Ep. 3.22 The River

[TVFan]

LILLY AND THE TEAM REOPEN THE 1984 CASE INVOLVING THE SHOOTING OF A SUCCESSFUL ER DOCTOR WHEN A NEW WITNESS STEPS FORWARD, ON "COLD CASE," SUNDAY, MAY 7

Craig Ross Jr. directed the episode that was written by Tyler Bensinger.

Lilly Rush: Kathryn Morris
John Stillman: John Finn
Nick Vera: Jeremy Ratchford
Will Jeffries: Thom Barry
Scotty Valens: Danny Pino
Kat Miller: Tracie Thoms
Dr. Grant Bowen (1984): Emmanuel Xuereb
Jason Bowen (1984): Garette Henson
Dr. Seth Garvey (1984): Eamonn Roche
Mrs Lee (2006): Alice Lo
Mrs Lee (1984): Suzanne Whang
Ada David Cage: T.E. Russell
Edwina Davis: Licia Shearer
Dina Miller: Tonya Pinkins
Veronica Miller: Brielle Bourgeois
Anne Bowen (2006): Rende Rae Norman
Anne Bowen (1984): Stacy Haiduk
Dr. Seth Garvey (2006): Mark Tymchyshyn
Cyrus Tisdale (1984/2006): VJ Foster
Waiter (1984): Brent Schindele
Bob: Christopher Goodson
Dr. Jason Bowen (2006): Jason Chanos
Sidney Graber: Kevin Brief



After you view this episode, be sure to vote for it above. Also, leave a post with your thoughts.

[eurache]

Great chat tonight!! INteresting last episode in two weeks!!

This thread is open, please make your vote and your views on tonight's episode

Night all

[Naj]

I enjoyed this case and balance of this episode. I was mesmerized by Emmanuel xuereb probably because his brother? was a regular in season one of pensacola:wings of gold with kathryn morris. i wonder if they tried to get salvador for the part originally.

emmanual
www.imdb.com/name/nm0944687/

salvador
www.imdb.com/name/nm0944688/


Having a gambling habit is a terrible thing. I've never had one but being a doctor and all was a horrifying thought when you are trusting someone with your life.. Although it doesn't surprise me by what I've encountered in the medical community personally.

That's twice this season we have playing Texas hold em/poker. didn't realize this game has been around so long. I liked the ending. I liked how the director used everyone and how he did so.


So Vera's got a date. that's kinda funny. And I'm glad Jeffreys got off the desk job. however i hope that is where they put Scott for the duration of next season for the stunt he pulled with the man at the playground. I wouldn't mind if they sat him out for a time span and this would be a good way to do it. I'd like to see him at the desk looking like a naughty boy at school serving out his punishment for about 10 episodes in season 4. Besides someone is going to lose time as they will most likely begin focusing on Kat. ;D

I gave this ep an excellent. If they want to move towards having all the detectives balanced then this is a good formula that doesn't look so contrived. I liked some of the music last night too but then I like the 80's tunes.

[ecooper516]

Same criticism of the past episodes: too little Lilly and too much victim and surrounding characters. Really DID NOT like it.

[TVFan]

I gave this one a "good." The case was well written and executed, but Lilly was on the sidelines too much for me. Tyler Bensinger always does a great job of writing in scenes that show the camaraderie between the detectives (he did this so well with "Glued" and "Saving Patrick Bubley"). I LOVED the scenes where they were sitting around talking in this episode as well. Jeffries' little jab at Vera was too funny.

I'm going to politely disagree with Naj regarding Scotty's behavior. I was cheering him on when he beat up that child molester. The problem with that guy was that he was more than likely going to harm one of those children, but the police can't do anything about it until he actually harms one of them. Scotty knew that he wasn't going to go away, so he beat the crap out of him in order to scare him from doing anything to one of those kids. Sure, it was violent and only a temporary fix, but it seemed better than the alternative. Honestly, I don't think he'll get in trouble for what he did unless the guy presses charges. He was doing it "off duty" and more as a concerned citizen than a cop. I can't imagine that guy coming forward because then he would have to admit why the fight broke out and it could spell problems for him. We'll just have to see how this develops.

As I said above, the case was well written and executed and a bit tragic. I kept noticing that charm that Cy had when he was gambling, so I knew he had to be the killer when I saw it on Mrs. Lee in the flashback. I was all proud of my crafty detective work until we learned the horrible truth. Grant was so deep in debt and troubles from his gambling addiction that he thought he was worth more to his family dead than alive. That scene where he had Cy shoot him was so sad. This was one of those cases where you didn't want the "killer" to get caught because he was only helping out his friend, but I was glad the detectives solved it because it allowed Grant's wife and son to learn the truth about him. His son had been carrying around all of that anger for more than 20 years, so seeing Kat tell him the truth brought me some happiness. Emmanuel Xuereb looks exactly like his brother, so I kept thinking about Pensacola as well.

