6.04 Roller Girl

[TVFan]

RUSH AND THE TEAM RE-OPEN THE 1978 CASE OF THE DEATH OF TEENAGED ROLLER-SKATER WHEN A NEW WITNESS CLAIMS TO HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT IT, ON "COLD CASE," SUNDAY, OCT. 19

Lilly Rush: Kathryn Morris
Scotty Valens: Danny Pino
Lt. John Stillman: John Finn
Nick Vera: Jeremy Ratchford
Will Jeffries: Thom Barry
Kat Miller: Tracie Thoms
Rick Rendell '78: Jesse Jensen
Missy Gallavan: Holland Roden
Hugh Mastersen '78: Jake Thomas
Julie Reed '78: Lindsey Haun
Julie Reed '08: Bonnie Burroughs
A.D.A.: Rashawn Underdue
Simone Gallavan '08: Deborah May
Simone Gallavan '78: Allison Smith
Dawn Wheeler '08: Nancy Youngblut
Rick Rendell '08: John Posey
Hugh Mastersen '08: Anthony Tyler Quinn
Rufus: Stephen DuVall
Joe Bosquay '08: Ron Harper
Joe Bosquay '78: Peter Giles

WRITTEN BY: Elle Triedman

DIRECTED BY: Holly Dale

[Naj]

Unlocking this thread for tonight's episode. Please do not vote for the episode until it has actually aired. Thank you.

Not sure if the show will air on time. It's 5:45 pm (EST) and the second half of the football game between Cleveland and Washington has just now began.

to add: Looks like overtime with the Jets and Oakland Raiders so it looks like the CC episode will be on later. I'm not a happy camper

[eurache]

Please do not post in this thread until the new Cold Case episode has been shown. Football went into overtime! Cold Case will start 9:45pm ET/8:45pm Cen/ 6:45pm PST!

Thank you for your cooperation! ;D

[Gina]

I really liked it. I loved how Kat and Scotty gave each other a hard time. Really nothing else that special, In my opinion.

[Electrophile]

I voted that it was good. I thought the music was better than the episode, to be honest. Which isn't usually a good sign. I thought the overall plot was kinda weak and went all over the place. Could it have been Julie? The mom's boyfriend? The DJ? Then we find out it was all an accident and that it was Hugh who was there at the end. I felt they could have structured it a little better to make it less jumpy. Then thrown in the middle is the side-story of Kat and her blind date.

I thought the actress who played Missy did a good job. She played that cusp between being a girl and being a young woman very well.

Like I said at the beginning, I thought the music was the best part, and I enjoyed hearing Sentimental Lady by Bob Welch at the end, I haven't heard that song in a long time.

I hope next week's episode gets upgraded to "excellent".

[longislanditalian2]

This season keeps on getting better and Better . Not the best episode so far, but I'll give it a good.

First off for ScottKat, him being there to support her in her " Relationship" but how cute are they? ;D Her smacking him in the face took the cake for me, but them meeting up at Geno's was also featured on that clip when the CC crew came up to Philly.


The phrase " that don't hold water", was used in the episode" 8:03 am once again said by Scotty.


Another interesting thing was the van, which was featured on the Boston Album, which had the same song" More than a feeling" which was the opening song to the first even Cold Case Episode.

Getting back to the case, I was going between several people. Though I felt that the episode was a bit too sluggish, but seeing Lilly and Jefferies skating was pretty fun. Who knew that Kathryn turned out to be an excellent skater, but for Lilly she seems to be much happier than in previous seasons.

It's nice to see her in a different light, than also in the dark. Anyone notice that not once did she refere back to her past during any interrogations or interviews? Possible a sign that Lilly has in fact has closed the chapter on her past, and trying to make a fresh, happier start.

A side nitpick, Scotty's shirt and tie looked very clashy. Can't wear strips on strips unless this is a symbolic foreshadowing of something yet to come for him?

[Gina]

The roller skating was cute. I wanted to see Vera attempt a fancy turn and fall, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Also, there are many people in the PD who are disagreeable, we have the lady from True Calling that wanted a date before she gave up evidence, and "Mr. Happy Meal" who didn't want to walk.

[jsmith7288]

i dont know, but for some reason, i could never really get into this episode, which hardly ever happens. this episode seemed really laid back to me.

[cellogal]

Well, I loved it. The lightness of this episode was a nice contrast to the heavy wrenching emotional stuff of last week (don't get me wrong, I love the heavy, but it's nice to balance it out with light). The end, yes, was predictable (with the doer) and yet it wasn't (with how she actually died). I enjoyed the twists and turns, although the red herrings were especially bright red this episode. (I'm usually the first to fall for them, and even I could tell these were red herrings).

