We didn't really get a good feel for new girl #2 last night on Cold Case. They only gave us two scenes with her, the second of which set up her permanent arrival (in what I assume will be) next week. So far, I didn't love her and I didn't hate her, but like I said, she barely made an appearance. Whether or not she takes away from the other characters remains to be seen. Anyway, the case last night was pretty interesting. I found myself pulled in all different directions. At first I thought Carl was murdered, then I though he killed himself, then I went back to murder. I suspected Daniel from the beginning, but the episode's writing convinced me that he was innocent. I didn't think that the cowardly Ken was guilty, though, because he wasn't able to handle Fort Hood, let alone killing someone. The pot angle was unneeded and thrown in just to throw the audience off. One way you can tell it was unneeded was the fact that it was completely underdeveloped. They mentioned it several times, but never followed up on it. In the murder scene at the end, there was a blink-and-you-miss-it moment where it was explained. Apparently killer Daniel had it on him and POW Carl took it away in order to keep Daniel off drugs. I do think that Lilly was right about Carl when she said that he planned on killing himself but someone else got there first. Even as he lay dying, he told Daniel to run off and save himself. It was the only way that he knew how to make up for his own perceived shortcomings in the POW camp. He went home and his fellow soldiers were stuck, which led to Daniel's father's death. This was something that Carl found hard to swallow. His life had changed in the time that he was gone, and his wife had found solace in the arms of a man who claimed to be a wounded POW. Carl's story was tragic, and I couldn't help thinking about poor Ned who grew up with his father serving in the military, then spending time in a POW camp, returning home a different man, and then dying of a gunshot wound in his home city. I liked the closing scenes with Ned, his mother, and the detectives at Carl's grave sight placing the POW bracelets near the headstone. It was one of Cold Case's trademark full circle moments and it worked really well last night. Finally, I would be remiss if I failed to mention John Finn's excellent display of talent last night. He navigated Stillman through all the old wounds and feelings beautifully. His interrogation scene with Ken was first rate. Overall, a good outing.
Without A Trace tinkered with its format for one episode last week, and it worked. As loyal viewers, we're so used to seeing every missing persons case through the eyes of the agents who are charged with finding them. As much as I love these characters, it was nice to change things up for an episode and give us the worried parents perspective. I tend to be a fan of format changes as long as it's only for an episode and not long term. Guest star Laurie Metcalf shone as the frantic parent of the missing 15 year old. She went from worried to heartbroken when she thought they'd found her son's body to frantic to relieved when he was found alive. It was interesting to see the agents whispering about the case, but the viewers not aloud to hear just as the parents were not. We usually have the omniscient perspective, but here we were limited and only learned about details as the parents did. When the agents informed the parents that they believed that their son was involved with drugs, I had the same reaction as the parents - how did they make that connection? It was nice to find out that he was not into drugs, but rather helping a friend in a bad situation. The different perspective allowed the audience to see things the way the families see them, and we were able to understand the feeling of "they're not doing enough to find our son." Usually, we're clued in to every step the agents take, so we know that they're doing everything humanly possible. Again, I thought this was an excellent episode and a welcome edition to a (so far) first rate season of this show.
About Last Night... CBS started out the night on top with the late running 60 Minutes and the beginning of Cold Case, followed by ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and NBC's movie The Poseidon Adventure. At 9, ABC took over first place with Desperate Housewives, followed by the end of Cold Case and the beginning of the holiday movie Snow Wonder on CBS and NBC's movie. The final hour of the night went to ABC for Grey's Anatomy, followed by CBS's movie and NBC's movie. For more on last night's ratings, visit Zap2it.
~Primetime Pass~
@8 p.m. - Laura and Rich race against time to get the submersible to the surface as they realize that the unknown creature is laying eggs all around them on NBC's Surface.
@9 p.m. - Michael gets proof that his escape plan will work while the others try to keep T-Bag behind bars on Fox's Prison Break. Over on NBC, a comic convention hits the Montecito and one of the staffers will not survive this episode of Las Vegas.
@10 p.m. - Medium goes 3-D on NBC as Allison tries to make sense out of her new found ability to see art in new depths. I know it's a huge stunt, but I'll be there 3-D glasses and all tonight and here tomorrow telling you all about it because I'm a trooper (and a total sucker!).
QUICK CUTS
*Dying to know more about ABC's Lost? Well, Verizon Wireless's V-Cast subscribers will get an opportunity early next year. The popular television show will release video diaries featuring survivors of the crash of Flight 815 that haven't been featured on the show. ABC says the diaries are an "extension" of the show. Executive Producer Damon Lindelof says there will be at least 22 different diaries, all of which will also be featured on the show's second season DVD set. Look for the diaries to make their debut on a Verizon phone near you starting in January.
*And finally, it's TV on DVD Monday! Look for the 3rd season of CSI: Miami on shelves tomorrow along with The Best of American Idol (seasons 1-4), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (best of season 1) and The Andy Griffith Show (season 4). For a complete list of tomorrow's releases, visit tvshowsondvd.com.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the special Medium in 3-D edition!! Gather up your special glasses and pop your favorite popcorn and watch Allison's vision as you've never seen them before! Plus, all the latest television news.
1 comment:
Haven't watched CC's last ep yet. Will be sure to post as soon as I have! Cheers!
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