I'm glad Jeffries is off desk duty. The poor guy must have been going out of his mind! Lilly looked fab in that early scene (one of about three that she was in) where she and Jeffries were walking outside with Grant's widow. I also enjoyed her compassion toward Cy in the interrogation room. She always has the right amount of touch when she does these interrogations. Overall, a strong case, but too lacking in Lil.

[ruda]

screencaps... I'm looking for screencaps ;D
I've to see screencaps! ;D ;D ;D

*crazy* ;D

[TVFan]

I have a few posted now at my blog ruda. As usual, they're aren't many, but they should tied you over (you can click on them to make them bigger). I also threw one in from the preview for the finale. Click HERE

[sonny]

This episode was borderline between okay and good for me which is a little disappointing. What swayed me towards good was the simple fact that the scenes that Lilly was in, she looked gorgeous as per usual. Thankfully she is so lovely otherwise I could have blinked and missed her. A nice little interogation scene from her at the end and sweet how she returned the locket to Grant's wife.
A couple of comical lines in there from Jeffries and Vera about the date thing which made me laugh to.

I have to say I thought Scotty gave that guy a beating that was way over the top. Yeah the guy probably deserved it but I think Scotty did as much for his own reasons than for anything else. He was pi55ed that the guy ignorned his threat and Scotty being Scotty always wants to be a hero and save someone. Look at the way he did his normal 'do you want me to take care of it' thing. I just thought, so much for him changing and not screwing up. He'd be in a whole world of hurt if he got caught. I'm wondering if he'll tell anyone about it??

Although I like Kat, there was too much of her in this episode almost at the expense of Lilly. I know this is an age old complaint but it is something that will always bug me. They've spread Lilly to thin the last two episodes so I'm relying on the finale to be so full of Lilly that I can blink freely!

And now for the case. I was hoping a not quite so bad picture would have been painted of the game Texas Holdem.'
As a bit of a poker person I found it annoying that the episode constantly went with the whole luck angle. Anyone who knows anything about Holdem' knows that this is a poker game based mostly on skill; using statistics and odds to predict outcomes and the likelihood of hitting certain hands. There was no mention of this aspect of the game and Grant being the intelligent guy that he was would surely, in reality, over time learnt how to play the game better and minimize the risk of loosing. I'm not saying the game has no element of risk because sometimes players can 'steal' the hand on the river card [or sooner] to beat an opponent. But a real card player would not use the work bad luck, they would call it a 'bad beat'. Again, I'm not saying that the game is without risk and there are plenty of people out there that do loose big, but mainly because they don't understand the game or learn how to play it. I guess because Grant was a doctor I would have imagined that he was more the type of guy who would try to make his game better. Although online poker play had not been established back in '84, there were still a whole load of books that had been published about poker which poker players still refer to today to help improve their game.

Anyway, I won't ramble on any more.
The episode was 'good.' I've saved my 'best of the season' vote for the finale and I'm seriously hoping I can be justified in using it. Gah, it's gonna be a painful 2 week wait!!! What are CBS doing to me! >

[sonny]

Excellent 'blog' TVFan !

Loved this bit:

I'm also quite excited about the new ADA because ever since Lilly mixed a little too much pleasure with her business with Kite (totally his fault, though), our favorite cold case detectives haven't had any legal guidance.


Loved the info on the finale preview to, especially the little piccy of Lilly you posted.
;D ;D

[toodledo22]

I liked this episode. BTW does anybody think scotty was molested as child? He said the same exact thing about the child pronographer in one of the epidsodes, season two. "I know what you are, I make a study out of people like you" This might be resentment towards a formeer molestor, or maybe someone he knew who was molested by someone. Anyways, let me know about your thoghut ojn this.

[jazzyb]

The scene where Scotty beats up the alleged pedophile is SO WRONG!! If he suspected this character was a child molester, why does he not conduct an actual investigation even if it's off the books (or off-duty or whatever the term might be)?? He can pull a CSI stunt and on some ridiculous pretext obtain his DNA by deception. A couple of gyrations on the old DNA machine and presto! Instant arrest and we cut to montage. Now, if that sounds completely nuts so is a respectable police officer exacting some kind of vigilante-antihero-justice by beating the crap out of a guy for no justifiable reason. Yes, Scotty needs to be put on the shelf for all of season 4 or sent to the psych ward. Maybe he should be tested for steroids (ha ha).

[ecooper516]

I agree with jazzyb. My reaction was that a detective should not be taking matters into his own hands. If he suspected the guy why not get a surveillance going, setting up cameras and undercover detectives.

