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The Worst Episodes of Elsbeth

Every episode of Elsbeth ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Elsbeth!

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After her successful career in Chicago, Elsbeth Tascioni, an astute but unconventional attorney, utilizes her singular point of view to make unique observations and corner brilliant criminals alongside the NYPD.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 16 - Hot Tub Crime Machine
    6.6/10(725 votes)

    #1 - Hot Tub Crime Machine

    S2:E16

    After a man’s suspicious death in a hot tub, Elsbeth consults his wife, Freya (Mary-Louise Parker), a decluttering guru whose less-is-more philosophy and controlling personality appear at odds with her “throuple” relationship.

    Director:James Whitmore Jr.
    Writers:Erica Larson, Jonelle Lightbourne

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  2. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 5 - Poetic Justice
    7.1/10(459 votes)

    #2 - Poetic Justice

    S3:E5

    After a donor's death shakes New York’s nonprofit arts scene, Elsbeth questions the motives of the victim's friend, Gary, the founder of a prominent poetry journal. Also, Elsbeth runs into Marissa, who is following in Eli's footsteps and working as the campaign manager for a mayoral candidate.

    Director:Robin Givens
    Writer:Leah Nanako Winkler

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  3. Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 3 - Devil's Night
    7.2/10(751 votes)

    #3 - Devil's Night

    S2:E3

    When a former child star turned party girl Mac wakes up on Halloween after a wild night on the town with no recollection of her whereabouts and afraid she may have committed murder, Elsbeth and the team retrace her steps to find the truth. Meanwhile, Captain Wagner must address low morale at the precinct.

    Director:Robin Givens
    Writer:Bryan Goluboff

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  4. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 12 - All's Hair
    7.2/10(409 votes)

    #4 - All's Hair

    S3:E12

    When a celebrity wigmaker is murdered, Elsbeth must comb through a tangled mess of suspects – and some drag brunch mayhem – to clip a killer.

    Director:Mary Lou Belli
    Writer:Erica Shelton Kodish

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  5. Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 2 - The Wrong Stuff
    7.3/10(780 votes)

    #5 - The Wrong Stuff

    S2:E2

    When a billionaire dies in an accident during a space training simulation, Elsbeth suspects a fellow magnate and wannabe astronaut named Neal is responsible. Elsbeth's day is turned upside down when she is reunited with a former colleague.

    Director:Aisha Tyler
    Writer:Erica Shelton Kodish

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  6. Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 17 - Four Body Problem
    7.3/10(593 votes)

    #6 - Four Body Problem

    S2:E17

    Elsbeth and Kaya reluctantly join forces with an annoying and chatty young police officer in order to solve a funeral director’s death and find that they make an unexpectedly good team.

    Director:Bille Woodruff
    Writers:Erica Shelton Kodish, Sarah Beckett

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of Elsbeth

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  7. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 1 - Yes, and...
    7.3/10(654 votes)

    #7 - Yes, and...

    S3:E1

    Elsbeth dives into the world of late-night comedy when backstage tensions rise between a talk show host, his head writer, and her on-air sidekick husband.

    Director:Joe Menendez
    Writer:Jonathan Tolins

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  8. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 7 - And Then There Were Nuns
    7.3/10(447 votes)

    #8 - And Then There Were Nuns

    S3:E7

    A pop star's purchase of a failing convent turns divine real estate into a murder scene as Elsbeth takes on the Mother of all nuns. Meanwhile, Teddy digs into Alec Bloom's past for a feature he is working on.

    Director:Peter Sollett
    Writer:Matthew K. Begbie

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  9. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 10 - A Hard Nut to Crack
    7.3/10(389 votes)

    #9 - A Hard Nut to Crack

    S3:E10

    When an avant-garde choreographer's "Nutcracker" rehearsal turns deadly, Elsbeth leaps into the cutthroat world of New York ballet.

    Director:Ron Underwood
    Writer:Anju Andre-Bergmann

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  10. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 14 - Deadutante
    7.3/10(349 votes)

    #10 - Deadutante

    S3:E14

    After a powerful patriarch is stabbed with a sword at New York's most exclusive debutante ball, Elsbeth must engage in hand in glove combat with the imperious ball director.

    Director:Peter Sollett
    Writer:Erica Larson

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  11. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 15 - Otherwise Enraged
    7.3/10(343 votes)

    #11 - Otherwise Enraged

    S3:E15

    When a serial bride is found bludgeoned in her apartment, Elsbeth investigates the victim's best friend, a particularly experienced, and bitter bridesmaid.

    Director:Lionel Coleman
    Writer:Leah Nanako Winkler

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  12. Elsbeth Season 1 Episode 5 - Ball Girl
    7.4/10(918 votes)

    #12 - Ball Girl

    S1:E5

    When the world's top tennis champion drops dead on the court, Elsbeth and Kaya hone in on a rising tennis star and his competitive father and coach. Meanwhile, Captain Wagner begins to suspect Elsbeth's reason for being in New York goes beyond the consent decree.

    Director:Rob Hardy
    Writer:Eric Randall

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  13. Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 15 - I See... Murder
    7.4/10(654 votes)

    #13 - I See... Murder

    S2:E15

    Elsbeth matches wits with a professional psychic (Tracey Ullman) after the stepson of one of her wealthy clients is found murdered in Central Park. Meanwhile, Kaya’s dreams of becoming a detective may come true.

