Ep. 4.19 Offender

[TVFan]

A MAN CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUSHING A SEX OFFENDER OFF A BUILDING AND VOWS TO SYSTEMATICALLY KILL ANOTHER PERSON EVERY DAY UNTIL THE COLD CASE TEAM CAN SOLVE HIS SON'S 20-YEAR-OLD MURDER, ON "COLD CASE," SUNDAY, MARCH 25

David Barrett directed the script written by Greg Plageman

illy Rush: Kathryn Morris
Scotty Valens: Danny Pino
LT. John Stillman: John Finn
Nick Vera: Jeremy Ratchford
Will Jeffries: Thom Barry
Kat Miller: Tracie Thoms
Mitch Hathaway (1987): Rick Ravenello
Clayton Hathaway (1987): Gattlin Griffith
Cliff Burrell (1987): Dylan Kussman
Linda Burrell (1987): Stephanie Manglaras
Damon Childress (1987): Colton Parsons
Tara Hathaway (1987): Amy Stewart
Ernie Grabowski (1987): Bob Rusch
Johnny Burrell (1987): Conner Rayburn
ADA Thomas: Bonnie Root
Mitch Hathaway (2007): Mitch Pileggi
Tara McClaughlin: Jordan Baker
Ernest Wayne Grabowski'o: Tom McCleister
Adam Murdoch (1987): Nick Ballard
Tricia (1987): Lauren Champey
Adam Murdoch (2007): Robert Farrior
Johnny Burrell (2007): Travis Aaron Wade
Damon Childress (2007): Sean Whalen
Cliff Burrell (2007): Kale Browne

[Naj]

They are showing Danny in the promo so this must be a Danny heavy ep. It looks like this should be a good case. I sure hope tonight's CBS schedule runs on time.


ETA: Cold Case is running 40 minutes behind schedule. I probably won't be on till tomorrow to post about it.

[longislanditalian2]

Looks like we got another X-files Alumni starring this episode tonight

[longislanditalian2]

This episode was pretty intense kept me going till the end, honestly I didn't know who the killer was until the very end. Danny did an outstanding job protraying Scotty's emotions. As you all know the guy who played mitch was on the x-files, playing the AD.


I loved the scene where Scotty and Lilly were on the phone and she's telling him to put down the phone, a little banter btwn the two. Another good scene was right before they interviewed the friend" Jonny' , how they both look at each other with suchj concern is priceless just goes to show how close their friendship is.


Where was Lilly in this episode, she seemed to be missing a lot. What is up with the DA, a little bossy I say.

[coldfan74]

in the middle of the episode when cliff was introduced in the scene when the parents were frantically looking for clayton..i thought it was obviously him.
i dunno.. maybe because it seems like a cliche that its always the good old clean cut neighbor next door you'd never suspect. it happens a lot in real life sadly too.
this episode was disturbing even when i already knew what the subject matter was about. it still gave me the creeps. i think when pedophiles are so matter-of-fact about their actions and how they reason everything, it really upsets me. the ending was creepy enough when that garage door closed. just like the revealing scene in death penalty final appeal with kate and the killer.
i love the music selections..it definitely brought back memories. i still have most of those songs recorded back then from the radio to cassettes somewhere in my parents attic hehe

overall i thought this was a strong episode...definitely scotty centric. i think the scenes where he was pretty defensive about his feelings towards pedophiles were excellently played out as though he was putting restraint to how he really wanted to act out.

i'm looking forward to the next episode.

[The Reverend Bizarre]

I was bawling almost through this entire episode. I did however have a hunch that it was a certain guy in the beginning and I was right.

Damon Childress was way too obvious, and seemed more bark than bite.

I think what was so troublesome about this episode is that throughout the episode it really asked. "Are these pedophiles really human? Can they ever be redeemed?" We all watched as Scotty was practically cheering for the father when he was killing those pedophiles, even at one point saying "or a bigger dumpster." when somebody else mentioned garbage bags.

