Brendan Hines Could've Sworn

Gotta love Brendan Hines and his new single Could've Sworn taken from his next album Small Mistakes.

Judging from his debut album Good For You Know Who he has not made any Small Mistakes with the subtle and catchy tunes of his songs, which are just perfect for when you're in that kind of day-dreamy mood, or any kind of mood really.  Brendan's songs set you up for that perfect feel-good emotion and sentiment and make your day just right.

Could've Sworn is yet another example of this guy's amazing voice and tuneful music, as well as deep lyrics. My fave lines: "...bury me beneath your hair...I can't take the mornin' glare...
I can't wait, Oh I can't wait but I will..."
Sums up so many thoughts in my head. I'm all awash with emotion...

So glad I discovered him as an actor and a musician too.  "I can't wait" for the rest of the songs!

Small Mistakes releases 11th September 2012  which can be pre-ordered here:

http://thebrendanhines.bandcamp.com/album/small-mistakes

Stargate Atlantis 5.13 "Inquisition" Review

Woolsey (Robert Picardo) calls upon Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) to be part of representatives from Atlantis at their meeting of leaders.  They're a loose coalition and it's the IOA's first step towards a Federation.  Rodney (David Hewlett) is only interested if they have technology.  Teyla (Rachel Lutrell) tells him it doesn't mean they can't cooperate and Ronan (Jason Momoa) gets straight to the point that it's about people standing up for themselves. Woolsey tells them the Wraith are at war with each other.  What's with Sheppard and fruit bowls this season! ha.

When they arrive for the meeting they all pass out and are moved elsewhere.  The Council wants Sheppard (and let's face it, who wouldn't want him.) Kelore (David Lougren) Shiana, Dimas (Alan Blumenfeld) tell Sheppard he's been chosen to answer charges and when all the evidence has been heard they will decide the outcome.  They are accused of committing crimes against the people of the galaxy.

Lorne (Kavan Smith) doesn't find them in the village.  They tell Sheppard Atlantis possesses too much  technology and weapons, being responsible for the deaths of people and initiated the encounter with the Wraith.  Sheppard tries to explain they were attacked by the Wraith first and they weren't all in hibernation.  They had to search for their captured people and encountered the queen.  Sheppard killed her, as we saw in  1.2.  Sheppard insists they would have waken up regardless.  Many worlds were scattered.

Sheppard refuses to play their game and they can't put everyone on Atlantis in their jail.  However they can isolate them.  Shiana wants to make an example of them.  Rodney is sure Daedalus can't find them without a gate address and they must convince them they're not guilty.  Teyla knows lives have been lost but there is hope where there was none before against the Wraith.

Sheppard has to play along until they can figure out a plan.  A Coalition rep Myrus (Tobias Slezak) is sent to Atlantis.  The next charge levied against Sheppard is the plague/virus and Michael's work, where he conducted research to solve the Wraith problem. Michael was the  first test subject and found out something was wrong with him. Woolsey arrests Myrus and he accuses them of being rogues arresting the team without due process.

The Genii plan to thwart the Wraith and Sheppard says that's not what happened.  The Genii betrayed them.  They had bombs but no way to deliver them.  Woolsey can't believe the entire galaxy would be against Atlantis and has a plan.  Sheppard managed to take out some hives by them shooting at each other.  They have Ancient technology to use too.  The trial is evidence the coalition  wouldn't exist if they hadn't had success over the Wraith in 10,000 years.  Woolsey is taking over their defence.  They contacted Todd to borrow a subspace locator but have no reply.

Woolsey must win the trial and has had legal experience, as well as being on the Harvard Law Review.  He can handle them.  The Replicators were not Atlantis's allies and were created by the Ancients.  This episode was more of a clip show.  They attacked humans to eliminate the Wraith food supply.  The code was activated for the Replicators to attack the Wraith and they lost Elizabeth Weir.  More lives have been saved than lost.  Shiana (Kaaren de Silva) thinks they're guilty cos she's biased.  Dimas is reasonable.  They can't shoot their way out.

Woolsey knows their game and can play it now.  Woolsey talks with Kelore after bribing the guard with his father's pocket watch.  The Genii want to use the military to back the Coalition.  Woolsey tries to convince Atlantis would be a better choice.  They need someone on the inside to push the agenda and Dimas is reasonable.  Shiana votes against them and thinks they're conspiring with the Wraith.  Sheppard formed an alliance with Todd after he fed on him and their best chance of escape was together.  Todd helped them with the Replicator fleet.  They won and the Wraith are in disarray but it won't remain this way forever.  If they don't want Atlantis around to help them then they should vote guilty.  Which Shiana does.  Diamas and Kelore vote not guilty.  Sheppard claims he "never doubted Woolsey for a second."  He missed the uniform and wears his suit.  Woolsey used his legal skills, eloquence and a bribe to pull this off.  Sheppard asks why they're here if they can't make a difference?

Have to say even if I do so myself, ha, this episode so reminded me of the one I wrote back in 2005 Trial by Gate, (blogged earlier) cos it had a kind of legal scenario in that with Sheppard having to face charges, and I wrote mine before this episode, how uncanny is that.  Spooky!

Whilst not all bad, this episode did have some pitfalls leading to two opposing views.  You can either agree that with Atlantis being found the humans were responsible for awakening the Wraith, using the Replicators against the Wraith was detrimental towards humans as they turned on them, but then again from Stargate SG 1 episodes, the Replicators were already seen as a destructive force, so don't see how Atlantis could be held responsible for this alone.  Then there was Michael and creating him.  But on the other hand as Sheppard said, they would have woken up anyway and it was the Wraith who attacked them unilaterally and nowhere is it said or written that you cannot defend yourself against such threats.  Wraith attacks were ongoing even before the Atlantis team arrived and would have continued regardless of whether they interfered or not.  Come on this isn't exactly the Star Trek Prime Directive we're referring to here.

This episode had the viewers in two mindsets: either acting as prosecution or defence.  The question remains: would these worlds have been any better off without Atlantis being around - considering their primitive nature and having no defences against the Wraith.  Which kind of gets answered in a roundabout way and then doesn't at the same time, if you get my meaning.

The Genii being behind the 'trial' didn't come as that big of a shock as they seem to be the only other ones with weapons to fight the Wraith.  But their intentions to be the might behind the Coalition can be taken with a pinch of salt.  They can't be trusted and have an agenda of their own.  They always have had this.  Again the question : who would you want on your side, covering your back: Atlantis or the Genii?  No contest there.

The episode also demonstrated the 'legal' manipulative skills showing Woolsey is a worthy opponent and not an altogether inept leader.  Mind you Woolsey did have to go resort to the tactics of the Genii by using bribery.
Ronon: "I say we go to Plan B (what was Plan A then, oh Sheppard playing for time until rescued)  wait for the guards to come in.  I beat 'em up, we take their guns, we shoot our way out of here."  And go where exactly.
Sheppard: "What's next on the Agenda?  Did we step on the rose bushes on our last trip to Vidina?"  Was an allusion to Star Trek: The Next Generation and the episode Justice, where Wesley Crusher falls on a flowerbed and is sentenced to death.