    Director:Rob Hardy
    Writers:Sarah Beckett, Wade Dooley

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  14. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 3 - Good Grief
    7.4/10(496 votes)

    #14 - Good Grief

    S3:E3

    When "grief influencer" Raquel Drabowski's presumed-dead husband makes a miraculous return, their reunion takes a fatal plunge. Meanwhile, Elsbeth's surprise reunion with an old friend could expose a dangerous undercover operation.

    Director:Ron Underwood
    Writer:Bryan Goluboff

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  15. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 4 - Ick, a Bod
    7.4/10(488 votes)

    #15 - Ick, a Bod

    S3:E4

    Elsbeth must separate trick from treat in Sleepy Hollow when a rivalry reaches a ghoulish climax on Halloween night after a suburban housewife butts heads with a new neighbor. Meanwhile, Captain Wagner makes a frightening discovery about his daughter.

    Director:Lionel Coleman
    Writer:Erica Larson

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  16. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 8 - Basket Case
    7.4/10(441 votes)

    #16 - Basket Case

    S3:E8

    Elsbeth goes from the squad room to the locker room when a campus murder rocks the world of college basketball after an athletic director winds up dead following a heated confrontation with his basketball coach's 22-year-old girlfriend.

    Director:Mary Lou Belli
    Writer:Eric Randall

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  17. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 9 - Glamazons
    7.4/10(425 votes)

    #17 - Glamazons

    S3:E9

    A fallen '90s supermodel returns to New York for a reunion and revenge, leading Elsbeth to sort through old grudges and lies to catch a killer. Meanwhile, Officer Hackett takes her turn in the spotlight.

    Director:Rob Hardy
    Writer:Bryan Goluboff

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  18. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 11 - Ol' Man Liver
    7.4/10(381 votes)

    #18 - Ol' Man Liver

    S3:E11

    Elsbeth battles a wealthy biohacker who will do anything to stay young, including an extreme diet, vigorous exercise, and murder.

    Director:Scott Ellis
    Writers:Eric Randall, Matthew K. Begbie

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  19. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 18 - Murder From Scratch
    7.4/10(339 votes)

    #19 - Murder From Scratch

    S3:E18

    When an ambitious filmmaker dies in a suspicious cleaning accident, Elsbeth focuses on the subject of her final documentary: a "trad wife" whose from-scratch lifestyle included a deadly ingredient.

    Director:Pamela Adlon
    Writers:Erica Shelton Kodish, Jonelle Lightbourne

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  20. Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 5 - Elsbeth Flips the Bird
    7.5/10(755 votes)

    #20 - Elsbeth Flips the Bird

    S2:E5

    Elsbeth investigates the death of a devious kitchen staffer after he causes havoc in New York's hottest restaurant and enrages one of America's most revered chefs.

    Director:Ron Underwood
    Writer:Sarah Beckett

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  21. Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 6 - Gold, Frankincense, and Murder
    7.5/10(702 votes)

    #21 - Gold, Frankincense, and Murder

    S2:E6

    Celebrity Christmas curators Dirk and DeeDee Dashers go from tinsel to tragedy after Dirk is killed in a freak accident and Elsbeth begins to suspect his wife is behind the death. Meanwhile, Elsbeth gets a holiday surprise courtesy of Wagner and Kaya.

    Director:Rachel Raimist
    Writer:Erica Larson

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  22. Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 14 - Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
    7.5/10(699 votes)

    #22 - Scenes From an Italian Restaurant

    S2:E14

    When Elsbeth takes a tour of famous New York crime scenes she is left with nagging questions about a legendary Mafia slaying in Little Italy, and about the owner of the family restaurant where it happened, Pupetta Del Ponte. Also, Judge Crawford's grudge against Elsbeth causes a roadblock in the investigation

    Director:Robin Givens
    Writer:Bryan Goluboff

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  23. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 2 - Doll Day Afternoon
    7.5/10(612 votes)

    #23 - Doll Day Afternoon

    S3:E2

    When a murder investigation at a famous New York toy store spirals into a hostage crisis, Elsbeth must negotiate with Nolan, the hapless ex-con inside. Outside, Captain Wagner clashes with a rival whose reckless tactics could turn the standoff deadly.

    Director:Robert King
    Writers:Robert King, Anju Andre-Bergmann

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  24. Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 6 - Bunker Down
    7.5/10(434 votes)

    #24 - Bunker Down

    S3:E6

    When a crisis manager vanishes inside a billionaire's panic room, Elsbeth unravels the highly equipped fortresses that blur the lines between security and paranoia. Meanwhile, Elsbeth meets the late Judge Crawford's widow, Winnie.

    Director:Nick Gomez
    Writer:Erica Shelton Kodish

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  25. Elsbeth Season 1 Episode 3 - Reality Shock
    7.6/10(1070 votes)

    #25 - Reality Shock

    S1:E3

    When a larger-than-life reality TV star is found dead in her bathtub, Elsbeth and Kaya investigate the circumstances around her death to determine if it was an accident or murder. As they get deeper into the events surrounding her demise, they meet Skip Mason, the mercurial producer behind the popular, guilty-pleasure reality series "Lavish Ladies," who becomes a prime suspect after he is accused of going to dangerous lengths to concoct "good TV."

    Director:Ron Underwood
    Writer:Jonathan Tolins

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Hot Tub Crime Machine" is the worst rated episode of "Elsbeth". It scored 6.6/10 based on 725 votes. Directed by James Whitmore Jr. and written by Erica Larson, Jonelle Lightbourne, it aired on 4/3/2025. This episode scored 0.5 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Poetic Justice".