Finally got to see it. Just points as tapped out, otherwise won't even get a comment posted on this before the next one airs. Too tired to edit or fiddle with this much. Suspect that tenses could be mingling etc, but meh, it's been that kind of week
.
I liked the intro. The pov run, the pizza bit, and an understated premise by which to include Aubrey.
I liked the follow up hospital sequence with Mac and Stella, and that it was inter-cut with flashbacks to the events in question. The near-melodramatic, dire, hard times of Sam and his family were quickly established, complete to a mom working three jobs and father gone. Wasn't much of a leap to guess the watch was the fathers, etc., but, for all the lack of surprise with the set up, how it was portrayed was well done. The kid playing Sam, Aaron Refvem, was solid thruout, and the early interaction with Flack promised a similar run thru the ep that did not disappoint.
Rolled my eyes briefly at discovering Lindsay and Messer together on scene, cos they can't
ever be separated, but the show thankfully decided not to include a spoken reminder of their union. Well. Besides the brief "babe" moment. Was nice to see Messer, Messer & Hawkes doing legwork & following a trail of evidence.
The show suffered it's ususal fx on cuts & inserts, and later more sirens/traffic on cityscapes, but had some reasonably moody and subdued music for a change.
Also thought having Stella & Aubrey each doing their own thing alongside each other at the hospital with Nick was a good scene too. Afghanistan got a brief mention for the benefit of those who did not watch Marina Garito, but still just a scene in service to the case and nothing else, both before and after Mac joined them. Nicely done.
Another fun scene was Flack and Sam and dealing with mug shots.
So far so good, early on. On all tiers, the alley, the hospital, and the precinct, it felt like each member was pursuing their respective trails of evidence. (Just be mindful of getting schputz on Don's monitor,
).
Hallo Adam, was great to see you. Adding a fourth tier in processing, soon augmented by Stella, processing. Much processing processing processing.
Some brief time passed and Sam completed his composite sketch revealing their first suspect, John Cook. Off to find him, and - doh, of course dumb-ass runs, kick his ass Stella - oh hey Mac. Nice one. The sentimental watch was now retrieved.
The next tool employed by the investigation followed, the Interrogation Scene. And I say it like that because Flack & Stella discussed it as if that's exactly what it was, part of the rounds made to see what shakes loose, with Mac taking his shot in the room doing what they all would on their turn. Dude was suitably obnoxious and defiant, even in teh face of Mac
.
More processing, with Sheldon, this time. The easy gun from the alley. Dun dun dunnnnh.
The next next tool, the line-up. And I say it like that cos that's how Flack and Mac discussed it, and what it did or didn't get them, with no judgement on Sam. I actually quite liked the Don/Mac interaction in this one. Also simply understated & in service.
I then had some note that Mac, Stell, Lindsay, Adam, and Sheldon were about, so it musta been a recap of some sort. Twizt with the gun not being the gun, first herring, and not much headway made for all the effort to that point. Something to that effect.
Yay, if not a Sheldon/Sid scene, an Adam/Sid scene will certainly do. Lesson on "shored" wounds, which was actually interesting and presented well, and also a key point. Well done, PTB. That's how ya do it. I also loved that Sid knew all about eco-friendly textiles etc, and that fit as much as it might have had it been Adam expounding on such in a different set of circumstances. I liked that the dialogue about evidence actually felt specific to Sid & Adam, to individuals and not interchangeable. Well done again. We even got a brief Sid quirk to end it off. Now that's what I'm talking about. Spread that kind of tailoring around, it's a good thing.
We got another nice, low-key scene with Flack & Mac, talking about taking Sam back give them a guided tour of the crime scene. On another show I suppose that would be called a cognitive interview,
.
On scene in the alley with Sam, Flack, and teh Messerz. Was amused when Sam called Danny sir
, especially with the more informal and relaxed set up between Don and Sam.
More Adam. Doing - no way, ...ha, I don't believe it, a De Niro impression :lol:. Loved it, but hafta admit I thought it coulda been cut just a tad sharper. Otherwise brilliant. Fun wit w/ Mac walking in to cap it. Nice to see that dynamic getting some play this year in a few eps.
So answers were found by grace of shored pork
: the backpack shored Nick's wound, and the hunt for the bag became the next key thing, holding onto the thrunthru bullet. Gotta say, the ep was keeping the plot, investigation, and pace all linear and methodical.