As for the clip show, they just made you lament for the good old days of the show, well, it did show how good it was in the past, it still was, but this season was the last one so it appeared the writers etc just kind of gave up on some episodes.

Episodes alluded to here or shown in clips were: Underground, the Hive, Wraith Queen, Spoils of war, No Man's Land, Progeny, Lifeline, Common Ground, be All My Sins Remember'd.  As for the final scene with Woolsey and Sheppard on the balcony with cigars and drink in hand, that was straight out of Boston Legal where two characters would do this.  (Played by William Shatner and James Spader.)

The Federation Woolsey mentions early on is similar to the one in Star Trek: the United Federation of Planets in the series.  In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode Inquisition, Dr Bashir had to defend himself.  Also in Stargate SG1 episode Cor-Ai, Teal'c faced charges of atrocities whilst serving Apophis and Jack had to dend him.

Alex Levine posted on his blog at Scifi.com, "the coolest part of the show which is why people watch clip shows - is that you'll get to see pretty much every cool space battle we've done - keep your eyes open for the character of Myrus who is played by my real life brother - Tobias Slezak (different last name.)  He did a great job."  Tobias was also in SG1 episodes Heroes Parts 1 and 2.

CSI:Miami 10.3 "Blown Away" Review

As three tornadoes rage over Miami, Ryan (Jonathan Togo) and Walter (Omar Miller) respond to a call out at a trailer park. They arrive to a CS and try to protect the evidence and Walter suggests they cut around the carpet to preserve as much of the evidence as they can.  However the tornado hits.  Walter finds a closet for them to shelter in but Ryan tries to move the DB.  Walter throws him a lifeline in the form of some tree lights but can't hold onto Ryan.  He's blown away as the title suggests.

Horatio (David Caruso) and Delko (Adam Rodriguez) come after the two but arrive too late.  They look for Ryan and Horatio hears him.  The search is on for the DB and Natalia (Eva La Rue) says Tripp is searching for her parents among the evacuees.  Her parents arrive and are adamant she's not their daughter, Ellie (Hayley Chase) as she's at Miami Dade.  They didn't check her room when they left.  Natalia runs into a man  who makes a run for it. He calls himself a scavenger and was stealing.  An object is recovered from his bag which Natalia calls a satellite dish.  A rescue dog locates Ellie in a tree and Walter offers to buy the dog the best Porterhouse going.  Ellie must have been a heavy sleeper not to have heard her parents rummaging around the place.

Walter finds the 'satellite dish' is a weather data collection 'thing' as Natalia calls it and he notices the writing on the side has been worn down.  He determines the magnetic pull will be stronger on the inside when he places a magnet there and the iron fillings will cling to it, revealing a phone number.  How come Natalia didn't know all that.  Seems like it was just a lesson for the viewer too.

Horatio has put Walter up for a commendation for saving Ryan's life but he doesn't want it, since he doesn't think he did this.  Notice Ryan and Natalia are the ones who really get put through the wringer on this show and get hurt more frequently than anyone else.  Oh and the sharp projectile hitting the closet door reminded me of Ryan getting hit with the nailgun.

Ronnie (Jamie Bamber) and Leon (Bernardo de Paula) claim to be stormchasers and are in it for the money rather than data collecting, which was a clue, where better to find loot around than in the middle of a storm where no ones around.  Walter finds the data collection dish had a camera and he manages to pull some footage which shows a car and a person outside the park.  The licence plate is identified to Travis (Chris Sheffield)  Ellie's boyfriend, as ME Tom (christian Clemenson) pointed out she was wearing a Claddagh ring.  Travis is an ROTC cadet and wanted their relationship kept secret until he receives his commission in the navy.  He went to look for her and hung around for 20 minutes.  Natalia says there's more to his story and Horatio replies, "there always is."

As Delko concludes his search for survivors, a dog with a bloody paw approaches him, leading him to a man with a wound on his neck.  The wound is bubbling and ME Tom tells him he's still alive.  Delko has to put a tube from a pen in his throat to enable him to breathe and before doing so, he removes a piece of cloth from his wound.

Delko asks Calleigh (Emily Procter) if she can look after the dog as she was looking for one.  She identifies the material as being a parachute belonging to a weather testing probe.  See everything leads back to those shifty storm chasers.  She finds the probe was fired from a potato gun and constructs one of her own.  The probe is still inside the man and must be removed or it will kill him.

Ryan returns to work and he and Walter examine the probe.  He recalls Pa is the Pascal unit for pressure and is used to measure barometric pressure.  They determine the probe was fired before the tornado struck from the readings.  Thus this is no longer considered an accident.  Leon and Ronnie ID the man as Jared (Phillip Jeanmarie) who wanted to be part of their team.  Leon thinks he's dead and conveniently enough Delko finds a bag of loot in Jared's car causing him to change his mind about him.  He's gone from a poor Vic to criminal.  Well that was quick of him to rush to judgement, especially since the evidence isn't even in yet.

ME Tom finds Ellie was pregnant and Travis knew.  Now his CO also knows and he claims he changed his mind about keeping the baby and was there to apologize.  He asks for a lawyer.  Ellie's cheek has traces of steel wool, ketchup and flour which Natalia thinks she could have had for breakfast.  Oh please - as Walter says you don't eat steel wool.  These can be used to make homemade brass polish.  Travis admits he couldn't help her and she died cos he froze.  She was attacked by Leon and Ronnie.  Jared tried to help her and  he was chased.  Horatio tells them Jared called 911 since that led Ryan and Walter to the CS.  Ronnie blames Leon and Leon adds it was all Ronnie.

Ryan and Walter share a moment, Ryan says Walter did save him as he let go of the lights which allowed him to hold onto the pipe.  Walter turned down his commendation.  They can't Hi-5 cos of Walter's hands and Ryan's knuckle, so they bump shoulders.  Delko tried to make Walter look stupid at the beginning and even called him as such - but Walter adds "it was a tornado."  What would he have done?  Delko's too busy later on trying to turn Jared into a thief just cos he finds the loot in his car.  Doesn't for a second think it could have been planted.  Especially since the evidence showed the probe was fired before the tornado hit.  Not to mention he and Horatio driving through the brunt of the tornado to get here. Don't like Delko, never did since season 1.

Ryan says surviving an F2 tornado will get them free drinks for life.  Also Ryan mentioning being called Dorothy when he returned to work, so that must make Walter Toto.  The tornado was probably the highlight of the episode.  The last disaster Miami had was the tsunami in 3.7 Crime Wave and that was an excuse for a bank heist, so this plot wasn't that original.  The suspects were obvious since there wouldn't be that many people crazy enough to be around in an F2 tornado.

Horatio telling her father, Grant (Louis Herthum) Ellie was with people who care was a nice touch, we haven't seen much of his caring side in  a long time.  Not surprised Jared didn't open his eyes when Delko came round since the last time he was was there set him off on a convulsion, but he sheds a tear.

