Grade = C-, slightly below average.
Interesting that there didn't seem to be a cohesive theme to this one (unless triangle also refers to the three different storylines), and the case itself really wasn’t the centerpiece for once.
There were a few interesting elements to the case -- the NYC "Triangle," microwave gun, exploding heart, etc. And it was cool to see Mac, Danny, and Sheldon on the Empire State Building although I was cringing and twitching just at the thought of having to do something like that. I also thought the guest actors (the young security guard and dying ex-convict) both acquitted themselves well, and the Mac/Flack interrogation scene and Flack/Ex-Convict interactions were good.
It stalled at the end, though, with the shift in focus to the daughter as villain. Not enough time or depth was given to the character to make her complex and/or interesting. And the slo-mo escape by helicopter (with cleavage cam) didn't help either. Note to writers: Please just let this loose end go -- no follow-up needed.
Positive continuity points to the writers for revisiting the missing flashdrive. I'm actually sort of intrigued by the involvement of the shadowy Federal agents and wonder whether the writers can build an interesting scenario out of this. And I don't mind that Mac is the target either – although gotta wonder why they would ever suspect him…wouldn’t he just have made an extra copy of the files if he wanted to use them for blackmail? Oh well….If it gives the writers something else to focus on besides the Boss/Subordinate romance, so be it.
Points off for the way Mac's disappearance from the crime scene was handled – very odd editing. Mac was squatting next to Stella when she noticed the pineapple sticker, and in the few seconds she took to grab tweezers and pick up the sticker, Mac somehow managed to move to the back of the vehicle and get whisked away by agents with no one the wiser. I don’t think so. And Stella eventually decides to just go home even though she can’t locate or contact Mac, and his Avalanche is presumably still parked at the crime scene?
On the other hand, it does sort of fit with the rather cavalier attitude the team seems to have adopted re: fellow team members being in jeopardy this season. Let’s see…Mac gets shot and almost drowned, Stella almost falls off a building and then gets thrown down some stairs and attacked, and now Mac disappears from a crime scene, and everyone seems to take it all in stride. I'd like to think this is a deliberate set up for something later in the season that will shake the team out of this complacency but fear it may be just another example of writers’ inattention to intra-team dynamics.
Re: the Danny/Lindsay storyline, thumbs sideways for this one. Ignoring some of the continuity issues, I do commend the writers for bringing some clarity to the status of the relationship, and they managed to get a proposal, “I love you’s,” and the talk with Mac into a single episode. The proposal scene was actually rather humorous and Carmine G. did a great job with it. And I also liked the end scene and how Mac gave Danny a fatherly hug as well, especially since there haven’t really been many personal (and affectionate) moments between them over the last two seasons.
Agree that the chemicals issue was handled poorly, though. If Lindsay has been to at least two prenatal appointments already, one would expect her to have already discussed work-related issues like this with the obstetrician. And once the family hugs were finished, one can only hope that Mac remembered he is the Boss and they all sat down for a much-needed talk about the protocol and realities of the work situation. But alas, I'm convinced the “real” Mac has been replaced by a pod person in season five, so who knows? Pod!Mac probably said, "I'm thrilled for you both. Now run along, you crazy kids, and get back to work."
Still not sold on the Danny/Lindsay relationship in general. I really dislike t.v. relationships in which the individuals seem to be on unequal footing. And the sense in this one is that Lindsay almost always holds all the cards and Danny is usually in the “one down” position, even when he tries to do something positive. But hey, if the events of this episode mean the writers can put this relationship on cruise control in the background for a while, I’ll just accept what is for now.
Re: next week's promo, I really, really hope that was a misleading one as well. But I guess it helps explain why, in a previous episode, Pod!Mac told the daughter (Ella?) that it wasn't sick for her to miss the online relationship with her father. Guess that was just the writers’ way of setting up her return and apparent fixation on Mac (assuming that is what happens). Ugh! Can we be done with this storyline, please?
I was getting a bit nervous watching them walking around up there (must have been really breezy) but it's scenes like that, that make the show really great.