Got a scene with Flack inna a jacket. Nice to see, even without the ties. Another nice scene with Flack, Mac, Sam and his mom. Sure, it's a bit one note for what's being asked of him, but Aaron Refvem was consistently very good. I was very impressed with him. And certainly a great deal of the episode hinged on his performance. Thumbs up to him.
Next clue revealed was the cell phone in the backpack along with the bullet. Which located it, along with a parole hit in Troy Castrol.
Flack, Mac, & Stella off to find him, and of course on another shootout/chase - kick his ass Flac- *doh'ly f*ck*... erm. wow. Daaaaaat's a helluva way to go. Owie. I imagine there would be some serious paperwork involved after a chase turns into a shootout turns into being schmucked by a bus or big rig. That scene certainly got me by surprise, hugely :lol: Another well done from me.
The next sequence opened up with a great shot from within the bag, and of course the phone and bullet were revealed, as well as the next twizt. Cash and bank dye packs. More nice shots with gelatin & ballistics. Stella and Sheldon were the next pairing to get a scene. I liked they were mixing it up. Good stuff.
Next plot quirks, confirmed by bank staff, located a dozen blocks from the other crime scene, that they were robbed for a grand total of $933, by ballcap #2.
While immediately understanding what was to follow, I was still happy to see what came next. Another of my wishlist items getting some due, people at odds within an investigation. Granted, here it was less about how to proceed and more about facing certain conclusions, but as with Marina Garito, I actually liked the inclusion of a scene where things aren't hunky dory between everyone all the time, regardless of who's in the right or wrong on any given occasion. Anyways. It was nice to see Don at odds with Stella and Sheldon due to his fondness for Sam, and the line "everything I'm hearing from the science guys is speculation" was doubly a good shot to take, even if not wholly accurate. As for pot/kettle issuez. It was all a bit mallet heavy in setting up the conflict, Flack as the lone voice in the face of teh grand CSIs so featured in the show's title, and so having the famously hotheaded Stella, and Sheldon, known also for a few of his own moments where sentiment trumped logic, being the so called voices of reason, was just part of the scene's ball of wax for me. The show's certainly not been consistent enough in having characters take and hold to certain thrulines for me to be more than vaguely tweaking a tired eyebrow. I suspect having Flack's attachment to Sam play out was more important than which CSI's were the ones to counter him in order to present the opportunity. What are ya gonna do. I'd rather there were occasional moments of butting heads than not, so I'll take it as it was doled out this week.
On to the next good Flack/Mac/Sam & his mom scene, where it all came out. Was another emotional scene that was allowed to speak for itself, without external moralizing or narration, and where the line between perpetrator/victim was decidedly blurred. The ep really did consist of very ordinary people fallen upon hard times further caught up in a few of the worst days of their lives. A bit extreme in robbing a bank for rent money, but perhaps befitting Sam's and Nick's logic. And once again, the kid was really really good.
"The family could use some good news." The ep closed out with the scene at the hospital, capping off Flack's promise to Sam, that he'd be there when Nick woke. Combined with the news that no charges would be pursued, and that donations were pouring in for the family, it was all typically Feelgood, Sentimental and Predictable, but not quite cheezy.
Last point of restraint in the ep, Mac & Aubrey. Another one where they certainly weren't imposed upon an ep but worked within it. A wee fun headtilt moment was "if you had a prognosis, what would it be?" answered by "optimistic, cautiously optimistic," because while it was asked about Nick, it seemed also to play a layer between them. Ep also capped off how it began with the pizza challenge, which was fun.
All in all, a good ep, and answered several points on my wishlist. Not mallet free by any means, but better than it has been of late. Had tonnes of processing scenes, but also had moments that felt like who was doing what mattered, and had dialogue specific to them. Had a decent mixing up of who was working with whom, liked the dynamics displayed, and I include Mac within that. Had all hands on deck again, though the Messers were about on par for Sid in how much airtime they got. Loved Sid. Must has more Sid next season, plz.
The guest stars were solid. I loved seeing a gentler side of Flack too this season, and indeed like seeing Eddie get a different sort of material to play, much as I'm happy to see things changed up for the other cast members where able. Eddie was in fine form, but the ep hinged on the kid above all, and he delivered.
The ep centred around everyday people. Had teh usual drama and even a bit of heavy handed rummaging about for heart strings, had some humor, and had a good progression thru the investigation. This is the way to go, PTB.
Call it a B or thereabouts.