CSI 12.18 "Malice In Wonderland" Review

Andrew and Lisa (Amanda Jane Cooper) have an Alice in Wonderland themed wedding which is raided by  a masked Cheshire cat and white rabbit, with guns.  DB (Ted Danson) says he loves big weddings, the "splendour of a storybook."  Ecklie (Marc Vann) tells him no one saw the getaway vehicle and the mayor has him on the case as big weddings bring in dollars.  It's also a robbery/homicide.  Finn (Elisabeth Shue) hates such events cos her feet hurt from the shoes.  Is that all, would've thought she'd come up with something more personal seeing as she's been married a few times herself.

She notices the blood spatter and the bullet hole to Andrew's head.  David (David Berman) doesn't find any exit wound and DB finds GSR on the Mad Hatter's hat.  The Vic was shot execution style.  Finn tells David she's had weddings and marriages don't agree with her.  Morgan (Elisabeth Harnois) refers to Ecklie as a wedding expert.  He replies her mother is a "multiple offender."

Nick (George Eads) promises to get the woman's stolen brooch back.  Lisa met Andrew in English class and he gave her an antique engagement ring.  She didn't let it go and got him shot.  Morgan finds what looks like a button.  Commenting there was something old, new, borrowed and blue, as in the button.  DB sends the ambulance man to help Lisa.  Knew he was suspicious considering you don't get many paramedics with lines in a CSI episode.  They're rarely spoken to.

Mandy (Sheeri Rappaport) refuses to play Hodges' (Wallace Langham) girlfriend since his mother's coming to town with her boyfriend.  He mentioned dating someone at work.  Which was true since he was dating Wendy.  Mandy shows him the "eat me" card.

Doc Robbins (Robert David Hall) determines COD as brain injury.  DB calling it a bullet to the brain.  X-ray didn't show the bullet but the button was fired into his head.  Mandy ran caterpillar's print and came up with a name Charles Dodson.  Sara (Jorga Fox) recalls him as the caterpillar/Alan (Sam Harris).  He says felons can't register as ministers for ten years in Vegas and this was his calling.  Marriage is special and Sara agrees.  Alan calls the criminals efficient and were professionals.

There's another robbery at a drive-in wedding place.  That of Walter (Peter Jason) to Crystal (Nadia Bjorlin) and is caught on surveillance.  Nick finds the SUV was stolen.  DB: "it's official these two are staring to piss me off."  Walter is concerned about his Rolls Royce whereas Crystal is more concerned with the ring.  They have trace on their clothes which Greg (Eric Szmanda) asks them for.

Hodges' mother, Olivia (Jaclyn Smith) says he looks like a real doctor and she's happy he's found someone.  Morgan pretends to be his girlfriend.  The trace on the dress is denture cleaner and Olivia adds, they "finish each other's sentences.  That's adorable."

DB puzzles over the mystery of the button and the gun bruise on Lisa's leg matches a World War II gun. A powder wad to keep the powder in, the blue button they found.  The muzzle was obstructed by the button.  Finn: "have the how, now need the who."  She had to get one of those lines!  Finn says the ring is common in both cases.

Greg and DB visit the ring store and the woman, Emily (Cameron Richardson) asks if they're together?  There's another suspect seeing as she knows all about rings and sold them too.  The ring is rare and Greg comments, "this diamond found a conflict."  She mentions Crystal has been to the store before.

Greg tells Crystal fraud is a crime and she asks if he believes in love.  Of course he does but he can't find the real thing.  Not yet anyway. Olivia invites them to lunch and also asks Ecklie too.  Morgan says the last time she had a meal with him, she was 14.  Olivia made Hodges call him.  Morgan agrees if Hodges puts all of her cases ahead of the trace line for a year.  The Rolls is found and Sara notices the polyester fabric in the car as well as trace on the floor, some sort of filings.  Morgan posits they were melting the gold down.  There are a few shops which do this and Ecklie manages to find one.  He tells Sara she watches too much TV.  Sara wants a break, her husband's abroad and she works the night shift.

Inside the Cheshire cat is found dead and also the brooch is found.  Doc Robbins determines COD to be thermal injuries: gold was poured down his throat.  DB conducts an LRF test and finds the substance is iron pyrites, Fool's gold.  So the DB isn't the real Cheshire cat.  The robbers are planning another job.

Morgan is sorry about lunch and Ecklie says it's a nice thing she's doing for Hodges and it's an excuse for them to catch up.  Morgan folds her napkin like her mother.  Olivia comments Morgan gets her looks from Ecklie and she wants to celebrate young love as Hodges is her only child.  Hodges says they met in LA on the Dick and Jane killer case (season 11) and Morgan was helping on the case.  There was some "cross jurisdictional sexual tension..." as he describes it!  He was getting carried away.

Sara asks Nick if he's working up his commutes but he gave up on that years ago.  He's looking at the traffic map as no one saw the robbers.  Sara says they know shortcuts, so they must be some sort of drivers, taxi or otherwise.  Ambulance as I said.

DB says it was the best day of Lisa's life and her soulmate is killed.  DB found robberies were committed three years ago in New York.  Hey are they implying the CSI:NY lot were useless in not being able to catch the robbers, since such a case would have made it to the NY Crime lab!!  Also there were three in Chicago last year.  Finn makes the comment about three robberies on three consecutive days, so the last one is now.

There might be trace on the cast iron and Mandy checks the latex gloves and the charred skin may be from a finger.  The print matches to the EMT and the polyester was from his uniform.  Kyle (Pedro Pascal) was the same EMT DB spoke to.  He moved here from Chicago and is married to Emily.  Where Olivia and Hodges end up.  Hodges notices the denture cleaner and finally gets it.  They're held hostage.  They're no longer shooting blanks and listened to the police scanner in the ambulance and will leave them in the desert.  Hodges tells Olivia they won't be coming back from the desert.  Nick tells Morgan they're on an open channel and Morgan determines they can hear them too.  Should have known that from the earlier episode when she was kidnapped in the helicopter in 12.5 CSI Down.

Olivia wants Hodges to do something, he's just a lab rat.  His job isn't exciting but the work is fulfilling.  Morgan isn't his girlfriend and he undoes the duct tape, knocking Emily out.  Kyle drives to a roadblock.  Morgan looked worried didn't she, especially as she's been in that situation too.

Ecklie says Kyle admits to everything but Emily threw him to under the bus as Finn puts it.  Finn returns the ring to Lisa.  Olivia admits she doesn't have a count boyfriend, he probably can't even count.  She's proud of her son, he saved her life and he decides to go to Italy with her.  Finn stays for the service and Sara receives a plant from Grissom.  DB looks at his wedding album, what he keeps that in the office.  Morgan brings take out to share with Ecklie.

So CSI had to get in on the whole fairytale/Alice in Wonderland, Once Upon A Time theme with this episode, especially when DB says about the storybook weddings.  Also we've just had the Mad Hatter episode too from Once Upon A Time.