However, boy, did the Scotty/Kat stuff rock. I loved how supportive he was and how he took a turn as her life coach/designated driver. Those two have such a fabulous friendship, and I loved how they really emphasized that in this episode. Also glad Kat went through with calling the guy; she looked pretty happy at the end.

Lilly and Jeffries roller-skating was all kinds of cute. It's nice to see her back to being herself; not mopey or angst-ridden, not overly bouncy, just Lilly.

Loved Vera and Jeffries grousing about the guy downstairs, as well as the use of Actual Evidence in this episode (a la the pop can). It seems they're returning to some of their clever police tricks, and I adore that.

You can view my complete recap/review tomorrow at www.TheTwoCents.com, the best thing to happen to TV since the On button!

[Electrophile]

Oct 19, 2008 22:07:03 GMT -5 cellogal said:

The lightness of this episode was a nice contrast to the heavy wrenching emotional stuff of last week (don't get me wrong, I love the heavy, but it's nice to balance it out with light).

I see your point. While this episode certainly was light (so light the plot flew away, but that's another story), it did balance out last week's episode well, which I am assuming was the intent. Shows like this can become too preachy if all the plots center around the same three topics all the time; homophobia, racism, and children. The fact this ended up being an accident adds to that "lightness", I feel.

I also agree that it was semi-predictable, because the mom's boyfriend would have been too pervy, the DJ didn't seem right for it and I couldn't see Julie having enough force to throw Missy over that ledge and into the ravine. So that left Hugh as the only person left. I did not see the fact it was an accident coming at all. When he kissed her and she backed off scared and nervous, I thought.....well, here's how it happens. I was surprised at the end to see her case folder marked with "Accidental Death" written on it.

[vavavoomya]

I loved it so glad to see something that isn't just dark It was great

[coldfan74]

i was going to say the same thing that music choices for this episode was really good.
the ending was a change..wasn't exactly dark calculated or even a heat of the moment..it was a pure accident out of bad circumstances. so i can understand why some people would be underwhelmed.
i rate this excellent. wasnt too complicated but i did enjoy the episode..i liked the whimsical stuff between the cast..i loved the flashback scenes and the feel of the late 70's and the music choice.
at the very least for now..this ranks behind Wednesday's Women..Sorry but Glory Days bored the hell out of me and True Calling was a good story with lousy production and music selection.

[boxman]

Nice to see them filming in Philly! That was of course, Geno's Steaks in South Philly.

I would've loved to have completely hear how Scotty ordered his sandwich. There's a certain lingo local people use to order food at Geno's, and I would've gotten a kick out of hearing if Scotty ordered like a Philadelphian or a tourist. ;D Also, a little ironically, Geno's is known a bit around the country for a controversial "Speak English" sign at the order window. That neighborhood has seen a rise in Spanish-speaking people move into what was traditionally a mostly Italian area. I doubt Scotty would've ever ordered in Spanish, but the thought was amusing to me anyway....

Very visible at the front corner of Geno's is a shield-shaped sign with a police officer's painting on it. That officer is Danny Faulkner, who was slain while on duty back in 1981. I'm very, very happy they filmed Geno's, Kat, and Scotty in a way that they were able to capture that sign clearly in a few of the shots. At the same time, could this be a foreshadowing of some sorts? A juxtaposition of a slain officer's image between Scotty and Kat...What could that mean? Or is it just nothing? Hmmm....

---

Also mentioned in this episode was Christmastime at Wanamaker's Department Store, a traditional family event in Philly. So when Julie says her dad took her there last when she was four, it really showed symbolically how "broken" and "non-traditional" her single-parent household was in the story. Wanamaker's is gone now--The building is home today to a Macy's, which continues the family Christmas traditions established there decades ago.

---

Yes, ColdFan, there is a "Mayfair" neighborhood in Philly!

---

I'm going to quote CelloGal here too:

Oct 19, 2008 22:07:03 GMT -5 cellogal said:

Well, I loved it. The lightness of this episode was a nice contrast to the heavy wrenching emotional stuff of last week (don't get me wrong, I love the heavy, but it's nice to balance it out with light).

I agree, and even while the episode had a "lightness" to it, I certainly found some very outstanding depth to the story too.

Missy's death took place during the highly-sexualized disco era. The writer showed several examples of how men expected themselves to be sexual conquerors, and how the two young girls, Missy and Julie, bought into this idea. The two teens would use their sexuality as a "pass" to get into the "adult" nighttime hours of the roller club, and also to get into the "inner circle" of the mini-celebrity DJ.

