Monday, March 16, 2009

'Case' Goes from 'Cold' to Hot

Sqeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! OK fangirl moment over, but you can't say you weren't warned. This is the Cold Case that made me proclaim it the best crime show on TV. This is the Cold Case that made me fall in love with it seasons ago. And this is the Cold Case that I will dearly miss should CBS decide to cancel it in a cost-cutting measure. This is, hands down, my favorite episode of the season thus far (and when it's all said and done, I have a strong feeling that it will end up being my absolute favorite of the entire season). Hmmm... my favorite last season was a departure from the usual formula. In fact, looking back, I always enjoy the episodes that think outside the box and deliver a fresh, emotional look at the CC world.

There were so many good things about this outing. I learned that Cold Case is clever -- really clever. I had completely forgotten about the mystery woman last week who showed up at PPD looking for Will. She specifically asked Lilly where she could find him and Lil even gave a "that's odd" look. I figured we wouldn't get the full story by the end of that hour, but I never imagined that it would tie in to this week's excellent outing. I love the thinking ahead and laying the groundwork for Jeffries's shooting. But this wasn't the only clever element to the episode -- I liked the "March 15, 2009... 5 minutes ago." What a great way to bring in the usual CC fare without being boxed in by the formula.

I never thought this was the end for Jeffries. I always thought that he would pull through. But, the show did find other ways to surprise me: the connection between Pops's and Jeffries, Lilly's father and her emotional response to his gift, Scotty and Frankie continuing to test the waters, and Lilly shooting the younger brother. I think the best part of this episode, though, was the emotion. There was emotion from the characters for their fallen comrade, emotion from Lilly for that gift, emotion for the loss of Pops, and emotion from every single character in the episode (even the ADA). I have been lamenting the lack of emotion in this show for the last few seasons (with the exception of a couple of episodes), so it was nice to have it back this week. CC can rip your heart out and then break it in a million pieces when it wants to and that is what makes it So. Damn. Good!

This pretty much goes without saying, but this episode lands squarely in the "win" column pushing CC to 16-0-1. Screencaps courtesy of RichE.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I also like how they connected the phone call that Vera had gotten back in " Lotto Fever", to Valentine.


Lilly breaking down, was beautifully down. Kathryn Morris really shined in this episode.


LII2

Anonymous said...

Wow! Well worth seeing. Best of the season. So tightly constructed, with no slack. The great pairing very much to the fore again. Giving it to us with both barrels.

What?!? Jeffries was shot? I must have been distracted by other things... ;-)

Sorry :-)

Clearly a top episode. A lot of different things (Lilly's father, Frankie, Vera/Jeffries, John/the Commissioner etc.) going on, in a way that is rare for the show. It's strange how CC so often drops, or at least largely ignores, larger story arcs and yet this episode made lots of references to minor items from past shows.

Lilly crying. A lot of things behind that. Possibly stepping over the line and threatening to kill the kid was probably high on the list.


RichE.

LillyKat said...

This was a GREAT headline, TVFan! A Perfect play on the previous story. ;o)

This ep was very strong. Its format was completely different and that was refreshing. Unfortunately, I don't think they can do this very often given the nature of the show's usual formula, which kind of made this episode feel more like a treat.

Highlight for me was to see Lilly FINALLY let go of her emotions after the very touching visit from dad and/or transfer of a very personal piece of him TO her that she could hold, find comfort in, etc. That was HUGE (seeing as mom never even called to see if she was okay after the George Marks incident).

I have to say the show has done a superb job with the handling of Lilly's father - and thank the Heavens for that. I just could not take another botched personal storyline. And Raymond J. Barry has added a quiet strength to the character that is just pitch perfect. He's not too much, but he's reliable, there for her, cares for her in a way to which SHE can slowly come around.

If the show does end this season, at least I'll feel like there is hope for Lilly after all. There is one man in her life she can count on as she gets older.

Yay for Papa Rush. :o)

Anonymous said...

You mean Papa Cooper,LillyKat. He They don't share the same last name

LII2

LillyKat said...

I am aware what Lilly's father's name is and used the"Papa Rush" in a figurative sense, not a literal-birth-certificate-I-will-get-the-question-wrong-on-Jeopardy sense.

Anonymous said...

OK. I was just saying it out of speak. I do agree with you about that it's a good thing that her father is there.

LII2

Anonymous said...

Looks like we're getting a Pearl Jam only double-episode finale:

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20090318cbs02


RichE.

TVFan said...

A 2-part season finale? Interesting. Thanks for the heads up, RichE.