Carrie Preston and Michael Emerson, a married couple who first met 30 years ago during a production of “Hamlet” at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, have now found themselves playing enemies on the latest episode of “Elsbeth.” Emerson joins Preston as a recurring guest star on the CBS show, portraying the character of Judge Milton Crawford, who is not all that he seems.
In the episode titled “One Angry Woman,” Elsbeth gets summoned to jury duty and ends up on the jury of a murder trial presided over by Judge Crawford. As the trial progresses, Elsbeth becomes suspicious of the judge’s behavior and soon realizes that he may have committed the murder in question. The dynamic between Elsbeth and Judge Crawford sets up a contentious situation that will continue to unfold in future episodes.
Preston and Emerson discussed their experience working together on set, highlighting the unique dynamic of playing characters who are foils to one another. Despite being married in real life, the couple had never played characters that were antagonistic towards each other before. The challenge of portraying opposing forces while still respecting each other’s intellect added an interesting layer to their performances.
Emerson shared his experience of watching Preston work, noting her ability to seamlessly transition into her character as soon as the camera started rolling. Preston, who has been playing the character of Elsbeth for over 14 years, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to take on a central role in the show and the hard work that goes into making each episode.
As the storyline between Elsbeth and Judge Crawford unfolds, audiences can expect to see more of the power struggle between the two characters. Judge Crawford will try to undermine Elsbeth in various ways, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown in future episodes.
Looking ahead, the couple joked about the possibility of playing different types of relationships in the future, such as mentor-mentee or doctor and patient. With their chemistry and talent, it’s clear that Preston and Emerson will continue to captivate audiences with their on-screen dynamic.