A big revelation of this episode is that Julie, who had been leading Missy into this "adult" rollerclub world, wasn't actually as experienced as she portrayed herself to be. I don't tire at all of the "bad girl actually is a virgin" twist (a la "American Beauty", for example), because I really believe there's some truth to this in the real world. I think it's kinda like one of those ideas that "transcends time", so to speak. And regarding virginity, the old saying goes, "You never forget your first time". But here in this episode, Julie doesn't remember what her first sexual experience was like, because the pills she took for recreation got her too messed up to remember the experience. I thought that was a nice anti-drug statement woven into the story that was delivered very subtly, without sounding preachy. The "bad girl actually is a virgin" twist also worked perfectly in this episode because that revelation of Julie's awful first experience is one of the things that kept this case unsolved for three decades. Yet, at the same time, Julie's unusual memento of her first sexual experience--Missy's jacket--also becomes a clue to reveal Julie's true story of that night. Very profound in many ways, especially in showing the cloud of guilt Julie had carried all these years.

So while the male suspects were busy trying to hook-up with the girls, and the girls were using their sexuality to get their way with men, in the end it turned out that after experiencing this "adult" rollerclub world, Missy realized that all she wanted was just a friend she could rely upon, especially during her family's troubled times. Poor Hugh didn't have this figured out yet; and as a result, his confusion resulted in her death. "All she wanted was just a friend," Hugh says in his interrogation.

This idea--that men and women can just be around each other in friendship--was very well played in the episode's side stories. The writer exemplified this in Kat and Scotty's moments together, with Scotty just being a friend to Kat and helping her out with her dating. The writer also exemplified this with Will and Lilly just going to the skating rink for fun as friends, rather than a date between a potential couple. I thought showing the officers' male-female friendships was a very nice contrast to the male-female relationships in the rollerclub world. It gave the episode an excellent balance in showing the different ways men and women can be around each other. Specifically, as an alternative to "sexual hunter" and "sexual prey", men and women can just be together equally as friends.

I usually don't examine interrogation scenes very closely like others do. However, in this episode I found the interrogations with Julie and Hugh to be completely outstanding. I think the major reason for this is because while the officers were interviewing the two as possible murder suspects, the reality is that Missy's death was accidental. This meant that both Julie and Hugh came to admitting their role in Missy's death very differently than in other episodes where the officers interview a suspect who has an actual motive for murder. In this episode, I could see that imaginary gray cloud of guilt lift off Julie and Hugh as they told the detectives what really happened that night. Really great performances by both guest actors. Also, I think Jeremy did one of his best interviews here, insinuating to Hugh that he murdered Missy.

Before I wrote all this, I was going to give the episode a "Good" vote. After reflecting on the episode, I'm going to bump it up a notch to "Excellent". This episode has the kind of tragic story I like seeing in this show. And it's not just Missy's tragedy, but also Julie and Hugh's as well for having carried these lies and truths for so long. Another reason to up my vote is because I feel the club world portrayal and the episode's slow unfolding of its subculture of drugs, sex, and so forth was rather well done.

[Collider]

This one gets an easy Excellent from me.

Case-wise, I felt it was a litte mediocre when watching it... but, after reading Boxman's insights, I'm starting to question even that criticism. I did love the concept of "men and women can't be friends", and how that was handled... and, as Boxman pointed out, I freakin' LOVED how they used that wonderful platonic friendship between Kat and Scotty to counterpoint the eventual decline of Hugh and Missy. I also loved the theme of 'growing' up that surrounded Missy - moving from tomboyishness to make-up, and then - at the end - reverting back to the childlike tomboy she once was, when she realises exactly what the grown-up world has to offer.

I liked quite a few of the issues they touched upon in the case story, actually - but I sort of feel it was maybe let down by touching upon one or two too many. Much as I loved the mother/ex-boyfriend confrontation in the hallway, I don't think they would've lost much by ditching the "my stepdad is a perv" subplot, for example.

On a MUCH more positive note... how much did I love the Scotty/Kat stuff? More than I can put into words. These two are my achilles' heel, and their interaction throughout this episode just left me squeeing incomprehensibly for an hour or so. SO MUCH LOVE. There's this fabulous underlying chemistry between the two of them, and this episode absolutely brought that out in such a fabulous way. And that scene in the car? Most. Awesome. Scene. EVER. This show needs more Drunk!Kat and Chauffer!Scotty, right the hell now.

And, while I'm going crazy over adorable little moments, Lilly and Jeffries and their rollerskating? Priceless. Not quite priceless enough to touch the outright genius that was Kat and Scotty... but pretty close. Again, as Boxy pointed out, a fabulous use of that platonic friendship... and this time within the exact same setting as the case that failed to sustain the same thirty years ago.