I didn't condone the father's actions, but given the situation I wouldn't be cheering for him to go back to prison either. He obviously thought that they he could avenge his son's death. Which leads me to the age old tale about revenge. It never works. Revenge never brings back what you lost, and it's guaranteed that things can and will get worse. There's also a risk of a cycle going on. Who's not to say that one of the father's targets had a family, and who's not to say that the family member will go after Mitch?

Ahh, and it appears that either Lilly used to read Batman comics as a little girl, or else she used the wonders of Google to look up "Scarecrow". Either one is possible really. People tend to be drawn to things that relate to them. I'd read somewhere that it was after Lilly's attack at age 10 is when she decided she wanted to be a cop. I wouldn't doubt that this would be when she started reading comics. Namely Batman. (if she did at all.)

Or else she could have completely pulled it out of Google.


And the ending, good lord that was heartbreaking. Seeing the one responsible about to be killed, and again we have the revenge thing. If Mitch had killed the guy, the SWAT would've shot Mitch, leaving his wife widowed and even more despaired than before. Thankfully though this doesn't happen.

And of course we have the appearance of Clay. Both mother and father see him, but something is peculiar about this one. As Clay walks foward I expected there to be a scene where mother and father hug the child. Instead however he stops, and then vanishes while the screen fades to white. Some of us know about the cliched "Seeing the white heavenly light". Most of you know that I take a more spiritual/supernatural view of these endings. So it shouldn't be too shocking when I say that Clay probably came "down" from Heaven to make a final earthly appearance to his parents before vanishing.

[boxman]

@lii2, I really like your new avatar and sig. They're really nice.

longislanditalian2 said:

...What is up with the DA, a little bossy I say....

Hmmm... Do you think a little Love/Hate thing was starting to spark between her and Scotty?? Heh heh heh....

Did you notice when Lilly's expression when she and Stillman was interviewing the sitter's boyfriend, Adam?? He says, "No parents... Best opportunity to get some play..." And Lilly lifts her eyebrows like she knows what he's talking about...

coldfan74 said:

....the ending was creepy enough when that garage door closed....

Yeah, that was rather creepy, especially the look on Clay's face as the door closed. The garage door looked more like a door to a dungeon to me, all grey with the padlock on it...

xuchilbara said:

...Ahh, and it appears that either Lilly used to read Batman comics as a little girl, or else she used the wonders of Google to look up "Scarecrow". Either one is possible really. People tend to be drawn to things that relate to them. I'd read somewhere that it was after Lilly's attack at age 10 is when she decided she wanted to be a cop. I wouldn't doubt that this would be when she started reading comics. Namely Batman. (if she did at all.)...

Excellent point, TRB! Because Bruce Wayne's interest in crime fighting was piqued by his own childhood trauma of seeing his parents killed. Nice allusion to another crime fighter. I've also heard people compare Philadelphia with Gotham City a number of times too. When the weather is gray and rainy, Philly has a similar Goth feel to Gotham because of all the early-20th century architecture. Philly can also project a heavy feeling of disparity between ultra-rich and working-class too, which is something I've always felt present in the comic book.

I was thrown off for a while because I was thinking of the Wizard of Oz's Scarecrow (who wanted a brain)....

[caledonia]

This is such a sensitive subject, and one doesn't have to have any experience of childhood sexual abuse to feel strongly about. One sex offender, who was hung in Washington State I believe, claimed that his sexual needs weren't something that could be cured. It would be like Scotty not liking women. It would be like Lilly not like men at all. So, it begs the question: Can these sex offenders be 'cured' or at least abstain from their sexual desires? In Ancient Rome having sex with child slaves was common place. It just goes to show you how old this problem is.

I thought DP did a great job in this episode. I know many on this board hate Scotty, but I love him, even though I'm against L/S pairing. I loved the debate between him and the ADA Thomas, because both were so passionate, and brought up both sides of the argument that society seems to be having with itself. I think Boxman is right, that they'll end up in a relationship. I've actually thought that since seeing The Key.

