Wild Cards Season 2, Episode 8, “Death by Design” Spoilers Ahead
Welcome to the first installment of ElliMax Chats, a column dedicated solely to highlighting Cole Ellis and Max Mitchell’s interactions during the latest episode of Wild Cards.
Never did I think I’d add this column for another procedural couple, but truthfully, I haven’t been the same since Max and Ellis’ first (real) kiss, so here we are. I’m all in and stuck here now.
Wild Cards Season 2, Episode 8, “Death by Design,” doesn’t exactly give us anything substantial since last week’s semi-follow-up on their kiss, but all the small moments still add up to showcase why Max and Ellis’ partnership is so crucial to both of them. Interestingly, the episode starts with Max’s dad calling to tell her that he wants her to stop working with the cops. She doesn’t comply because, as we know, she might’ve joined to decrease time in his sentence, but Max is staying because she not only likes this job, but she likes Ellis, too. It all matters to her, and it’s also why she wants to be invited to their outings, too.
So much of the reason ElliMax is such a compelling ship is because they have the quintessential grumpy x sunshine banter that makes a romance delicious. But with this, we also have what’s a turning point, which they reached a while back, so now, when Max puts a pocket square on his blazer to make the outfit less bland, he doesn’t flinch. He doesn’t fight it. And with this little narrative in particular, it’s the second time that stands out even more than the first one because while he carries it in his pocket, he hands it to Max, so she’s the one who puts it back onto him. I don’t know, it’s almost as if he’s looking for excuses to be touched by her or to be the one who’s touching her. (As he does at the very end of the episode when he’s pulling her away from the designer offering clothes for compensation.)
Small, seemingly meaningless moments like this are actually more important than they seem to be. (I feel like I can safely vouch for this as a romance author.) Every little touch is a desire that’s materialized into something physical, and every little gaze is a conversation without words.
With Max and Ellis, quiet conversations and small touches are now becoming a constant. What we see blooming is the indescribable need to be around each other. She could leave; she isn’t an actual cop, anyway, and frankly mentions that detail a few times in Wild Cards Season 2, Episode 8, “Death by Design.” So why doesn’t she? It’s because she promised Ellis that she’d be his cricket, and that’s not a vow she’ll ever break, no matter who or what crosses their path.
We also get adorable proof of Ellis’ admiration and desire to be near Max by his decision to go to the puzzle night when he would much rather spend the evening hanging out with his cat. But it’s Max’s first invite, and when she tells him he can’t miss it, the answer is obvious, even as he grumbles through it. Partnership—this is what it should look like. (It should also look like Ellis taking off his blazer while he’s wearing the tightest T-shirt in the entire world and forcing his biceps to pop out like life is some sort of a runway.)
Now streaming on The CW: What are your thoughts on ElliMax’s scenes in Wild Cards Season 2, Episode 8, “Death by Design?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©The CW