In a flashback, a young Louie (Conner O'Malley) and Janet (Brooke Bloom) argue in a hotel room, as their marriage has not progressed in the past two years.
Louie rents a car from Hertz and barely makes it through the flooded streets until he reaches Janet's house, taking her and the girls to safety.
In April and May 2014, FX confirmed that the fourth through ninth episode of the season would be titled "Elevator", and that they would be written and directed by series creator and lead actor Louis C.K.
Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode a "good" 7.7 out of 10 and wrote in his verdict, "Louie delivered two scary scenarios involving transportation this week - each unsettling for different reasons.
"[11] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "most of the section of Part 1 that actually deals with the elevator and Louie meeting his Eastern European neighbors felt entirely like a preamble to whatever's coming next.
So the most memorable part of that episode involved Louie's subway misadventure with Jane, who, convinced she was still dreaming, hopped off the car to see what would happen.
"[13] Danielle Henderson of Vulture gave the episode a perfect 5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "I'm used to being a little unmoored with Louie, and part of its charm is Louis C.K.
Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode a "great" 8 out of 10 and wrote in his verdict, ""Elevator Part 2" continued on with Louie's split-levels of life enjoyment.
"[18] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "As we get further into the six-part saga that is 'Elevator,' it's now clear that the Jane prologue from Part 1 last week wasn't an isolated sketch, but part of this larger story of Louie struggling, as usual, to relate to all of the women in his life – where he's so screwed up that the one woman he can come close to understanding is the one with whom he doesn't share a common language.
Rather than conversations, Louie has become a show of monologues, primarily rants, whether it's on the date in 'So Did the Fat Lady' or his daughter on the bench or Louis speaking with his ex-wife about what to do with Jane.
"[25] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "Though these are middle chapters of a bigger story, there is such emotion and care in these beats – and the way that C.K.
Club gave the episode an "A–" grade and wrote, "With no dialogue beyond the musical conversation between the two violinists, 'Elevator (Part 3)' offers a philosophical exchange on par with Dr. Bigelow's 'dog with three legs' koan.
"[20] Danielle Henderson of Vulture gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "The elevator arc ended on a weirdly optimistic note, using a three-legged dog as a metaphor for hope, a way for Louie to stop living in his head so much, but I doubt it will stick.
"[22] Joe Matar of Den of Geek gave the episode a 4.5 rating out of 5 and wrote, "Overall, this story is getting more interesting and more complex with the reintroduction of Pamela.
'"[27] Paste gave the episode a 7.2 out of 10 and wrote, "I was hoping that the long hiatus between seasons would bring us a newly revitalized Louie, full of more surprising surrealism and dark sensibility.
These 'Elevator' episodes are a well-crafted way to float in and out of Louie's world with some depth while still sort of keeping us at arm's length; it all feels a little fantastic, but it's a sustainable story.
"[32] Joe Matar of Den of Geek gave the episode a 4.5 rating out of 5 and wrote, "So, apparently, between this flashback and now, Janet changed into a black woman.
"[33] Paste gave the episode a 7.4 out of 10 and wrote, "This segment managed something Season Four has consistently had trouble with, walking the tightrope of dealing with the real issue of where Jane is supposed to go to school and both treating it seriously and finding some modicum of humor.
Instead of the tone deafness we saw earlier, here there's black humor as Louis literally screams outside during the middle of their therapy session, yet things continue onwards.
Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode a "great" 8.8 out of 10 and wrote in his verdict, "I suppose Louie should have known better than to try and make a good thing better.
And as we head into the final chapter of this tale, I kind of hope to find out that Amia's disapproval wasn't directly because of Louie's inadequacies.
"[30] Danielle Henderson of Vulture gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "The Jim Norton and Amia scene made me smile; I like that she was able to lay waste to him and spark his insecurity using only her tone of voice.
"[36] Jake Cole of Slant Magazine wrote, "Louie, like the comic who makes it, can occasionally reveal blind spots in the protagonist's self-criticism that expose how he wields it as defense, not honest evaluation.
The deeper the show gets into 'Elevator,' the more it emerges as the least pedantic yet most probing assessment of Louie’s hang-ups and failures as a human being, untethered to the self-deprecation that he relies on for absolution.
Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode a "great" 8.3 out of 10 and wrote in his verdict, "The six-part Elevator series was an interesting deviation from the Louie norm.
""[38] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "Because the bulk of this season has been telling one big story, it's tougher to come up with judgments on individual segments of it – even the alleged conclusion to a six-parter like 'Elevator Part 6.
Club gave the episode an "A" grade and wrote, "The primary conflict of 'Elevator (Part 6)' is one of an epic sweep vs. an emotional finale.
"[40] Danielle Henderson of Vulture gave the episode a 3 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "I liked the Elevator Series; it felt dreamy and absurd, but totally romantic and strange, all at once.
"[41] Jake Cole of Slant Magazine wrote, "Taken collectively, 'Elevator,' with its symbolic storm imagery, neurotic protagonist, and thoughtful consideration of the choice of remaining alone or risking heartbreak for even a few weeks of companionship, stands as one of the finest rom-coms of the last decade, able to combine the genre's sweetness, outsized absurdity, and anti-romantic deconstruction into a cohesive whole.
"[42] Joe Matar of Den of Geek gave the episode a perfect 5 rating out of 5 and wrote, "Basically, even if I had misgivings about 'Elevator Part 6.'