As for their being a lack of Lilly, the girl can't be front and center in every episode. I'm sure she'll be in the spotlight again. She did a good job in this episode, working well in her supporting status. You could tell they were all sickened by the subject. I guess being hardened cops doesn't mean you ain't still human.

[teledetective]

Oh, man. This episode is one of the few that chilled me to the bone and left me disturbed long after the credits rolled. Very chilling on the subject, and I was one of those that couldn't guess who the killer was until they showed what happened. (While we're on that note, my father ALWAYS seems to know who the killer is. I don't know if it's instinct of good detective work . . . )

The killer being the father of the victim's friend . . . oh, man. This is why I am both awed and terrified at the writers of Cold Case. I'm awed at the fact that they were able to handle the subject so realistically, and you can also feel the emotions tug at your heart, especially when the father led Clay into the garage . . . and I agree with you all, the scene with the garage door closing behind them gave me the chills, and it still does! Which leads me to also explain why it was so terrifying, so chilling: to think such things happen today (and is thought of as commonplace, even) just sickens me. And Cold Case did very well on portraying it: not too over the top, and yet not too lacking in emotions as well as good acting.

I would say that I sympathize with the father here; I felt bad for him because he lost his son in such a tragic manner, but the irony is he's left with more emptiness and pain than what he started with. It was also rather suspenseful for me to see the confrontation on the rooftop, with the kiler and Mitch about to kill him (excellent acting by Pileggi, BTW, he hasn't lost his touch), because I REALLY thought the killer would die before he confessed. Oh, the irony if that happened! But I was both relieved and also saddened by the appearance of the mother; she knows of the pain that her husband suffered, and would also have been given more pain on that if the father was killed in the crossfire.

And, dare I say it? I think the way it focused on Scotty this time is a refreshing and also excellent change of pace; the way we are priveliged to see his reactions, his thoughts, his emotions as we jept walking forward through the investigation to its end, I found it all very nice and enjoyable to watch. Don't look at me oddly when I say there should be more Scotty-centric episodes in Cold Case.

All in all, I loved this episode very much (I'm glad I recorded it!), and I think that, when the time comes, it would be up there in the ranks of one of the best Cold Case episodes this season.

[The Reverend Bizarre]

I was thrown off for a while because I was thinking of the Wizard of Oz's Scarecrow (who wanted a brain)....

And I was thinking the dude was in some band, and that was his stage name.

[longislanditalian2]

I didn't see any love connection btwn Scotty and the DA, she seems too out of his league. But I think she got extremely annoying after awhile.

[Naj]

Okay when I saw Vera and Valens go out together first off I thought about our "Caption the Cold Case Image" Thread. (check it out in the GAMES forum)

Is Scotty dumb? One can still see problems with his thinking as a detective. Giving out info that brings harm to others and I didn't think it was all that *bright of him* on the roof top urging the killer confess while Mitch had a gun on him. But there was Scotty urging him on. I found that "unreal" and quite frankly reckless detective behavior. I was looking for Stillman to chew him out. Maybe the reason the DA looked at Scotty the way she did after all were taken away. She looked disgusted with him and she has reason to. Did they ever explain where Kite went? Because that was awkward too. And I hope she isn't a love interest for Scotty. First off we had a DA and detective love interest with Kite and Lilly. I hope they don't go down that road. Although I did like her and wouldn't mind her coming around on the series.

I used to watch the X-Files and I also wasn't impressed with Mitch's performance. It seemed under par to me - not as convincing as it should have been.

The scene before Lilly and Scotty go in to interrogate Clay's friend was "awkward" even from Lilly's character.

I also like how they kept Lilly in the action. She doesn't just disappear as she did in earlier seasons mainly because there's really no reason for her to disappear. At first I thought when phones were ringing in the headquarters that she was going to be called away on personal business but that didn't happen.

And by closure of the case we see Lilly and Scotty working together which is a great way they have teamed them up this season usually to end the case and Lil's touch on this one is for always the same reason...to add "heart" to the episode. That's her trademark for this series and was a good balance for Scotty's personal experience with this case.

