I'm giving this an 'A' based mostly on Melina's performance.
She certainly was the standout again in this episode. Just like Kristine, I had the thought that her scenes with Mac at the beginning, and Sid at the end, were like bookends to the episode. Melina's portrayal of Stella's situation is flawless. We can see it all - the fear and the worry that is being contained, but I'm getting the feeling that it's very close to the surface, and yes, I see a glimmer of panic trying to come out from behind those eyes as well. It's not far behind there.
How beautiful was Sid? His gentleness, the soul in his eyes ... we all adore the laughs and the kinkiness he brings, but to see him in such a serious scene was a gem of a moment. The second time I watched this episode I made sure to keep my eyes out to see if there were marks on his arms as I had thought the first time. And yes, there were definite weals on his arms - big ones. I also had some thoughts on the discussion of the timing of his allergic reaction. We don't
really know what the time frame was. For all we know, Sid may have only just wolfed down his meatball sub a moment before Mac came on the scene. Mac wasn't there for long. Maybe Sid went into anaphylactic shock immediately or very soon after Mac left the room. And perhaps Stella came along nearly immediately after that. All hypothetical of course, but a possibility.
More of a possibility than the actual cases themselves actually I think. For a second week in a row. While they were interesting and entertaining, again they were perhaps a little improbable. Like others here have already said, I find it hard to believe that such a big pair of scissors could be mistakenly left inside somebody's shoulder without anyone knowing. And are we meant to assume this happened while the guy had his stomach stapled? Then I'm
really confused as to how they ended up in his shoulder. If they had been left in his stomach I would have fully believed it.
When the clincher in the smoking case ended up being that the vampire-clad union guy actually mugged a woman and bit her as a vampire would because she wouldn't join his union?? Come on now.
LOL!!
Speaking of the vampire ... Adam's reaction when Hawkes told him it was a vampire bite and not a dog bite was a classic. Not enough screen time for those two this ep.
I'm enjoying seeing Mac loosen up around his team. Allowing himself to touch and to be touched. It's a beautiful thing.
Besides Stella the other character that delighted me in this ep was Flack. As he usually does. I get a real kick out of his snarkiness. He obviously has a lot less tolerance for 'whackos' than the CSIs :lol:. I loved the cynical disbelief in his lines ... 'five weeks!? ... WHY?" and like everyone else the line about "the good ship looneytunes" and "what I want to do is throw them in the shower and then a rubber room". He never disappoints.
Lastly, what was with Danny's hesitation before he walked over to Mac? I can't help wondering if it was a suggestion that Danny still feels a little something unresolved about their relationship? Or is that more wishful thinking on my part that some return would be made to this theme?
Yep. I really enjoyed this episode. The cases were okay. The characters and the actual team dynamic - an absolute joy. The last three weeks' episodes have been a breath of fresh air.
