At least Cold Case left with its dignity

[ninja1088]

I have to be blunt,I'm not happy Cold Case ended but I've come to terms with it. And while Season 7 had some good episodes, you could also tell CC was starting to show it's age,as happens with most shows that remain on the air for long periods of time. Fresh storylines become harder and harder to do.
IMO,while some focus on the CC squad was good, the personal storylines were starting to take priority over the cases,espcially towards the end of the series. I'm sorry but Free Love was not only a remake of several episodes from Season 1 and 2, it was a giant mess with the other storyline and a sign the show was starting to go downhill...same with Paradise Lost. Shattered gave it a lot of it back and at least allowed CC to go out on a high note.
Despite the gripes I had, it was still good. I couldn't say that about some of the other shows that are no longer on the air or still are. WAT simply became the Jack Malone & Sam show, the cases and the other agents were an afterthought. Throw in the fact Jack had become nothing more than a bully with a badge and WAT had truly become a shadow of its former self. I couldn't have stood a season 8 of that.
Law & Order became way too political for me. I HATED Bush as president but not every single thing was his fault. Law & Order SVU...UGH is all I can say about that. As for the CSI shows.. they're ALL showing their age as well...they'll be gone by next year as well.
So yes, it stinks that Cold Case has been canceled....but it went out on a high note. I'd rather have that... then have one more season and watched it slowly sputter towards a slow demise and fans stating the show they had wanted to come back was better off canceled.

[boxman]

This is pretty much close to how I feel about it myself. Season 7 started off with a huge bang for me, but towards the last few episodes I couldn't help but start to get hypercritical about them. I too began to feel these last cases themselves weren't very compelling, but that's probably after watching this show for so many excellent seasons that they have set the bar very high on my expectations. More importantly, I think without the location shooting in Philly, over the season it became obvious to me that the filming was done entirely on sets, studio backlots and locations in Los Angeles. The way the studio cut the show's budget like that became a major distraction. I'd watch a scene and say to myself, "but Philly doesn't look like that....", and my mind would wander away from the storyline!!! If there was a Season 8 and they didn't film parts of it in Philly, it may have been even more tortuous. So who knows... When the show's budget is cut like that and it becomes difficult for them to portray things realistically, it may simply be better to end on a good note, rather than limp along with obvious shortcomings?

[ninja1088]

I will say the fact the scenes weren't shot in Philly didn't bother me as much as the fact not only was the entire cast not together for the whole season, but the a couple of the last episodes were basically remakes of earlier episodes, and poor ones at that.
And while they still could have had some fresh ideas (virtually every other crime show had done a version of the two elderly woman who killed homeless men in staged hit and run accidents),material for the writers to do was becoming short. And let's face it, as time went on, old cases (in the 50's and 60's) would been more unlikely for the writers to do. To think Season 8 could have had more episodes like Free Love is the only good thing I can think of in it not being back on.

[nomnivore]

As more time passes, I'm slowly coming to this point of view. I'm still upset that the show was canceled, especially without a proper goodbye, but I'm beginning to realise that at least the show ended while it was still good.

Too many shows seem to go on until they've completely exhausted any ideas and they become more and more unwatchable. I'm pleased that the main characters were still likeable- a lot of shows turn my favourite characters into one-dimensional stereotypes or have them do things completely out of character. Yes, I think Scotty went too far, but it was a natural progression of his character.

To be quite honest, Season 6 and 7 didn't grab me as much as previous seasons, but I wouldn't say the show had a massive decline in quality. There were still some excellent episodes shown in the past two years.

[stillmanfan]

Yeah, they seemed to have made Scotty's character go downhill the last few years. Didn't like that they changed his character like that.

I am getting over the fact that CC ended and just wonder what the writers were going to do about the next season if there was one.

I have no idea how they can get out of the fact that Lilly and Scotty were breaking and entering, assaulting people and had no warrant. Also, the part about Doherty where N/W/K got his gun without a warrant.

[ninja1088]

Jul 11, 2010 9:02:03 GMT -5 stillmanfan said:

Yeah, they seemed to have made Scotty's character go downhill the last few years. Didn't like that they changed his character like that.

I am getting over the fact that CC ended and just wonder what the writers were going to do about the next season if there was one.

I have no idea how they can get out of the fact that Lilly and Scotty were breaking and entering, assaulting people and had no warrant. Also, the part about Doherty where N/W/K got his gun without a warrant.