I loved the case. The actor playing Clay was excellent! I didn't figure out the killer until he was revealed. (I didn't try and it wasn't too noticeable for me). I thought the case was heartbreaking especially, too, the mother not having faith that her husband didn't do it. The ending montage with the garage doors shot made me sick in the pit of my stomach.

I gave it an Excellent (edited)

[koufax]

Back to back excellent episodes. Finally, the detectives are exhibiting some passion with the cases

[LillyKat]

I thought this ep was excellent. And I liked it for (I'll confess) a pretty shallow reason: action, speed and pace.

The pace of this episode was something I think we don't get a lot of with CC (and arguably can't really have given the nature/premise of the show). But every once in a while, they throw in a good old fashioned-trying-to-get-the-bad-guy-to-stop-doing-bad-stuff-by-the-end-of-the-hour episode that kind of keeps you on the edge of your seat ... and this one was it for me. I actually wouldn't mind more episodes like this, with a sense of urgency, haphazardness and anticipation all rolled into one, but then again, I know this isn't CSI Miami, either. LOL!

The case was very, very powerful. Strong. Disturbing. Sad. Twisted. Uncomfortable. It kept me thinking throughout. I liked the tie-in to Scotty's still unresolved issues about his bother's sexual abuse, and what bordered on outright defiance to actually properly investigating the case without being overly partial to wanting every sex offender to ... well, be dropped off buildings on a regular basis. I thought Danny Pino was excellent ... there was anger, rage, disgust, distaste, almost a lack of professionalism (especially as it pertained to the ADA), yet because of his brother's case, he was the one targeted by Mitch. So, he couldn't escape what, I felt, he probably would've liked to have had nothing to do with.

Other highlights:

- Soundtrack - awesome! I am a sucker for good 80s music. This one had it. Also, hearing Melissa Etheridge made me think she could be another candidate for the first all-female same artist ep (a discussion we've been having in the Spoilers folder for anyone interested)

- Lilly and the Comics - this was a serious episode, but I did find a small bit of humor in that Lil' was so well versed in comics. Now, either she did some serious homework before walking into that store to pounce on Damon, or she secretly has a comic book stash in her house.

- Season 1 Lilly - FINALLY! She was back for this ep ... bossy, in-your-face-don't-give-a-rip-while-still-being-professional (unlike Scotty at times) self. Loved it. Makes me miss it as I just don't think there's enough of her like this anymore.

- Mitch Pileggi - was very different for me to see him in a role like this, and I thought it was a nice change of pace. To seem him so disturbed and tortured after only ever seeing him so controlled and composed (as Skinner / The X-Files) ... well done.

- Roof scene - that was just brilliant all the way around. The tension, the desperation, the visuals/angles of the cameras, the quick cuts, the close-ups ... it all worked for me. Kind of felt like the most action that's ever been in a CC ep - LOL!

All in all, really excellent ep!

[riche]

Excellent episode, I won't really elaborate because I'd only be repeating what most of you have already said.

I just thinking the other day, with all the Kathryn going motor racing stuff, that CC doesn't go for the car chases and gun fights. Not entirely surprising when your solving 30 year old crimes, and I'm OK with it. But here was something a little more action oriented for a change.

I worked out the killer from the moment he offered to help find Clay. Something about the way he put his hand on the father's shoulder.

xuchilbara said:

even at one point saying "or a bigger dumpster." when somebody else mentioned garbage bags.

Lilly said "looks like we're going to need a few more garbage bags." Scotty responded with "missed the dumpster." It wasn't really a response, more a separate comment on where he felt the guy belonged.

xuchilbara said:

Ahh, and it appears that either Lilly used to read Batman comics as a little girl

I think we were all a little taken aback by that imparting of information. Seemed to come from nowhere, but she is a bit geeky after all, and we love her for it

boxman said:

Did you notice when Lilly's expression when she and Stillman was interviewing the sitter's boyfriend, Adam?? He says, "No parents... Best opportunity to get some play..." And Lilly lifts her eyebrows like she knows what he's talking about...