[ruda]

TVFan... You know... I love you ;D

[V]

tvfan said:

I'm going to politely disagree with Naj regarding Scotty's behavior. I was cheering him on when he beat up that child molester. The problem with that guy was that he was more than likely going to harm one of those children, but the police can't do anything about it until he actually harms one of them. Scotty knew that he wasn't going to go away, so he beat the crap out of him in order to scare him from doing anything to one of those kids. Sure, it was violent and only a temporary fix, but it seemed better than the alternative. Honestly, I don't think he'll get in trouble for what he did unless the guy presses charges. He was doing it "off duty" and more as a concerned citizen than a cop. I can't imagine that guy coming forward because then he would have to admit why the fight broke out and it could spell problems for him. We'll just have to see how this develops.

I know we're in a minority here, but I was cheering, too, TVFan! I know it was wrong for him to beat the crap out of that guy and if the guy pressed assault charges, Scotty could be in a whole lot of trouble ... BUT, at that moment, I think it was the right thing to do. The guy probably would have eventually abducted and molested a child (or worse), so hopefully Scotty's behavior, while irrational and extreme, prevented this guy from hurting any children for the time being.

[TVFan]

I totally agree V. Maybe I watch too much L&O: SVU where the detectives (particularly Stabler) pull stuff like this (to varying degrees) with the sex offender suspects almost every episode. As far as I'm concerned, if you're going to molest children then you deserve a beat down like the one Scotty gave Creepy Park Guy. Our legal system is wonderful, but it's not fool-proof. People fall through the cracks (like pure Tibbs in Death Penalty: Final Appeal) or garner themselves a new identity and a new life. Creepy Park Guy would have molested that little boy if Scotty didn't do what he did, therefore for me, the ends justified the means.

ruda - You're very welcome!

sonny - Thanks.

toodledo22 - I knew that phrase sounded familiar! Thank you for reminding me. I did wonder what Scotty meant when he said he could "make a case study." I think he says it in a bluffing way, though. As if to say that he's an expert on child molesters, so the guy isn't going to fool him. I don't think he means it literally, but you never know on this show.

[ruda]

I just watch this ep a few minutes ago and I have to tell you that it was excellent! the end was soo great! Scotty beat up this guy! he's face... he was realy angry about him!

beautiful music in all scenes!
I haven't seen preview of 3x23 but I hope that will be realy interesting!

HUGS!

[jazzyb]

We've all heard the term "slippery slope" and that's precisely where Scotty is headed after that beat down. If we look at the circumstances with the guy in the park, there is only the presumption that he would have harmed the young boy; his behavior characterizes that of known pedophiles so we take guilty pleasure in Scotty beating him to a pulp. In the world of TV fiction you can get away with that. But anytime we excuse vigilante-ism as the "end that justifies the means" you open the door for a whole slew of questionable tactics. Keep in mind that gay-bashers also think they're doing the world a favor. Sorry to be so preachy about this; I'm no defender of child molesters certainly but am against anyone, police included, taking the law into their own hands.

[TVFan]

I think the park guy's words to Scotty made it clear to him that this guy was bad news. Then, he finds him in the park again, but now he's actually talking to the same little boy that he had been watching several days before, so as far as Scotty was concerned, this guy was indeed a child molester. I agree with you jazzyb in that vigilante-ism is not the way to get things done, but I'm only speaking to this situation in particular. Clearly, had Scotty beaten the guy simply because he had a good idea that the guy was gay I wouldn't be championing his cause. It would be rather the opposite. But since the guy was a child molester and Scotty had that knowledge, this act seemed OK to me. Had the circumstances been different, I may not have cheered him on, but that's because I evaluate things on an individual basis when it comes to television shows.

[ewka]

I think Scotty shouldn't have beaten that guy even if he was a pervert. I mean, it doesn't fit. Not just isn't it Scotty's usual behavior, but somehow... the ending montage is always so optimisctic and all the problems presented during the episode seem to be solving... and I don't think beating that man was a good idea. Besides, he's gonna have trouble because of this, that's what I predict.

And the whole episode was very, very good. I loved it. The beginning looked a bit like 'Grey's Anatomy'...

[boxman]

At first viewing, this episode didn't move me very much because I had a hard time feeling any sympathy for the victim. I dealt with alcohol abuse during my twenties, so it wasn't easy for me to accept Dr. Seth Garvey's weakness in handling his gambling addiction. After giving it some thought and putting personal feelings aside, however, I have to say that this was a rather good episode even if Dr. Garvey's downward spiral wasn't strongly convincing. The episode managed to squeeze out an "It was excellent" vote from me not because of the main storyline, but another aspect altogether. As season three's second-to-the-last episode, "The River" cleverly recapped and integrated many symbols and themes that have appeared over the show's run, and it included minute details that displayed the mastery of the show's creative department.

