Episode 2.17: Schadenfreude

[Naj]

A UNIQUE RING FOUND ON THE FINGER OF A DEAD JUNKIE LEADS RUSH AND HER TEAM TO RE-EXAMINE THE 1984 DEATH OF A WEALTHY PHILADELPHIA WOMAN, ON "COLD CASE," SUNDAY, MARCH 20


Guest Cast List:

Diane Moore (2005): Linda Purl
Kitty (1982): Jenna Von Oy
Lindsay (1982): Andrea Savage
Melanie (1982): Andi Eystad
Kitty (2005): Mary Gordon Murray
Steven (1982): Michael Hagerty
Steven (2005): Michael Bryan French
Diane Moore (1982): Jenny Eakes
Timmy (1982): Brian Kimmet
Timmy (2005): Tahmus Rounds
Mike (1982): Jay Bontaibus
Mike (2005): Tony Denison

[Ryebeach]

This episode seemed to get off to a slow start but in the end, I did like it. It kept me guessing till the very end as to who the killer was. There was no end to the suspects and just when you thought one was in the clear, a new twist would come along and I would suspect them again.

I LOVED the scene in the salon when Kat asked Lilly if she ever thought about a rinse. The look on Lilly's face was priceless. A real classic scene.

I thought the closing sequence was the best in quite awhile. I liked how we got to see all the characters again, something that doesn't always happen. I thought it was very appropriate that Lilly met Steven when he was released from jail to give him the ring back. I felt bad for Steven. He really had lost it all. His best friend, his job, his wife, his house, 23 years of his life. He certainly had it rough.

I did not like the one scene between Chris and Scotty. What purpose did it serve to see them getting drunk together? Couldn't another, more original scene have taken place, letting us know that they are still interested in each other? It really turned me off to their relationship even more than I already was.

[Naj]

Well it started a half hour late and then my neighbor dropped in. The only parts I could remember were the side story of the detectives because I couldn't listen to the case. I agree in that I didn't care for the scene in the bar with Scotty and Chrissy. It was kinda trashy. I expected more from Scotty. I found it funny how they threw in the Lilly hair thing. They are toying with the audience but I hope they don't make her hair that ugly copper. That was absolutely putrid. :lol:


~Naj

[Disasterfreak]

Thanks for posting, Ryebeach!
I was dying a slow and painful death from utter suspense.
Can anyone go over to spoilers and tell me why everyone on Source number 1 is so freaked out about the preview for Ravaged??

[Naj]

Disasterfreak said:

Thanks for posting, Ryebeach!
I was dying a slow and painful death from utter suspense.
Can anyone go over to spoilers and tell me why everyone on Source number 1 is so freaked out about the preview for Ravaged??

done.... :lech:

[Disasterfreak]

Thanks, Naj. You're the best!!
BTW, what was Chris doing in this episode (I don't mean literally--judging by your comments, I don't think I want to know!)?? I thought she was supposed to be gone.

[Ryebeach]

Disasterfreak said:

BTW, what was Chris doing in this episode (I don't mean literally--judging by your comments, I don't think I want to know!)?? I thought she was supposed to be gone.

Well, she and Scotty were at the bar where she works after hours and they were playing some game asking each other if they had ever done this or that and getting very drunk. It was kind of demeaning for the characters and like I said, I didn't see the purpose of it.

[Disasterfreak]

Maybe they're trying to show how far gone Scotty is? Anyway... I kinda like when they put the characters in unsavory situations. As long as they don't do it too often...

[Ryebeach]

Disasterfreak said:

Maybe they're trying to show how far gone Scotty is?

Yeah, that's a good point. I think this all goes back to Elissa's death and Scotty's lack of dealing with it at all. Incidentally, Stillman did give Scotty a card for a grief counselor in this episode and Stillman said to Scotty that he's not talking about his grief and maybe this would help. Scotty said he doesn't want to talk about it.

[Disasterfreak]

He's in complete denial. And persistent denial leads to unresolved mourning (a condition not unlike major depression), which in turn leads to self-destructive behavior... all of which we're seeing right now.

*Shakes head* Somebody should slap him around a little and DRAG him to that grief counselor.

[CC Fan]

I really liked this episode... I thought everything about it was really good especially the whodunit? Usually I can tell who did it pretty early on, but I had no idea it was the friend.

Do you think that Scotty and Lilly weren't working together because of what happened, or do you think it was just like that in this episode?

[Naj]

CC said:

Do you think that Scotty and Lilly weren't working together because of what happened, or do you think it was just like that in this episode?

I think that was the point of the first ep (Badlands) of season 2 to show Scotty away from Lilly as partners and different groupings. Maybe to prepare the audience for the changes this season with the current storyline? I don't know how far ahead they knew about Elissa's character leaving the show but I assume that's why we have these adjustments this season. Unfortunately, this shifting was one of the reasons I didn't like the episode Badlands because it all looked so awkward and Scotty didn't appear to look like he was fitting in still.

Season two isn't as Lilly centric as it was . I do think that Stillman probably moved Scotty with Vera due to the problems with Lilly to cut down on the time they work together as Stillman also feels Scotty needs to talk it out (about Elissa) with a therapist which might mean talking about the Chrissy/Lilly mess.


~Naj

[TVFan]

Do you think that Scotty and Lilly weren't working together because of what happened, or do you think it was just like that in this episode?