This episode was similar to the CSI:Miami season 8 Meltdown one with the robbery in the jewellery store, where the man's fiance worked across the street.  He held onto the ring and wouldn't give it up and he was there to buy an engagement ring.  The trace found under the DB's nails was latex.  Here Mandy also examines the latex to find a print.  Boric acid was discovered leading Horatio to determine the gold was being melted down to sell and it led Horatio and Jesse to the entire gold melting ring run by women.

Wouldn't have thought they'd have left out Brass in such an episode but they did.  Liked this episode for a few reasons, not least so that Jaclyn Smith made an appearance and she's hardly seen on TV these days.  Also cos it made subtle references to some of the character's personal lives, but not in a full on way.  Sara saying marriage is special and receiving the flowers/plant at the end from Grissom.  Ahh he's always sending her something floral!  Greg being asked if he believes in true love.  Finn being sentimental in returning the ring to Lisa and staying for the service, adding plenty to her caring character.

DB reminiscing about his own wedding.  Morgan and Ecklie breaking the ice between them.  The only one not asked about love or marriage was Nicky!  Not to mention, no one else met Hodges' mother which was  a shame, unlike Ray's wife whom practically everyone at the lab met or commented on.  Let's hope the show remedies that for Jaclyn's next appearance.

CSI: NY - 7.13: "Party Down" Review

A truck with party-goers crashes into the river with all on board and the CSIs investigate to find one malicious killer is behind the crash, just to exact his own revenge.

A party goes awry when the truck it's being held on crashes through a barrier and falls into the river.   CSI:NY's version of Titanic (1997) on a truck.   Mac (Gary Sinise) arrives on the scene and looks at the survivors.   Jo (Sela Ward) watches the truck being lifted out of the river.   Jo comments there were probably about 20 people inside.   Mac notices they had a lucky escape through the escape hatch in the roof of the truck.    There are two dead.  A DB is revealed inside.   Mac: "Make that 3."   Flack (Eddie Cahill) calls it a truck party gone bad.   Mac calls him Don and not Flack here.   Trucks are being converted into nightclubs now, the new fad.   Jo says the truck was meant to be stationary.   Two cabbies saw it through the barrier.   Thought it was the two workers who saw the truck, didn't think the two cabbies were that close to the river.   Flack guesses the driver must have got out and ran away.

Mac: "Crashing this party wasn't an accident."  Hawkes (Hill Harper) and Lindsay (Anna Belknap) process the truck.   Lindsay finds the keys to the truck in the glovebox, but the water has removed any biological trace.   The truck was hotwired.   The cannister without the label contains acetylene.   The hatch was wielded shut.   The work was shoddy so it was broken open otherwise there would have been more casualties.    Lindsay disappeared for a long time, then I spoke too soon and she was back!

The survivors are questioned at the precinct and one guest says to be there you had to be noticed, meaning it wasn't a party for losers, to put it bluntly.   Flack asks who threw the party?  She found out about the party from someone at work.   Chris (Carter MacIntyre)  didn't even realize the truck was moving until it crashed.   None of them realized they were on the move, talk about being caught in the moment!  Danny (Carmine Giovinazzo) asks if they knew anyone at the party?  No one noticed when the door was closed.   Chris broke through the hatch to let everyone escape.    The backdoor was closed.   Flack says they'll find who did this.   Danny asks if they knew the host.   Abigail (Marla Sokoloff) calls Chris a hero.   One of the survivors, Neil (Michael McMillian) says when he escaped and got to the surface he felt he was reborn, when he took his first breath of air.   That was a clue.

Sid (Robert Joy) conducts an autopsy on Cameron who had river water in his lungs and stomach, he drowned.   Hawkes notices that the second Vic, Brett had his throat crushed from the impact of the truck.   The third Vic, the female died of hypothermia and must have been in pain.   Her prints are in AFIS from a DUI charge, as Victoria Enzo (Deja Howell).    Her father is Carmen Enzo, (Paul Ben-Victor).    Head of the Sanitation Workers Union.   Jo believes Victoria could have been a target.   Mac recalls he betrayed his Union members so it could be retribution on the part of one of them.  

Mac questions Carmen and tells him they don't have a suspect yet but are making every effort in the case to catch the killer.   Victoria could have been targeted because of him.   Mac: "Not everybody cares about the rules."  Like Mac does.   Flack tells Mac about Jessica (Alexa Havins).   She was meant to be at the party and not Victoria.   She received an invite but had to work late at the bar.   No one else could get in after 12 midnight so she couldn't arrive late.   Of course the truck wasn't going to be there later on.  Mac adds no one was getting out either.   They question the survivors on who else was personally invited, thus leaving 4 survivors and 4 potential suspects.   They need to find a connection between them.   Each one of them holds a picture of the events.

Jessica doesn't recognize anyone.   Chris noticed Abigail at the party, but not before.   Abigail doesn't remember anyone either.   Neil  tells Mac his parents taught him to look past physical appearances (another clue.)  Which Mac calls being a good thing, but it doesn't work for everyone though and especially not in today's world, where looks are everything.   Well it's the first thing you notice about someone!  Danny believes it must be someone with a grudge.  Neil recalls getting phonecalls in the middle of the night and hearing a man's voice.   Funnily enough he was the only one to hear a voice.   Cos Chris got calls too, but no one said anything.   Abigail recalls the garbage cans were rifled through, years ago.   Danny says Jessica's car was broken into but nothing was stolen.   Jo believes it could be the work of a stalker, but just one.   A stalker is obsessed and he only has one object of his intense hate and obsession.

Adam (AJ Buckley) processes the invitation.   The paper used was vellum and the ink was Japanese and it contained human blood from the artist who made the invite.   Her name is Aiko (Haviland Stillwell) and she has a record.   They check out her 'exhibition' to question her and Jo calls themselves "the art police."  Flack ogles the women in her exhibition and asks one of them, "How you doin'?"  Jo has to drag him away!   Good to see Flack back into looking at women; as he used to do that in other seasons.   Remember when he had to interview a woman, he would always look at them in a certain way.   But not the female suspects though.   Jo calls her by her actual name, Wanda and she's an ex-con.   She uses her blood to verify the authenticity of her work.   A man paid her $20,000 to make 4 invites.   Flack asks for a description, but beyond, dark hair, and stutters; she doesn't give much of one.   Jo asks her to sketch him.   Wanda comments she makes men nervous, he didn't like to maintain eye contact with her.   That was another clue.

Mac shows Neil the sketch of the suspect and come on, it was so obvious the sketch matched Neil, he was staring Mac right in the face.   The shape of his face was round and chubby.   But  Neil, thinking he was clever, alters the sketch to look like someone else.   He posits he saw a man on the street with that description staring at him.   Notice out of all the suspects/survivors, Neil was the only one who really recalled anything and tried so hard to be helpful.   A sure sign of guilt in CSI: Miami, when suspects are too helpful and cooperate.   Jessica looks at the sketch and knows him.    She calls him Johnny, (Brian Collins).   See

Neil wasn't so clever, since he altered the sketch to look like John and Jessica recognized him.   Providing another piece of the puzzling connection between them.   She and John were engaged and met senior year in college.   She saw him again three years ago, but he became possessive and needy.  He called off the engagement.   He began following her, just to make John into a convincing suspect.   Did anyone think to question why John's behaviour had changed.   No, it was because he was being stalked and so he became paranoid to the point of isolating himself, as Mac says later.   Flack calls John a choirboy.   Danny comments it's a big leap to a murder.

