Typically, as viewers of "Elsbeth," we find ourselves privy to the perpetrator's identity even before the chilly prelude of each episode unfolds. The allure then lies in witnessing Elsbeth and Kaya meticulously unravel and expose the weekly villain. However, in the episode titled "Tiny Town," despite our ignorance regarding the culprit's identity, our forensic curiosity remains laser-focused on the blossoming transatlantic romance between Elsbeth and an alluring singer-songwriter cum [profession withheld for the time being], who resides in the scenic landscapes of Scotland. Indeed, the primary eyewitness to the cosmetics researcher/developer Hayley Ritter's untimely demise is fulfilling his civic responsibilities across international borders, all thanks to Iris – a 24/7 video portal that bridges a quaint plaza in Manhattan with a quaint Scottish fishing village.
This civic-minded individual, Angus Oliphant-Donnachaidh (a name pronounced with a slight variation between Don-a-HEE and Don-a-HAY, portrayed by the Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd, whose name is enunciated as YO-ahn Gri-FITH, with a subtle roll on the "r" in "Gri"), spends much of his day strumming his mandolin and penning melodies over endless cups of coffee graciously provided by Fiona. Together, they have developed a fondness for observing a particular pair of coffee enthusiasts who frequently meet in Manhattan. The young woman's arrival adorned with a rose each time, and their intense focus on each other, has led Fiona and Angus to conclude that they are a Tinder success story, affectionately dubbing them "The Lovers" and beaming with joy whenever the couple departs the plaza together after their trysts. This scenario closely mirrors Jimmy Stewart's observations of his neighbors in "Rear Window," until it takes a dramatic "Rear Window"-inspired turn by depicting the young woman's murder. As she awaited her apparent suitor in despair, her heart-shaped box of chocolates left unclaimed, a different man appeared and engaged her in a loud confrontation. Their dispute turned violent, and she collapsed to the ground as he departed. Angus, unable to intervene and trapped in horror, watched helplessly as she seemed to choke to death amidst clueless tourists oblivious to her plight.
Angus and Elsbeth instantly bonded, swiftly transitioning from mimed conversations to phone chats. He shared every conceivable detail and was captivated by Elsbeth's hot-pink jacket, a fuzzy number with oversized lapels that flowed into a hood at the rear. It was her favorite color, and amusingly, Angus's assertion that it was also his favorite seemed genuine. Given the bewilderment most New Yorkers exhibited towards Elsbeth's exuberant fashion choices, this minor compliment held significant weight.
Elsbeth wasn't the only one receiving attention from an eligible bachelor. Cameron, alias Dr. Claydel, the handsome and perceptive medical examiner who rents a room from Kaya, happened to drop by the precinct to personally share the results of Hayley's autopsy (and, of course, to catch a glimpse of Kaya). Granted, he could have relayed the findings via a call or email, but, being in the vicinity, he saw no harm in stopping by (and catching up with Kaya too). It was the professional thing to do! Hayley's death was attributed to a fentanyl overdose, which left her chief of security and former colleague at Elle-Même Cosmetics, Mr. Thorwald, heartbroken and her grieving yet slightly suspicious boyfriend, Charles, utterly baffled.
Thorwald reveals that earlier in the week, Hayley tested positive for fentanyl in a routine, random drug screening, prompting him, albeit reluctantly, to report the immediate termination offense to Human Resources. Charles, however, categorically dismisses the notion. Admitting that their relationship was rocky, he asserts that they were actively working through their issues by attending couples therapy and undergoing IVF treatments. It's inconceivable, he insists, that Hayley would relapse while striving to conceive.
Elsbeth and Kaya find Charles's unwavering defense of Hayley's sobriety at odds with the distressingly hostile demeanor he exhibited towards her shortly before her demise, as witnessed by Angus. Charles had harbored suspicions of her infidelity, based solely on her use of an encrypted messaging app and her decision to disable location sharing on her phone. These suspicions were proven groundless when they discovered that the man Charles believed Hayley was cheating with was not a Tinder date, but rather George, an investigative journalist. George's partner clarifies that he adheres strictly to ethical standards and discretion, using encrypted messaging apps exclusively for communicating with sources and keeping the details of his work confidential, even from his closest companion until publication.
It comes as a grim, yet unsurprising revelation that George, who was poised to unveil a major exposé, has also met an untimely death. His body was discovered in a park near the plaza where Angus had seen him meeting with Hayley. Ironically, his demise was attributed to a fentanyl overdose. Sadly, George marks the second investigative journalist to be murdered on the show, further highlighting the perilous nature of this profession in the Elsbeth universe.
