Elsbeth’s Latest Episode Got Off To A Confusing Start, But The Killer Might Be My Favorite Since Season 2

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Be warned: this contains spoilers for the seventh episode of Elsbeth Season 3, titled “And Then There Were Nuns.” You can watch the episode with a Paramount+ subscription.

In the crowded world of TV crime shows, CBS’s Elsbeth stands out with its humorous approach, often featuring killers with surprisingly quirky reasons for their actions, and guest stars you’ll recognize. The latest episode showcased Dianne Wiest as a nun who committed murder in a bizarre attempt to save her convent – her plan involved orchestrating the death of pop star Alaïa Jane by causing her to fall from a bell tower. It was a uniquely inventive crime, and Mother Constance quickly became one of my favorite characters on the show, rivaling Nathan Lane’s performance from Season 2.

That is, I came to my realization after a very strange beginning of the episode.

An Elsbeth-Free Episode Of Elsbeth

While the episode wasn’t completely without Elsbeth, the first ten minutes focused entirely on Mother Constance. She discovered the convent was being sold to a controversial pop star, watched an episode of Father Crime (a nod to a previous season finale), and then hatched a plan to get rid of Alaïa. She cleverly manipulated events so that Alaïa would be accidentally killed by a bell, with another nun unknowingly carrying out the act. It was a flawlessly executed crime!

The episode started with a seemingly flawless crime, but Carrie Preston’s arrival as Elsbeth disrupted that, revealing inconsistencies in Mother Constance’s account. While I didn’t mind the lengthy opening sequence, it felt a little unusual how much time was spent showing the crime itself. Elsbeth often shows how the weekly killer committed the crime, but this extended setup was longer than usual.

I really loved this episode, and I think it’s going to become one of my favorites. It wasn’t just because the title, “And Then There Were Nuns,” reminded me of my favorite Agatha Christie book, but the episode itself was fantastic.

I Love Mother Constance

I was really looking forward to “And Then There Were Nuns” – especially after seeing Dianne Wiest as Mother Constance in the previews. Having gone to Catholic school myself, I was intrigued. It was also a nice surprise to see Dominic Fumusa return as Jack Wilson, who’s the star of the fictional crime show Father Crime within the Elsbeth universe. It’s worth noting that Laurie Metcalf’s character, Regina Coburn, isn’t part of this new series anymore.

From my experience, people who went to Catholic school really get Catholic-themed humor. The show had some great additions, bringing back Ben Levi Ross and Sarah Steele, but it was Dianne Wiest’s performance as Mother Constance that truly made “And Then There Were Nuns” one of my favorite episodes of Elsbeth. The nuns weren’t just stereotypes – they were fully realized characters, and Wiest’s portrayal was key to that.

Wiest portrayed Mother Constance with complete sincerity, which brilliantly contrasted with Elsbeth’s eccentric personality and created a lot of the humor. I also enjoyed her wonderfully unsettling performance in the Rosemary’s Baby prequel, so it was fun to see her play a different type of villain here. The story’s isolated convent setting felt very reminiscent of an Agatha Christie mystery, and I especially appreciated the final twist – the nun’s actions ultimately saved the convent, even though she won’t be around to see it.

Although Dianne Wiest’s character, Mother Constance in “And Then There Were Nuns,” and Nathan Lane’s Philip Cross from the Season 2 premiere seem very different, I appreciate when a skilled actor portrays a strange, yet surprisingly understandable, motivation. Philip’s reason for murder – someone being disruptive at the theater – isn’t right, but it’s a point many can relate to. Similarly, Mother Constance’s risky plan to eliminate a pop star by rigging the convent was daring, but ultimately failed.

I really love watching Elsbeth, and I expect to continue enjoying it for years to come. It’s hard to pick a bad episode, but “And Then There Were Nuns” is easily one of my favorites.

Teddy finally realized something was wrong with Alec Bloom, leaving the episode with a sense of unease. However, Elsbeth isn’t a comedy, so some dramatic tension is natural. Considering how Season 2 developed the storyline with Judge Crawford – and the fact that Carrie Preston’s husband, Michael Emerson, played him – I’m open to the idea of a new villain emerging.

New episodes of Elsbeth Season 2 air Thursdays at 10 p.m. Eastern on CBS, typically after Matlock at 9 p.m. Eastern. Matlock didn’t air last week, but you can watch all episodes on demand with Paramount+.

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2025-11-22 15:11