Chris interrupted a man breaking into his locker, but didn't see him.   Mac feels their lives are all connected.   Checking out John's apartment, Danny finds dried blood.   He comments on the deadbolts in his apartment and says he was afraid.   Mac calls it living in social isolation.   Mac lifts the newspaper on the window and sees Carmen outside.   Mac is taking care of the case himself but will let him know if he finds a suspect.   Carmen replies not if he finds him first.   Danny checks out the blood to find it was from two donors, both male.   Matched one profile from the dark hair in the blood to John.   He is found as a DB by the coastguard.  

Sid says he was in the water 24 hours and there's something inside his head wound, which he calls evidence of penetration trauma.   Jo comments from his clothes that he must have been a guest at the party and wanted to be noticed.   There's an invite in his pocket, but Wanda only made 4.   So one of the survivors is lying.   Sid removes the object from his head.   Lindsay processes his boots.   John was being harassed.   Danny surmises he surprised someone at his place.   Flack adds they fought and he got away.   Lindsay reveals the boots have the same pattern as was found on the driver's door of the truck.   So the driver was trapped inside.   Mac thinks he saw the driver and went to save him, but he killed John first.   Hawkes identifies the truck as having a Demon Dog for a hood dummy.   One of the horns was embedded inside John's head, that Sid removed and was the murder weapon.   Danny accuses Jessica, but her alibi checks out at the bar.

Flack recalls "Dragonlady" Wanda telling them the man stuttered.   So it's not Abigail.    Leaving Chris and Neil as the main suspects.   Chris doesn't  believe himself to be a hero and he doesn't want the attention.   He hates publicity.   Neil's parents died in an accident and Mac asks if he got help for that.   Neil responds by saying there's nothing wrong with him.   Mac never said there was.   Neil flinches when a policewoman comes in with water and he doesn't take the glass from her, then drops it on the floor.   (Fancy giving someone who's just come out of the drink, a glass of water!)

Women scare him and make him nervous.   So Jo questions him.   She wonders why someone like Neil got an invite to a party, since he's just an average nobody.   "A loser, the kind that women like her don't know exist."  Jo isn't better than him, but she's not a killer.   She said something similar to the killer in Do Not Pass Go, when she said she would do anything to protect her family, except she wouldn't be able to live with herself if she had killed the wrong person.

Mac tells him he was plotting revenge for years and his inheritance helped pull it off.   Only he didn't reckon with the CSIs on the case, even though obvious clues were missed this episode.   The connection was Neil.   He tutored Chris who never invited him to any party.   Abigail grew up across the street from his family and was his best friend until she left him.   Jessica didn't even know his name, but they found the poems and the sketches, and the photos with John.   Neil says he deserved to die, so did Jessica, But did the others.   He stutters now.   Mac will make sure he spends his time in solitary confinement.   See John's face was much thinner.   He saved Neil and he killed him.   Jo tells Neil he was his own enemy.

Did they also forget about Carmen and his threats of revenge here.   There's always a gun in the crowd when the scene is shown like that.   Carmen shoots Neil and is arrested.

Thought this episode was a bit sloppily written in places and not up to the usual CSI:NY standard.   Especially with Mac not noticing the resemblance between Neil and the sketch of the suspect.   Not remembering Carmen would exact revenge when they just walked Neil out.   How Neil was the only one to actually hear a man's voice on the prank calls and the only one to see John.   Also this episode took place more in the precinct itself than the lab.

They usually have illegal gambling on such trucks so they can move around, but here it was converted into party use.   Great to see Flack knowing the lowdown on these fads, but perhaps he probably asked around, cos you wouldn't expect to find him in such a place.

The title was self-explanatory of course and having a pun in there too!  In CSI:NY season 2 opener, Zoo York,  Mac notices a truck parked outside, where the man inside was a mobster and the uncle of the Vic.   He gets in on Mac's investigation of the case .   The killer subsequently disappears and Mac knows the uncle is behind the disappearance and the killer's probable death.   But the uncle gets away.   Mac promises to get him one day.   Here it was quite similar, Carmen got his retribution but got arrested afterwards.

Oh incidentally in this same episode, Zoo York, there was a character with the last name Danville, who was a killer and they gave that surname to Jo.

The Closer 7.8 "Death Warrant" Review

Brenda (Kyra Sedgwick) and Gabriel (Corey Reynolds) meet with an inmate in prison and Brenda is leered at.  Gabriel hates being here.  Brenda adds, "without a gun too."  They meet with Ray Diamond (Jon Sklaroff) who is a pro per, i.e. he represents himself and he wants to give them info on a hit in exchange for a deal.   Problem being he lied about a previous hit.  The murder hasn't happened yet.  He gives them a case number he's memorized.  It concerns Robert Curtis, (Andrew Polk) the banker for the Garcia cartel.  DDA Hobbs (Kath E Mazur) is the prosecutor.  Pope (JK Simmons) doesn't want them investigating since the city can't afford to and it's an LA County case.

Sanchez (Raymond Cruz) comments on how high powered prisoners aren't able to have access to calls etc.  Flynn (Tony Denison) says they've been investigating the Cartel for years.  Tao (Michael Paul Chan) adds Curtis is their banker and manages all their money.  Fritz (Jon Tenney) believes they can use Curtis's testimony to track the Garcia's money.  Brenda finds ways to keep on the case by asking Raydor (Mary McDonnell) to investigate the complaint made by Ray of being beaten by the LAPD.  Raydor can interview him.

When Raydor arrives, Ray is found dead.  Stanton (Sean Carrigan) tells her how they all like to kill people inside and Raydor asks how he could have been killed in such a facility.  Coroner's assistant Kendall (Ransford Doherty) says he was stabbed at least 6 times so how could he have told them he wasn't beaten up.  On the surveillance they see Ray was visited by a female and she kissed him.  Raydor wants to watch the video again and see them exchanging a kite.  Her name is Maria (Lea Loren) and Buzz (Phillip P Keene) says she's half Ray's age.  Provenza (GW Bailey) replies, "the heart wants what the heart wants."  Raydor focuses on Ray telling her about the high speed chase he was involved in and so she still has a case.

Gavin (Mark Pellegrino) arrives and shows them his billing hours.  He needs to interview the entire team.  Raydor says he's here cos of the leaked info.  Gavin defended Flynn and Provenza steals his punchline.  Gabriel asks if this has been cleared with their Union reps. Taylor (Robert Gossett) offers to go first.