It's a nice thought boxman, and you know we've all (OK, maybe not all) have thought about it However, I took it be more of a dismissive thing. He turns around as he explains himself expecting what, her to high-five him and buy him a beer?

[michelle]

Let me duck the rotten tomatoes that are about to be flung at me. This episode insulted my intelligence nearly as much as "Joseph". What stood out to me:

1) Lilly goes to question Scarecrow at the comic book shop and comes on real heavy with a "you're nailed now A$$hole" attitude. She's flinging accusations and firing questions at him and then goes so far as to grasp his arm while saying "You're coming to the station" (or something like that). Scarecrow pipes up. . . noooo, wasn't me. Daddy's the bad guy. I heard the momma say so. (Not the exact quote btw, if you didn't catch that). Fast as that, Lilly loses her suspicion of him and runs off, leaving him with a cop for protection. So, am I to assume all the bad guys just need to tell Lilly someone else did it and off she'll run? Please!! This reminded me of the scene in Joseph when she's got her gun on him, asks him did he kill his brother, he says "oh no" so she holsters the gun and stays to chat. Guess all the bad guys need to do is lie to Lil, tell her someone else did it, and they're off the hook.

2) Daddy has the molester on the roof, ready to push him off. SWAT team is everywhere!! Highly trained professionals, specifically and intensely trained to do exactly what they are doing. And who does the Philly PD send to calm and reason with the would-be killer? Why, a highly trained hostage negotiator to go with the highly trained SWAT team, right? Wrong!! They send Scotty--a volatile, overly-invested, less than effective at communicating (to say the least), grammar impaired lay-detective! Who has already shown his complete lack of reason on the subject of child molestation. Yeah, calmly talk him down Scotty. (IMO, Scotty's whole "hot button" on the child molestation issue has been way overplayed. I don't need the point driven home with a sledgehammer, thanks).

3) The scene immediately following: Momma and Daddy declare their never dying, eternal love for one another. They never stopped loving each other!!! Give me a freaking break and pass the barf bag!!

So, throw your tomatoes and bring out the whips. Where's Disaster Freak to back me up??

[longislanditalian2]

I think Lilly realized that Damion wasn't lying , maybe she already knew that he didn't do it from past evidence. I have to diagree with you Michelle, this episode didn't remind me of Joseph at all, you havea right to voice your own opinon but Lilly was on guard and very tough in this episode.


You do have a point about sending Scotty on there, but he was the only one who could in fact stop Mitch from killing Johnny's father. In a way Mitch trusted Scotty at the end, but I think it was the wife who really stopped him making him release the important facts.

[TVFan]

I gave this one a "good." There wasn't enough Lilly for me, and I too felt that the Scotty tie-in was overplayed. I get that his brother was molested, hence, a more personal connection to this case. Otherwise, I really enjoyed everything else. Nice continuity with Scotty screwing up again -- this time telling an emotionally distraught father about the pictures. He may have gotten better, but he still has that unpredictability that makes him a little dangerous as a detective.

The rooftop scene was excellent. Plenty of suspense, action, emotion and beautiful shots. David Barrett did a nice job with this one. There were so many amazing shots through things such as the hole in the pay phone with Clayton's father and the various steel workings of the roof sign. This was one of those visually beautiful episodes that CC is famous for around here.

I, too, suspected the neighbor when we saw him being helpful, but I quickly dismissed it. In the end, I was surprised to learn that he was indeed responsible. That scene where he coaxes Clayton into his garage and closes the door is one of the most moving, shocking and upsetting of the series. So simple, yet so deep.

So, this was another strong outing for CC this season. As always, more thoughts and caps at Pass the Remote.

[boxman]

Did this case make anyone think of Jessica Lunsford's case?? Because she's the first person I thought of when they showed Clay lying in his pose at the construction site. Ironically, it was only a little over a week ago that John Couey was sentenced for rape and murder. This case was similar to the Lunsford case in that a neighbor--living within plain view--was the perp.

longislanditalian2 said:

I didn't see any love connection btwn Scotty and the DA, she seems too out of his league....