That is something I would have enjoyed seeing. Something tells me that even though he wouldn't have been a police officer anymore, no way would Doherty simply go away, not when the Cold Case squad put his son in prison. It's still highly likely he would still have many friends in high places afterwards,and don't think for a minute they wouldn't divulge everything Lily/Scotty did in their hunt for Christina. As for the gun, it definately ranks in the top 5 cases that would have been challenged and thrown out. Evidence obtained illegally can't be used in court.
And nom, ITA with everything you said, escpially with characters.
Without A Trace is still my best example of how characters who may have skirted the law but still sought justice and cared about victims at the start of the series became bullies with badges by the end. I'm thankful we didn't see that happen with our CC squad.

[stillmanfan]

Jul 11, 2010 19:37:53 GMT -5 ninja1088 said:

Jul 11, 2010 9:02:03 GMT -5 stillmanfan said:

Yeah, they seemed to have made Scotty's character go downhill the last few years. Didn't like that they changed his character like that.

I am getting over the fact that CC ended and just wonder what the writers were going to do about the next season if there was one.

I have no idea how they can get out of the fact that Lilly and Scotty were breaking and entering, assaulting people and had no warrant. Also, the part about Doherty where N/W/K got his gun without a warrant.

That is something I would have enjoyed seeing. Something tells me that even though he wouldn't have been a police officer anymore, no way would Doherty simply go away, not when the Cold Case squad put his son in prison. It's still highly likely he would still have many friends in high places afterwards,and don't think for a minute they wouldn't divulge everything Lily/Scotty did in their hunt for Christina. As for the gun, it definately ranks in the top 5 cases that would have been challenged and thrown out. Evidence obtained illegally can't be used in court.
And nom, ITA with everything you said, escpially with characters.
Without A Trace is still my best example of how characters who may have skirted the law but still sought justice and cared about victims at the start of the series became bullies with badges by the end. I'm thankful we didn't see that happen with our CC squad.

I know that in the Virtual Season 8, there will be some storyline about Scotty and that rapist at least. It has been suggested about the storyline concerning the Lilly/Scotty's hunt for Christina.

[ninja1088]

Jul 11, 2010 23:23:47 GMT -5 stillmanfan said:

Jul 11, 2010 19:37:53 GMT -5 ninja1088 said:

That is something I would have enjoyed seeing. Something tells me that even though he wouldn't have been a police officer anymore, no way would Doherty simply go away, not when the Cold Case squad put his son in prison. It's still highly likely he would still have many friends in high places afterwards,and don't think for a minute they wouldn't divulge everything Lily/Scotty did in their hunt for Christina. As for the gun, it definately ranks in the top 5 cases that would have been challenged and thrown out. Evidence obtained illegally can't be used in court.
And nom, ITA with everything you said, escpially with characters.
Without A Trace is still my best example of how characters who may have skirted the law but still sought justice and cared about victims at the start of the series became bullies with badges by the end. I'm thankful we didn't see that happen with our CC squad.

I know that in the Virtual Season 8, there will be some storyline about Scotty and that rapist at least. It has been suggested about the storyline concerning the Lilly/Scotty's hunt for Christina.

I am anxious and eagerly awaiting it...I'm sure the many talented writers out there will pick up where CC left off.

[The Reverend Bizarre]

Here's another reason to be glad the CC left with it's dignity. CBS could have been absolutely horrible, and pulled the following stunt.

"The team reopens the 2007 case of some dude that dies after bla bla bla biddy bla who cares. Meanwhile, detective Rush must go undercover as a lesbian."

and then they would have gotten some hot chick.

and Lilly and said chick would make out.

And CBS would advertise it into the ground.

and the ratings would skyrocket while the show itself would be flying way over the shark.


And at least CC didn't wind up like ER. IMO it seemed that at the end the hospital was being destroyed by vehicles all the time. A helicopter, a tank, etc etc. At least Cold Case didn't have a show where a private jet crashed into the precinct.

[eduardo]

Today I woke up and missed my Cold Case more than ever!

[ninja1088]

Sept 5, 2010 14:34:31 GMT -5 The Reverend Bizarre said:

Here's another reason to be glad the CC left with it's dignity. CBS could have been absolutely horrible, and pulled the following stunt.

"The team reopens the 2007 case of some dude that dies after bla bla bla biddy bla who cares. Meanwhile, detective Rush must go undercover as a lesbian."

and then they would have gotten some hot chick.

and Lilly and said chick would make out.

And CBS would advertise it into the ground.

and the ratings would skyrocket while the show itself would be flying way over the shark.

Guess you lost 45 mins of your life to that Rizzoli & Ives episode as well eh?
As to the undercover roles, that is what has happened with Law & Order SVU. The cases have taken a backseat role to whatever undercover assignment the cops take that week. The question isn't can there be justice for victims but can Mariska Hargitay wear a sexy outfit that week? It jumped the shark a long, long time ago.
And while crime shows aren't going to be 100% real (a shock to all of us I'm sure) the cases on SVU and most of the CSIS have become so absurd and the actions they take to solve them that it insults the viewer's intelligence. Shattered had plenty of them (beating suspects, going into Doherty's office with no warrant etc.)

