It wasn't just the podium scene - wasn't there also something, either in the first episode ever or in one of the flashbacks to that day later in S1, some Alicia Peter confrontation in a caterer's back hallway outside the press-conference room?

When I first realised that they were going to show us something from Elsbeth's point of view that was going to explain what was going on in her head, I had this weird flash of disappointment, because I didn't want that magical thing explained, especially in a way that made her seem wacky and not in control of it.

She's openly thrilled to see Alicia, and Alicia uses what she understands about Elsbeth without thinking twice, because she's not like that any more.