Hope tells them the hearing is in secret in a police sub-station.  Fritz thinks someone could know about it seeing as the Cartel has sources which the judge doesn't.  Brenda wants to join the security detail and if she's going, then Fritz is too.  Brenda adds last time a murder wasn't prevented, they were sued.

Taylor has nothing to add to the deposition and Gavin asks what the detectives said when they returned.  Gabriel said it was a lousy day which he explains ended with them letting off a murderer.  Gabriel's name keeps cropping up a lot and clearly he wasn't happy with leaving Turrell alone out there, even though he was  a murderer.  Also he's the first one to ask about Union reps and everyone is asked about him.  As if the writers are focusing our attention on him being the mole, which is unlikely.  I mean he saved Brenda last episode and he was one of the first people she met when she arrived in season 1.

Curtis likes Brenda but not Fritz.  The Cartel runs a business and Brenda adds they also kill people.  Brenda asks about Maria who is on Garcia's payroll.  Nick (Brian Howe) his lawyer says he shouldn't be questioned without him.  Liked Brenda's bright pink shoes.  Now where was I  Raydor calls to tell her Maria is on Alvera St, the location of he hearing and is driving around.  Brenda doesn't want her to lose her.  Raydor: "why would I lose her?" Hope wants Nick to represent Curtis at the hearing and Fritz goes with them.

Tao has nothing to say either and no one spoke to him.  Though he says he told the lawyer something, which we don't get to hear.  In fact there's plenty we don't get to hear in the questioning, cos it'll probably give something away too soon if we did.  Sanchez has his own questions for Gavin, as does Flynn when he asks what happens if an officer finds small bills, is he obligated to look for the owner?

Curtis is the only one who knows where the Garcia's money is kept.  Maria picks up a passenger. Hope is shot at through the coffeeshop window and Fritz saves her.  How did they know where she was?  It had to have been Nick.  The passenger makes a run for it and Raydor shoots him with a bean bag gun.  Tao found money and photos of the location of the hearing in Maria's car.  The team have a new found respect for Raydor after her shooting demo and so do we.

Why go after Hope when she could be replaced with someone else?  Brenda tells Curtis he wasn't the target and Nick told Curtis the address of the hearing.  He denies it since all the cartel are in lock-up, they knew the location since Nick was there as his counsel.  If they killed Curtis they wouldn't get their money.  Nick was trying to get Curtis into jail and Curtis signed off on the money.  Nick told him what to do with the money  so he's part of the criminal enterprise.  Which means Nick isn't protected by privilege.  Fritz arrests Curtis as Curtis confessed he gave money to Maria.

They need to get Nick and Brenda tells of how she put a man on the street.  He already knows of Turrell and claims she isn't different from him.  Nick wants a deal.  Brenda says he paid Maria and she can arrest him on 14 counts of murder.  She's not bothered about the money but only about the people who were almost killed, including Fritz.  She can send him to lockdown.  Where Brenda adds, "when you see Turrell in hell, you ask him what I wouldn't dare to do."  Hope says she can put Nick in protective custody.

Buzz says Brenda did speak to him and asked him for Ding Dongs.  Provenza is asked if he discussed the case with anyone outside Major Crimes and he doesn't answer.  He instead says the questions imply one of them is cooperating with Turrell's attorney and he finds it insulting.  As does Brenda.  Taylor concludes there's a leak in the Division.  Gavin posits everyone here all talk to each other about everything, so if everyone talks about it, everyone knows.  SO they should tell Goldman if the case gets to court Gavin will win.  So now everyone knows about the leak.

Hope offers to put Nick in protective custody and yet he was the one who wanted her dead and he knew where she was.  Though Maria probably could have followed her when she left the hearing.  Was this meant to be in stark contrast to Brenda and not keeping Turrell in protective custody when she knew what would happen to him.  Brenda does threaten Nick and mentions Turrell and what she did, which the team find intriguing.  Also she doesn't really care what she says or does at this point since she almost lost Fritz and he was more worried about Brenda getting hurt.  Ah true love.

Still we are kept hanging concerning the mole.  Isn't the whole point of the mole's purpose defeated now that everyone knows and Gavin declares he will win regardless of anything Goldman can do.  Yet we are still kept hanging as to the leak's identity.  Catchy title as Brenda signed off on Turrell's death warrant when she released him and here she's willing to do the same thing to Nick.  Again without hesitation, so much for mentioning being sued for not preventing a murder this episode and in a few earlier ones too.

CSI 12.20 "Altered Stakes" Review

The scene opens at a baseball game between the CSIs and LVPD Vice.  DB (Ted Danson) tells Finn (Elisabeth Shue) he brought her here for the team.  Where was Sara (Jorga Fox) I have to ask, would have thought since she was the one who worked with Carlos (Enrique Murciano) in his first appearance in season 10.4 Coup de Grace that she would have been in this episode too, but no, they chose to keep her out of this one.  I know CSI  makes a habit of having actors miss out an episode or two, but sometimes it just gets  a bit too full on. I like to see all of the cast every week.

Finn knocks the ball almost out of the park and stops to flirt with Carlos at third base.  She'd like a rubdown later for her leg.  DB suggests "maybe a cold shower."  Nick (George Eads) gets a call from Brass (Paul Guilfoyle) and as they don't have 9 players to play, they must forfeit the game.  Just as Henry (Jon Wellner) is about to bat.  Nick thinks Henry's been saved by the call.

DA Melvoy (Larry Poindexter) comments on Det Sam Vega leaving behind his dirty laundry and the Carl Bowden (David Atkinson) case is being overturned.  Nick recalls Bowden beat and killed a boy in the alley.  Vega apparently beat him into confessing.  They can't use any of the evidence subsequently obtained and need new evidence.  Nick adds they lost the game too. I'm glad that Nick gets these cases to investigate, cos apart from being one of my fave CSI characters, he also gets to captivate with his emotions and how seriously he takes his work and how much catching criminals means to him.  He really shows his sympathy and empathy for the Vics.

Finn tells DB she didn't feel any pain until she saw "that cute guy on third."  To which I will add there are plenty out there who will agree!!  Come on, it's Enrique!!  DB says he's a cop...so?  Nick opens up to DB and tells him he liked Vega and didn't think he was dirty.  DB: "No one starts out that way, but once you are, you are."  Nick recalls Vega questioning Bowden and he left the room.  When he returned Bowden had a cut lip and Vega alleged he came after him.  Bowden then confessed and led them to the body of Robert.  Nick didn't tell anyone what happened, it was about trust.  The killer is in prison and his mother got to bury her son.  DB's words of wisdom are that she would have got to do that eventually and the evidence would have led them to the killer.  DB: "...see if forensics could do what the police couldn't."

Greg (Eric Szmanda) ran the DNA and matched it to Robert's toothbrush.  They found the DB.  There wasn't any trial.  So Finn adds the evidence box remained closed.  DB takes the evidence off the board which isn't available: the confession, the autopsy and the DB.  Finn says they've worked with less.  DB wants to check out the alley.