Normally, I have found that Cold Case features a limited concentration of symbols and themes in each episode. For example, season one's "Greed" centered around risking money in the stock market and predominately featured the color Green in each of it's flashback. Another example is season two's "Best Friends" that had story themes of alcohol, family break-ups, and homosexuality. The themes in "Best Friends" were symbolically represented within the names of characters and people mentioned in the episode. Season three's "8 Years" contained the serie's recurring theme of how alcohol reveals a person's true emotions. The episode "8 Years" also brought forward the symbolic association between anything automotive and crime (or at least a sin of some sort). For example, the drinking and driving in the opening scene was definitely criminal behaviour, and the victim briefly turned to automobile robbery as a way to make quick cash. This episode, "The River", on the other hand, was chock-full of a variety symbols and themes throughout.

---

The opening operating room scene had a predominantly Green colour, similar to what was seen in the episode "Greed". The hospital walls were green, ceramic tiles were aquamarine, and an "EXIT" sign was also oddly green. (Most buildings have red "EXIT" signs, as required by local fire ordinances.) Pixie has pointed out in the "Greed" thread that the colour "Green" is normally associated with the sin "Envy", but in the Cold Case world, Green seems to symbolize the gambling or risk taking of money. Coincidentally, the victims in this episode and "Greed" were both murdered in alleys, and both seemingly the victims of robberies gone bad. This colour is used in other flashbacks as well.

As the original case is being closed, a copy of the Philadelphia Herald can be seen. The headlines read, "OLYMPIC AGONY", "Judge Gives Warning", "Did I Say That?" (kinda fuzzy, but that's what it looks like to me!), and "Persian Gulf Tensions". Again, as in many episodes, the camera pans towards the ceiling fluorescent lights after the original evidence box is placed on the shelf. These four-foot long ceiling lights that shine brightly from the dark ceilings are generally associated with crime through their visual similarity to white stripes on black asphalt. (This association was featured in "8 Years". Examine the opening scene in that episode, especially the visual montage between the image of the murder victim and the detective placing the victim's evidence box into storage.)

This case is reopened because a former drug addict, Edwina "Edie" Davis, has brought fourth new evidence. This is similar to how the case in "The Runner" was reopened, when the drug addict "Deniece Funderbunk" brings a cassette player to the station. Both characters come forward with the truth as a way to "make amends", explicitly stated in each episode. This is interesting, as Scotty's involvement with drugs in his past (his undercover operation in "Sanctuary") eventually leads him to also want to change his life as well....

Kat wants her mom to take Veronica to the Library in order to avoid the pervert at the playground. Reading books is generally portrayed in a good light in this show, quite likely because of Ms. Stiehm's own interests. In the same scene, a road sign points the directions to I-676 and I-95--very good detail. In the background, a store sign reads "Watch Factory". Was this sign set up by the Cold Case art crew? I find it rather humorous!! Creating shows for a television series is sort of a "Watch Factory", isn't it??

The evidence boxes in this episode are more predominantly brown than white. Why? Is this a foreshadowing of some sort? Consider that the evidence room visually appears very much like a catacomb....

Anne Bowen gives a flashback that is filled with several symbols and themes that have been used throughout the series: Water, the symbol of a person's changing fate; Alcohol consumption, which reveals a person's inner thoughts and nature; and the show's love for Literature. Anne, the victim's widow, is an English professor at Drexel (an actual university in Philly). She tells Lilly and Jeffries the story about the doctors' Atlantic City convention, where she learns of "the River"--the last and most fateful card dealt in the poker game. She wants to excuse herself to read a book about Sir Francis Bacon. (Sir Bacon is known for his aphorism, "Knowledge is Power", and is the creator of the "Baconian Method" of investigation, described as 'an early forerunner of the scientific method'.) Anne explains to Seth that her future husband Grant doesn't talk much about his dad because he was a drunk and deadbeat. Seth guesses that's why Grant is so successful--that Grant is trying to overcompensate for his parent's failures. (Doesn't this somehow sound like Lilly and her mom?) Seth--intoxicated with a drink in his hand--inappropriately makes a pass at Anne. He quotes William Shakesphere's Henry VI:"She is beautiful, therefore to be wooed; She is a woman, therefore to be won".

AS Scotty and Kat interview Seth, he utters the phrase, "the heart is a lonely hunter". This is the title of a novel by Carson McCullers. I haven't read this book, but from reading the Wikipedia.org synopsis, this novel seems to contain themes such as racism and alcoholism that Cold Case uses often too. Seth's love for literature becomes very unusual at this point, as people who read are generally viewed favorably, and this conflicts with the fact that he is becoming a prime suspect.

More to come later.