frame his estranged wife and her boyfriend. His plan leveraged the faulty security systems of Manhattan Towers to conceal the truth.
Chloe, though involved, did not act out of malice but rather out of loyalty and love for Nathan. In the end, she is arrested, but Elsbeth ensures justice prevails by securing a fair outcome, including the preservation of Nathan’s valuable painting.
Also Read: ‘Elsbeth’ Season 2 Episode 12 Recap: A Deadly College Admission Scandal