It seemed like this episode was supposed to follow "Wishing." I thought that last week's "Revenge" seemed odd because Lilly and Scotty were working together okay (there were a few awkward moments), but this episode had them separate. I don't know for sure, but it seemed that way to me.

Anyway, I really liked this episode. The case was very intriguing and captivating. I really liked the victim and found her story fascinating. I LOVED the ending with Lilly greeting Dr. Chase as he was released from prison. We saw a little bit of her flaws again in this episode. She was very quick to point fingers at the husband, but she turned around in the end. The scene where she gave him back his ring was very moving, especially after we found out that Dr. Chase and Lindsey had found their way back to each other right before her death.

Kitty was a typical social climber. She wanted nothing more than to be a member of the posh clientele that she catered to. When Lindsey came crawling in for a job sweeping hair, Kitty saw it as her opportunity to get her foot in the door. I thought she was overzealous in her attempts to help Lindsey, but I didn't see the connection until the end. She thought that helping Lindsey would restore Lindsey to her former status, and thus, Kitty would move up with her. In the end, she realized that this wasn't going to happen and Lindsey's flippant attitude and "I'm not like this" (or something to that affect) statement pushed her over the edge. I love how the writers had the present day Kitty (Katrine) owning a posh salon with a fancy name and (fake) accent. It just fit perfectly with the character and foreshadowed the why factor to the murder.

There were some great scenes in this episode. Loved the Lilly and Kitty scenes. I loved the scenes with Lilly and Dr. Chase. This week we had a softer, more gently Lilly compared to the recent eps with her and Scotty duking it out.

I too thought the scene with Scotty and Chris was weird, but I think it was to show how far he keeps falling (as other have said). He obviously really likes Chris, but I think it's more of a latching on thing for him. Elisa's gone, and he had her since he was 14 years old. Then, Chris comes along and he latches onto her. I don't doubt his feelings for her, just his overall state of mind. It was an interesting scene because of the things he said to Chris. If this scene had existed without the Stillman/Scotty scene with the counselor's card, I would have thought it was out of place, but in the context of that scene, it seemed to fit. Like he said, he doesn't like talking. People have to deal with grief somehow, so we were shown how he's dealing with it (it might have also been foreshadowing a further decline for Scotty. Anybody notice the Southern Comfort scene with him and Vera?).

Overall, a strong episode. I liked the use of the Steve Perry/Journey song at the end. It really fit well.

[V]

TVFan said:

Anybody notice the Southern Comfort scene with him and Vera?.

Yes, I noticed that right away, TVFan. I thought it was very inappropriate for either of them to be drinking while on duty (which I assume they were) -- and from a flask no less! Couldn't have been more obvious or uncalled for.

I, too, was a little bothered by the Chris/Scott scene. It just didn't seem very healthy. Plus it made me feel more sorry for Lilly for some reason.

[Ryebeach]

Great analysis TVFan!

TVFan said:

Overall, a strong episode. I liked the use of the Steve Perry/Journey song at the end. It really fit well.

Agreed. The whole ending sequence was excellent and this was the perfect song choice.

[CC Fan]

yeah I was really surprised when they started drinking! and did you notice how scotty was drinking A LOT at the bar with chris? maybe this will be how he deals with it and maybe chris will freak out and leave and lilly will be the one who has to pick up the peices.

[Disasterfreak]

LOL... ok, I haven't watched the scene. But I'm impressed at how many people were shocked by it... seems just about everyone found it trashy. My guess is, that was the writers' intention. That being the case, they're doing a great job of showing us how messed up Scotty is.
Anyone have any pics btw? I'd really appreciate them. ;D

Argh... I just realized I'd already posted that same opinion but with better words before . Sorry 'bout that. Scratch everything except the pictures part, ok?

[fish]

Now all I can remember about the drinking scene is my mom yelling at the TV "Liver problems, young man! Liver problems!"

Overall, a really solid episode. It kept me guessing and guessing until the end. Like other people have mentioned, I like the interaction between Lilly and Dr. Chase at the end. I did feel sorry for the victim when I'm usually indifferent to most victims in crime dramas.

I seriously hope that Scotty will take Stillman's advice and go to the therapist to talk it out. I'm seeing a downward spiral here, and it won't be pretty if he doesn't stop falling soon.

[Naj]

My additional ramblings on this episode. It may or may not be coherent. :lol:

The only thing I can think is that the writers want us to see how flawed real life detectives are. It happened last season on a case that was neglected because the detective was having personal problems. The scene of Scotty and Vera having a drink out of a flask was basically appalling to me because I feel it represents what is going on out there in real life with detectives.

The other part of the Scotty/Chrissy scene in the bar with all the drinking was maybe to show us Lilly's reasoning why Chrissy is bad for Scotty.

In any event, this show is going somewhere I'm not sure I have an interest with the characters and maybe it's because I never really accepted the detective change in season one bringing Scotty on board. I'm not all that interested in him to be honest as I was a Lilly fan and the reason I was drawn to this show. This season they are making her take a step back from the limelight and bringing more of an ensemble approach. However that may be appealing to a wider audience as I think the ratings are higher this season than the first. Correct me if I'm wrong TVFan.


~Naj

[MrsB]

I couldn't post in the ratings section but, in case this wasn't already posted, my newspaper printed that "Cold Case" was #3 this week after "American Idol." Pretty cool!