You don't mean to say that the ADA Thomas is too attractive, intelligent, or whatever for Scotty to even consider having a shot at, do you?? I've always known the phrase "out of my league" as meaning someone feels they cannot play or compete at the higher level that someone/something seems to be performing at.

naj said:

...Although I did like her and wouldn't mind her coming around on the series.

I was thinking after the episode that Cold Case has had a number of really stunning red-haired women over the years. Sorry to hear you didn't like her, LII. TVFan, I also read at your blog how her resemblance to "Josie chippy" irritated you. I really liked ADA Thomas' spunk--she showed a lot of intelligence and self-confidence in her argument with Scotty, and was making a lot of valid, thoughtful points throughout the episode.

(I wonder if she's into corrugated?? )

riche said:

boxman said:

Did you notice when Lilly's expression when she and Stillman was interviewing the sitter's boyfriend, Adam?? He says, "No parents... Best opportunity to get some play..." And Lilly lifts her eyebrows like she knows what he's talking about...

It's a nice thought boxman, and you know we've all (OK, maybe not all) have thought about it However, I took it be more of a dismissive thing. He turns around as he explains himself expecting what, her to high-five him and buy him a beer?

Now try imagine that scene again, but instead of Lilly, the scene ends with Stillman nodding to Adam's statement....

Yikes! I have to go scrub my mind's eye now... ;D

---

The mysterious, unexplainable, and ever-present cup of coffee appears again in Lilly's very first scene of this episode. Those officers really love their Cup of Joe, don't they??

ADA Thomas has red hair. This seemed to foreshadow her temper we see between her and Scotty. It's very similar to how another redhead, Anne Bowen (the wife in Season Three's "The River") had a few scenes in that episode which ended in arguments.

A lot of the current-day scenes were filmed through glass; not just Mitch's telephone booth scene, but a majority of the Philly PD scenes. This made me recall the episode "Static" in which the camera captured a lot of reflections. In "Static", the reflections seemed to imply looking at things (especially people) in two different ways. Here, though, the reflections were more obtrusive--not in a bad way, but more stylishly as to imply the difficulty in seeing things (such as the Truth) clearly.

The older Johnny Burrell is wearing a Black Leather Motorcycle Jacket. Black leather jackets have tended to indicate criminality in the series, though lately they've been a bit more unreliable in foreshadowing anything about a person's character.

The postman is found murdered atop a car. Again, automotive references in Cold Case tends to be tied to criminality in one way or another. The episode's portrayal of an automobile garage as the crime scene continues to support this theme.

[riche]

michelle said:

So, am I to assume all the bad guys just need to tell Lilly someone else did it and off she'll run?

Isn't that pretty much what happens with every suspect, every show? They go for the prime suspect, he says "not me, try this guy". They go to him, he says "not me, try this guy" etc. etc. Sometimes they almost end up going around again.

Lilly did leave a cop with him so he wasn't going anywhere anyway.

And who does the Philly PD send to calm and reason with the would-be killer? Why, a highly trained hostage negotiator to go with the highly trained SWAT team, right? Wrong!! They send Scotty--a volatile, overly-invested, less than effective at communicating (to say the least), grammar impaired lay-detective!

In the various CSI shows all the scientists seem to get very heavily involved in chasing the bad guys. Do real CSI do that? Or do they collect the evidence, process it and let the street cops do the arresting? You have to suspend a reasonable amount of belief for the sake of the plot. Lilly went in in Rampage.

In most of these shows at least one cop gets personally involved in a case, it's their wife/daughter/best friend's postman etc. In reality they'd be pulled from the case straightaway because it's a conflict of interest, plus it would be used by the defence attorney at trial to get an instant acquittal.

3) The scene immediately following: Momma and Daddy declare their never dying, eternal love for one another. They never stopped loving each other!!! Give me a freaking break and pass the barf bag!!

The scene was a little overblown. Losing a child probably destroys most couples, especially if one is to blame, but the underlying feelings are unlikely to completely depart. Plus even though he was locked up he was still alive, she hadn't completely lost him. If she hadn't said anything she would have certainly lost him as well.