Throughout this episode, Elsbeth frequents the Iris and engages in numerous phone conversations with Angus, blending work matters with cute exchanges. He identifies Charles as the individual who confronted Hayley, provides a detailed description of George for the police sketch artist, praises her on her attire (a stunning marine blue dress coat), and generally proves himself to be a valuable asset, sharing endearing glimpses into his personal life. A songwriter with tracks available on Spotify under the title "Scottish Moments" (no bagpipes, he assures her), he admits that his compositions aren't exceptional because it's easier to pen melancholic tunes. He shares Elsbeth's affection for New York, expressing a desire to visit someday, albeit after fulfilling some gig commitments in Edinburgh. As their mutual admiration blossoms, I am reminded of my earlier season request for the show to honor its titular character by featuring men captivated by her, not despite her eccentricities, but because of them.
Realizing their crucial importance to the case, Angus's mind flashed back to the moment he had inadvertently missed ten crucial seconds of Hayley's demise. He had turned to assist Fiona with a spilled cup of coffee on his notebook, leaving a critical gap in his witness account. Fortunately, the Murray sisters—the famously quarrelsome and omniscient duo of their town—had been present. As was their custom, they loudly debated every detail they had witnessed, including a man whose face was momentarily exposed beneath a surgical mask as he either coughed or sneezed upon Hayley. Yet, they couldn't agree on one crucial aspect: the tartan pattern of the attacker's scarf. Was it the Murray of Atholl tartan, or perhaps Mackenzie? A fleeting glimpse from a passerby suggested the Robertson Hunting tartan, further complicating matters, especially since there were two variations listed in the official Scottish Register of Tartans. Notably, all the tartans in question belonged to the blue-and-green family, a detail that, coupled with the perpetrator's surgical mask, might prove instrumental in his identification.
Armed with this newfound information, Elsbeth confronted Mr. Thorwald in his office at Elle-Même, raising concerns about the stark discrepancy between her recent, drug-free IVF bloodwork and a fentanyl-positive result from just a day later. The date on the Elle-Même report was also unclear, adding to the confusion. In a private moment in Thorwald's office, Elsbeth experienced a chilling realization: Thorwald himself was the murderer. She noticed his jacket and scarf, adorned with a blue and green plaid that resembled a windowpane check, and discovered a surgical mask in one of his pockets. Hayley, it turned out, was a whistle-blower poised to expose a carcinogen in the concealer she had been developing. To neutralize the threat, Thorwald had framed her for drug use, using one of Elle-Même's mini perfume atomizers to spray fentanyl in her face and stealing chocolates that contained a thumb drive with company secrets, which she had intended to hand off to the unsuspecting George.
This was the first time Elsbeth found herself in genuine peril, and her relief was palpable when Wagner and Kaya burst in to arrest Thorwald. But how had they known to come? Elsbeth's phone battery was critically low, and she had been unable to summon help. It seemed fate had intervened; the kind young man in Scotland had called the NYPD switchboard to inform them that he and the Murray sisters had identified the murderer and that Elsbeth was in danger in Thorwald's office at that very moment.
Elsbeth was disappointed that she couldn't call Angus to express her gratitude; his phone appeared to be off, and Fiona had no idea where he was. Meanwhile, two other couples were celebrating a delightful Valentine's Day. Captain Wagner had secretly taken dance lessons for five weeks, ensuring that his wife Claudia could enjoy a dance partner worthy of her on their wedding anniversary—a heartwarming gesture indeed. Kaya, meanwhile, politely declined Cameron's offer of a cupcake from work, noting that "a morgue cupcake is definitely not the vibe" and suggesting a spontaneous bodega trip for ice cream, adding a practical touch with the inclusion of dish soap.
How delightful it all sounds, yet hold on a moment! What about Angus, you ask? Well, fueled by his newly found admiration for Elsbeth and his enduring fascination with New York, Angus decided to leap across the Atlantic like a bird on the wing, eager to behold her in the flesh. Given the tight schedule, could such a feat truly be accomplished? Unless, of course, Angus happens to be a kinsman of Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott of the U.S.S. Enterprise, gifted with a personal transporter beam – which, alas, he is not. Shall I nitpick further? Not in the slightest. Ioan Gruffud and Carrie Preston encapsulate pure exhilaration, tempered with just a hint of the restraint inherent in making such a grand, declarative move (or being on the receiving end of it).
Angus brushes aside Elsbeth's anxiety about his absence from their planned Edinburgh engagements, reassuring her that his musical endeavors pose no threat to his career, for they are but a hobby, not his livelihood. Oh, and what might his profession be, you inquire? Why, he's a firefighter, of course.