Nick recalls the bloodpool near the dumpster (I'm thinking they would have had photos to document all this evidence) and a cinder block with blood, the murder weapon.  Greg matched the urine to Robert.  There was also the presence of low blood spatter. DB deduces he must have kept hitting Robert.  An eyewitness in the car saw Bowden leave the alley but without a body.  His car wasn't found.  Nick remembers a chemical smell, like a solvent, superglue-ish.

Carlos wants to work the case and asks Brass for permission.  IAB cleared him and Vega was his step father.  He needs to do this and Brass lets him work it off the record.

Morgan (Elisabeth Harnois) comments the trip to the alley by DB was to jog Nick's memory.  Greg mentions how Grissom taught them by the Socratic method.  With DB Morgan adds, "by the time you figure out what was happening, it's already over."

Bowden's car was in Impound for 7 years and was towed two blocks from the alley.  Brass notices it has front end damage.  Carlos finds it was involved in a hit 'n' run.  So Robert's DB was never in the car.  Seems they keep coming up with obstacles.

The chemical is identified as octo cyanoacrylate known as 'Invisiskin,' a liquid bandage.  This was found on the cinder block.  Bowden was a mechanic.  Ben (Brett Rice) his former boss recalls Bowden was a hothead and he had access to the shop and the keys.  Morgan talks to another mechanic (Justin Klinger) and looks at his hands.

Nick posits Bowden needed another car and Greg has brought in a customer's Buick.  Hodges (Wallace Langham) listens to Italian opera after his trip to Italy with his mother and speaks Italian to Morgan about Italian being the language of love.  Notice how Morgan and Hodges always speak about such things so openly.  He finds the same chemical on the leather steering wheel of the car.

Henry tells Nick he was at the batting cages with Finn and he was looking forward to batting.  So Nick asks if this will affect him doing DNA work for him.  The blood results were degraded, a 1 in 43,000 result.  The eye witness died 2 years ago.  Melvoy says they still don't have enough evidence.  Nick knows Bowden should have gotten life for the killing and DB says he'll do it again.  But he didn't think about how he might have done something similar in the past at this point.  Nick wants to collect reference samples from Bowden.  Bowden has been beaten up in prison but he always picks the fights, leading to the clue about looking for past cases with similar MOs.

Finn finds the case they think is the one.  A random attack on a female jogger in the park who was beaten with a log and the officers recalled a chemical smell.  But someone else was already convicted for the crime.  What no one's heard of innocent Vics being convicted.  April (Susan May Pratt) identified David, (Myk Watford) her best friend's husband.  He had wood splinters in his hand and was seen burning something in his yard. Nick is more interested in the chemical smell.

DB turns off Hodges' opera music when she speaks with him and  Nick finds Bowden's credit card was declined on the day of the attack across the street from the park.  Carlos asks Nick about Vega and wants the truth about him.  Nick replies there was no code of silence and he knew him to be an honest  cop.  Cos he sees the best in most people. Maybe he didn't want to know about the real Vega and Carlos mentions the same thing.  He wanted to be like him when younger.  Nick thinks he was a good guy and he was trying to protect him.  Bowden was fired on the day of the attack.

Finn wants to hear David's side and April insists David attacked her.  David wanted to talk to her about his wife.  He stacked firewood for the children and burned rags from the garage.  He doesn't think Finn believes him either.  Finn: "I never said that I didn't believe you."  Hodges found the trace of chemical on the log, meaning David never handled the wood or no sample was taken from the contaminated piece of the log.  DB tells Melvoy they've won cases on 'specks of evidence.'  The physical evidence contradicts April's claim.

Doc Robbins (Robert David Hall) explains there is a physiological explanation for the brain damage and she suffered repeated blows to her head.  In her traumatized state she could have misinterpreted who she saw.

Greg talks to the dog's owner, Ms Fowler (Kali Rocha) who found April.  Maggie, the dog swallows things and she kept the keys she swallowed. The dog interrupted Bowden from killing April.  Nick finds the keys fit Bowden's car.  DB says they should "arrest the dog for obstruction."  Bowden is arrested as soon as he is released.  Nick asks if he enjoyed his moment of freedom.

The LVPD finish off the match and Finn whispers to Henry that he's being watched by a girl.  Leading the CSIs to win naturally!  Leaving Finn to flirt some more with Carlos.  Oh how many wished they were in her place?!

In CSI episode 3.2 The Accused Is Entitled, errors in forensics from Grissom, well alleged errors cos hey Grissom never did anything wrong, lead to his mentor arriving on the scene for the defence and the CSIs having to re-assess the evidence.  4.4 Invisible Evidence concerns a bloody knife recovered at the CS being ruled inadmissable and the CSIs have 24 hours to come up with new evidence before the murderer is released.  In The Execution of Catherine Willows, a wrong man could be behind bars.  


CSI likes such episodes where the evidence is in conflict, where errors may have occurred  and they have little time to remedy the outcome.  Still as long as it's done in a good way I don't mind watching them.  This episode was particularly interesting as it focused on Nicky and also on Carlos, though not as much and had some character moments, which always add dimension to a show. Nick always gets emotional in most of the scenes where he's reminiscing or talking of a particularly sad subject which affects him profoundly, shall I say and that's one of the many facets that I love about him.

Also this is the first time such a case has been re-opened with newcomers, DB and Finn which also made it different.

Doctor Who Season 7 Trailer

So did everyone catch their Doctor Who fix for the next series of the show in the special trailer.  Amazing wasn't it.  So many clues to leave us still guessing as to which one of the 'Pond's will be killed off and how.  No the pic of the Doctor (Matt Smith) carrying Amy (Karen Gillan) reveals nothing.  I mean Rory (Arthur Darvill) didn't even look shocked.

At least we have Daleks, yay!! in the first episode Asylum of the Daleks.  He gets to taunt them, "You've got me.  What are you waiting for..."  Rory asks who killed the Daleks and the Doctor replies: "Who do you think?"  Then "Dinosaurs in space," 'there aren't any...'  Some sort of 'Transformer type cyborgs.'  Rupert Graves (aka Inspector Lestrade from Sherlock) is shown as an 'Indiana Jones' sort of character.
The Western episode entitled, A Town Called Mercy, wonder if that has anything to do with the Doctor.  Weeping Angels also return.

Plenty to see, can't wait for the first five episodes this August.  As well as the usual Christmas special later in the year.

Don't the cast look great, Matt's got a haircut but must retain his quiff for this role, you know for as long as he plays the Doctor and River (Alex Kingston) in a hat, though it's not a Fez! Ha.

The artwork revealed by the BBC  for the new series is awesome!

Merlin 4.3 "The Wicked Day" Review

The carnival comes to town for Arthur's (Bradley James) birthday and he's not very impressed.  Arthur: "you have the mind of a child."
Merlin: "I'm more intelligent than you."  Arthur's gift is a set of knives.  Uther (Anthony Head) doesn't want to talk about matters of court on his special day and he remembers his son's birthday.

