TV Guide--Dec. 10-16 Issue

[coldcasegirl]

From TV Guide issue December 10-16, 2007:


"Is It Just Me?

Do the Cold Case detectives keep jumping to the wrong conclusions?
It often seems like Lilly Rush and Co. solve crimes by simply pointing the I-know-you-did-it finger until someone caves. While working the "Boys Don't Cry" case (about a gender-bending tomboy who turned up dead), the homicide squad accused the victim's father, her friend, the town bully, the class beauty and the school nurse before getting her best bud to admit he did it. And 25 years after a serial date rapist was shot on graduation night, Nick Vera barked, "I can't blame you for offing that bastard!" at teh blameless father of one of his victims. Maybe it's just their interrogation style. But these Philly cops have a knack for accusing innocent folk of doing evil things. It unintentionally turns the drama into a comedy, making great fodder for yet another drinking game. (Take a shot every time a cop cuts off a suspect with "...and then you killed him!")





I was like WTH! That's just how they DO. It seems to work DOES IT NOT???

[The Reverend Bizarre]

I have to admit that someone would get really drunk from playing that game.

[pealee]

Well it must be working. What at least 10 million people watch every week, right?? And it's in it's 5th season so CC is doing something right! All crime shows do the exact same thing just slightly different. Like CSI, NCIS, WaT find their killers any different??

[TVFan]

I agree with Pealee. I think this is just a tried and true crime drama method of investigating crimes. Are we so sure that real cops don't employ the same tactics?? I've actually never noticed this on CC maybe b/c the suspects they tend to point the finger at have some sort of compelling motive for killing the victim. To each their own, I suppose.

[riche]

It's hardly feature unique to Cold Case. Lots of "procedurals" do it.

The cops have an initial suspect. They question them. Suspect A says "not me, try suspect B." The cops talk to suspect B. Suspect B says "not me, try suspect C." Etc. etc. They sometimes go around again, possibly changing the order or missing some people out.

[Naj]

Yea, it's how they do it - that's the way they get the pieces they need to solve it.....

[coldcasegirl]

yeah it's not like they have put ANY of the wrong people actually IN JAIL! Jeeeezz....

[toddsmitts]

It's funny. I've actually likened being a suspect on CC to sort of a game of musical chairs or that party game where whoever's standing on the matt when the music stops is out.

There have been many variations, of course, but typcially the show has eight flashbacks relayed from people's recollections (not counting the one at the start). Typically if a character is relaying the fifth, sixth or seventh flashback, they're innocent (or at least innocent of the murder the cops are investigating). Anything further back then that, and you're fair game to be the killer.

[scillylove]

Wow, you've got this down to a science, toddsmitts. Although I too have noticed that it can get a little redundant. I get that it's the way the show works, but it would be nice if they mixed it up maybe once or twice...And while we're on the subject, I've always found it odd how EVERYBODY confesses. Yes, I realize that it's been x number of years, maybe the guilt is weighing them down, but it just doesn't happen that way all the time, you'd think they'd want to stay true to that.

xuchilbara said:

I have to admit that someone would get really drunk from playing that game.

ROFL. Now I have a desire to find a Cold Case Marathon and play it.

[toddsmitts]

scillylove said:

And while we're on the subject, I've always found it odd how EVERYBODY confesses. Yes, I realize that it's been x number of years, maybe the guilt is weighing them down, but it just doesn't happen that way all the time, you'd think they'd want to stay true to that.

Actually, I wonder if that's true. I suppose that depends on whether or not what we, the viewers, see you see in flashbacks is drawn only from what people told our heroes or maybe also from what they speculated or deduced.

Case in point: In the episode "Cargo", Lena tells of when she was in the motel room with Kateryna. We hear what Kyril said on the other end of the phone call even though Lena didn't.

I like this explanation since it means some of the more heinous and remorseless killers (like in "Lover's Lane") probably won't get any leniency because of a confession or a guilty plea.

[Gina]

OMG WHAT IS WITH TV GUIDE AND BASHING COLD CASE??? THAT'S JUST HOW THE COPS ON COLD CASE ROLL!

[coldcasegirl]

lolgirlyy said:

OMG WHAT IS WITH TV GUIDE AND BASHING COLD CASE??? THAT'S JUST HOW THE COPS ON COLD CASE ROLL!

lol, that's what I'm sayin

[irishkale]

Yeah and why is it that the killer always confesses somewheres around minute 55 of the show?

[pealee]

The same reason why they always find the missing person in the last 55 minutes on Without A Trace. Hehe.

[coldcasegirl]

LOL....they are building the suspense ;D

[riche]

One day they should do an episode where they catch the "perp" in the first half hour. They then spend the rest of the show looking at each other, puzzled, saying "well that was easy." ;D

[coldcasegirl]

riche said:

One day they should do an episode where they catch the "perp" in the first half hour. They then spend the rest of the show looking at each other, puzzled, saying "well that was easy." ;D

then CC would be ALL OVER the TV guide! In all of those ranting pages....