But anyway... stopping now, before I get sidetracked by silliness. Was it the best episode ever? Hell, no. Was the case even remotely memorable? Not really. But it was well-paced (at last!) and brilliantly entertaining... and it had so many funny and adorable moments sprinkled throughout that I'm going to be giggling and squeeing over it for at least a week. And, frankly, that more than warrants an 'Excellent', so far as I'm concerned.

[lovetheshow]

by far the best this season so far

[longislanditalian2]

Anyone notice when after Scotty had gotten the cheesesteaks, he did that handshake that Obama does?

After rewatching it, I'm finding I simply wasn't impressed since it seemed a little too boring for me ( the episode wise), I kind of figured that the best friend already did it. Hopefully the next episode can reel me back in

[riche]

Good insights guys.

After seeing the promo for the episode I was a little focused on seeing Lilly skating. I held off jumping to the end (it had to be part of the final montage) and watched the episode properly. See, I do have some self control

Generally the story didn't grab me. As soon as I saw the DJ in the opening sequence I decided he did it. After that it was kinda bound to be the nice guy, that doesn't get the girl Not exactly an original idea. It wasn't a malicious "if I can't have you, know one will" thing though.

The Scotty/Kat stuff was fun. Not sure if that is heading anywhere. Scotty's cajoling got Kat another date though.


So a mixed bag, but it ended on such a high note I can't score it too badly.

[eduardodelroice]

I Voted for Good
But this episode made me write
It was a simple case and I liked it... Until now It's the least favorite until now but It does not mean I did not like it
The best for now are WEDNESDAY'S WOMEN and TRUE CALLING(Sorry guys, I know a lot of people did not like it but It was really good for me)
GLORY DAYS was good but WEDNESDAY WOMEN would have been such an impactant season premiere.

Talking about the episode...
Simple but nice... I liked the way we have few characters(ANYONE HAS NOTICED WE ARE HAVING LESS CHARACTERS EACH EPISODE THAN PREV SEASONS) and the case was simple but a nice story
Accidental death...
A Nice episode overall

THINGS I DID NOT UNDERSTAND(HELP WITH BAD AUDIO)
When Julie told Missey about GUYS OUR AGE ARE:______________- What? then Missey said older ones aren't?

THINGS I DID NOT LIKE
AGAIN PROBLEMS WITH THE "GHOST": This season (except for True Calling) the victim is only seen for like less than 1 second... In this case the victim-Missey- was extremely sad(It made me remember the victims on TIME OF CRIME, LATE RETURNS and SUPERSTAR:the saddest victim ever)
I know her friend killed her but She was Extremely sad, I would have prefered to see her skating...not smiling but at least skating...On Glory Days and Wednesday's women the ghosts were only for 1 sec

But overall Cold Case is having a wonderful season 6 =)

[riche]

Oct 20, 2008 14:49:39 GMT -5 @eduardodelroice said:

THINGS I DID NOT UNDERSTAND(HELP WITH BAD AUDIO)
When Julie told Missey about GUYS OUR AGE ARE:______________- What? then Missey said older ones aren't?

"Boys our age are idiots."

[TVFan]

I gave this one a "good." I enjoyed it and it was a nice release from the more heavier stuff we've seen thus far this season.

The case was of the sorta fun/serious variety. Fun because we were completely transplanted into the roller rinks of '78 and serious because Missy was yet another very sympathetic victim. Plus, her death was tragic and senseless and for all intents and purposes, accidental. It kinda broke my heart to see present-day Julie still fighting the demons of that night and blaming herself for what happened to Missy. Julie wasn't exactly the world's best decision maker, but then again, she was only 15 and longing for a father-figure. To me, she was just as tragic in life as Missy was in death. And then there was that creepy Joe Bosquay and the pervy DJ! Just no to both. Good case, though -- kept me guessing and the time period and subject matter had me groovin'.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm lovin' Fun Lilly. She's so much better than stick- in- the- mud- Debbie- Downer Lilly of seasons past. I am actually seeing shades of season one, and that most certainly, is a good thing. Perhaps, the most encouraging element of Fun Lilly is her lack of an emotional breakdown over Saccardo's sudden work-related departure. Of course, she gets it (it's work), but she doesn't seem to have skipped a beat in his absence and that is some sure-fire improvement. I just LOVED that final scene with she and Jeffries racing around that rink for bragging rights! And it wasn't just Lilly who was having a little fun this week. Kat went on that blind date. It went so well she had too much wine, freaked out and pulled a disappearing act before calling Scotty to come get her. Someone needs to teach this woman how to go on a date! Luckily, the guy seems to be very understanding (or just smitten) because we saw the two of them together at the end. And speaking of the end, I LOVED that ending shot with Lilly skating, seeing the victim and then skating out of frame. Niiice!

Overall, another winner for me. This season is looking good so far.