My aunt,whom is also a Cold Case fan, agrees with me and told me several of her other favorite shows (JAG,Murder,She Wrote,X-Files) went on for a couple seasons too many and that she's glad she didn't have to add CC to the list.

I know it stinks for most of us that in four weeks, there won't be a season 8 premiere episode. But I can look back at the previous seven seasons and say that while CC didn't end while it was still on the top, it ended where I can talk about the show and not be disguisted at the mess they turned it into.

[The Reverend Bizarre]

Actually I've never even watched Rizzoli & Ives before. It just seemed that for a while, if a show wanted to boost ratings, they would suddenly turn a female character more often than not, bisexual.

[ninja1088]

Sept 6, 2010 12:03:22 GMT -5 The Reverend Bizarre said:

Actually I've never even watched Rizzoli & Ives before. It just seemed that for a while, if a show wanted to boost ratings, they would suddenly turn a female character more often than not, bisexual.

Tis true. The episode of the show I mentioned above advertised the heck out of Angie Harmon going undercover as a lesbian. And what you say is true. Gay male characters are still too taboo on many shows, especially cop ones. It's still too "taboo" on many shows to show men show affection towards another.
But females,turn them bi if nothing else to bring in the frat boy watchers. Truly disrespectful to everyone all the way around.
Given what the powers that be are doing to some of the other CBS crime shows I watch,your scenario could have easily have come true.

[stillmanfan]

Yeah. Can you imagine what they could have done with Lilly/Scotty storyline if the criminals complained they got assaulted?

And the part with Doherty. I can't see the union just allowing him to be fired especially that the case is later thrown out.

[ninja1088]

That would have been intresting to see in Season 8...along with what Doherty would have done. No way would he go away that easily..and them getting the gun the way they did...uh no. I'm awaiting the Virtual Season 8 to see what we come up with.

[nomnivore]

They could have replaced Lilly and Kat with hotter and younger women, like what they're doing with Criminal Minds and the CSIs.

I've been watching CSI DVDs, and while the shows are enjoyable, they make me miss CC more and more. I can barely remember a single CSI victim, and yet I can clearly think of most CC victims, and their doers, and various other characters as well. The CC team weren't perfect Mary Sues who could solve everything and use amazing technology- they were just sympathetic cops who were good at investigating and questioning. People died in normal ways on Cold Case, not because of happy pickles that cause your heart to stop beating or jellyfish poison in a swimming pool with a heroin laced lollipop.

[ninja1088]

Sept 10, 2010 5:46:02 GMT -5 nomnivore said:

They could have replaced Lilly and Kat with hotter and younger women, like what they're doing with Criminal Minds and the CSIs.

I've been watching CSI DVDs, and while the shows are enjoyable, they make me miss CC more and more. I can barely remember a single CSI victim, and yet I can clearly think of most CC victims, and their doers, and various other characters as well. The CC team weren't perfect Mary Sues who could solve everything and use amazing technology- they were just sympathetic cops who were good at investigating and questioning. People died in normal ways on Cold Case, not because of happy pickles that cause your heart to stop beating or jellyfish poison in a swimming pool with a heroin laced lollipop.

I'm not looking foward to this season of Criminal Minds for that reason. It's unforgivable how they treated A.J. and Paget and the weak excuses they gave for it. The team chemistry won't be the same... and sad to say, since the writer's strike, the episodes haven't been quite the same as they were before...
As for CSI...you hit the nail on the head. IMO,CC was one of the only crime shows where you got to know the victims and cared about them,the storys were superb,the killers had solid motives and it showcased the talent of both young and old actors/actresses.
The first few seasons of each CSI were great but they long ago jumped the shark and so much of the writing now goes into the absurd methods of death that you mentioned that the characters are lost. One of the CSI Miami episodes last season dealt with a murder in outer space which was solved by the team being able to put the entire rocket back together. Should be noted CSI Miami has been given the slot of death 10 p.m. Sunday night so I imagine this will be it's last year,as well as CSI NY's.
Like you and the rest of us here, I'm sad that in a few weeks, there won't be a new episode. But I can look back fondly at seven seasons of CC and say there was never a point where it jumped the shark. Irritated me yes(Lily and Scotty bending the law), but not enough to where I was wishing the show had still quit while it was ahead,unlike the CSI shows and Without A Trace. We all have to remember that in the next couple of weeks.