At the celebration, Arthur is tied to a wheel and knives are thrown at him.  He's right up there with an apple in his mouth, like a roasting pig, as if anything would happen to him, he's one of the stars of the show.  There's sedative on the apple and Arthur did look afraid, as Merlin (Colin Morgan) tells him as much.  Arthur visits Uther and Merlin notices Arthur is trouser-less.  Arthur is attacked  but of course Arthur can't fight, so Uther fights in his place.  Getting mortally wounded in the process - but manages to kill the assassin.  So wow that was a quick recovery, Arthur seems fine now the fighting is over.  Arthur won't let Uther die and Uther responds, he's "been ready for some time."  Arthur will make him proud by being a good king.  "I've always loved you."  Oh he finally admits this after ruing over Morgana (Katie McGrath).

Gaius (Richard Wilson) says he has internal bleeding so it's only a matter of time.  Agravaine (Nathanial Parker) rides to Morgana to inform her of the good news.  Morgana has now gone all Goth in her attire and make up.  Arthur is devastated.  He tells her after Uther's death, the kingdom will be weak and she can chose her moment.  That isn't saying much about Arthur and his ability to fight her or be king.

Gwen (Angel Coulby) attends to Uther for Arthur, who can't watch him die.  People hold a vigil for Uther and Merlin finds all this hard to accept.  Arthur thinks magic will help.  Merlin wants to go into his '80 year old' act again and if he can help, then Arthur will change his mind about magic.  Yep he sure will, just becoming like Uther in the process.  Then Merlin won't have to hide anymore.  That's easier said than done.

Gaius warns he's playing a "dangerous game" which is true, since things go awry.  Merlin tells Arthur of the old man in the forest and he can use magic.  Of course Merlin would say yes.  Then Arthur has to blab to Agravaine and he recalls magic caused his mother's death.  This is Uther's time.  SO he can go running off to Morgana again.

They ride to the forest and Merlin wants to stay outside.  Arthur thinks he's afraid, "scream like a big girl if there's any trouble."  Merlin must change into his older self under the guise of needing to pee.  Think this is getting  a bit old.  Merlin the elder, sneers at Arthur who broke his pot, calling him a "clumsy fool."  He knows why Arthur is really here.  "I know more than you can possibly comprehend."  He wants to live in peace - where magic is accepted - that's his price for Uther's life.  He already knows things will go wrong and he claims things will be different when he's king.  They will meet at night.

Hey he pretty was active for an old man!  Merlin is still in the bushes.  Arthur comments there's something very wrong with Merlin.

Gaius questions if something goes wrong, then what will become of Arthur's attitude to magic?  Merlin thinks this may be his great destiny.  Morgana wants to cast her own spell with a talisman to place around Uther's neck.  Thus the healing magic will be reversed and Uther will die.  Agravaine says he will be destroyed which is exactly what she wants.  This is also Agravaine's revenge on Uther.

Gaius uses the same excuse of Merlin being at the tavern again when Arthur comes looking - when Merlin told him he's got a weak bladder.  Now Merlin the elder needs to rest and be carried by Arthur, milking his position for everything he can get is old Merlin.  He was taught by Uther never to trust magic and now he's using it to save him.  Merlin says magic is around him and has been used more times to save Arthur than he knows.  Merlin wants to show "magic ca be used for good."  Depends on who is using the magic doesn't it.  Merlin: "I hope one day you will see me in a different light."

Uther's condition worsens and he dies and yet no one saw the charm around his neck.  Merlin is astounded at what is happening.  Parts of Merlin sound like his younger self when he speaks. Perhaps that's just shock. Gaius finds the charm and posits Uther had no chance.

Merlin knows it was Morgana and she's not happy since Arthur will take over.  Agravaine tells her he will look to him for counsel and he'll make sure Arthur fails.

Arthur's not to blame.  Uther spent 20 years fighting magic and he should have known better.  He was arrogant and this caused Uther's death.  Merlin thinks perhaps nothing could have saved him.  Arthur: "I've lost both my parent's to magic.  It is pure evil.  I'll never lose sight of that again."  As Gaius warned Merlin, he made things worse.

Arthur keeps vigil for Uther.  Merlin blames himself.  Gaius tells him Morgana killed him since Uther's spirit died when she broke his heart.  Hoping Arthur's reign will bring peace to the land.  Arthur needs Merlin now more than ever and when he's king.  Merlin waits for Arthur outside and he didn't want Arthur to feel he was alone.  Merlin's a loyal friend.  Arthur thinks of food like Gaius and Arthur is crowned king.

It came as a bit of a shock the way Uther was killed off and perhaps they could have cut down on the humour a litle bit even if it was to detract from the sombreness of the episode.  Uther is dying and Merlin and Arthur are busy cracking jokes.

Also Arthur finds out about his mother's death at this point in time.  Again maybe it could have been revealed another time or under different circumstances.  Not to mention Uther didn't want Arthur to ever know of this!  Still it reinforces why Arthur will come to hate magic even more.  Not only was magic responsible for taking his mother from him, but it was also responsible for his losing Uther.  Mind you Morgana was to blame here and with his mother, it was Uther.  There was significance in Uther dying a day after Arthur's birthday.  He was afflicted on his birthday and his mother died when Arthur was born.

Other happenings in this episode was Merlin telling Arthur to use magic in the form of his older self, Dragoon. Especially since Merlin and Gaius know of Agravaine being in league with Morgana.  Merlin could have attempted to heal Uther in secret.  Even though Merlin acted this way in the hopes of showing Arthur that magic was good and helpful.  Gaius showed very little regard for his old friend and king and didn't give a second thought to him losing his life or that he was dying.

This episode wasn't very well written since the main protagonists were reduced to cold, uncaring shadows of themselves.  Effectively being portrayed as heartless as Morgana in some scenes.  Odin's assassin was after Arthur and that was completely forgotten about.  Also Morgana not wanting Gwen to be queen, but her killing Uther ensured this very outcome.

Gaius mentioning there was peace in Camelot hopefully now Arthur is king, but there is peace for over 20 years as a result of Uther which was instigated by Uther so he was a good king in that respects.  So much for Gaius saying he hopes there will be peace when Arthur is crowned.  The entire coronation was rushed, something which was meant to have been an important part of the show, as was Uther's death and subsequent period of mourning.  This episode could have been better.

CSI 12.19 "Split Decisions" Review

A man plays a slot machine at a casino and leaves his seat.  A woman replaces him and wins.  Shots are heard and the same man is shot by another wearing an orange shirt.  Yeah, you're going to commit a crime, so make sure you're donned in a bright colour so you're easily identified.  Which was the whole point of the exercise here.

Cue Brass (Paul Guilfoyle) and Nick (George Eads) who search for the shooter.  The casino is meant to be in lockdown.  Archie (Archie Kao) hacks into the surveillance cameras leading Nick and Brass to the killer, but it turns out to be a woman.  He's spotted elsewhere, but when they arrive, he's disappeared into the hotel rooms.  Sara (Jorga Fox) thinks she's cornered him, but it turns out to be Mitch (Larry Mitchell).
Gladys the casino winner tells Finn (Elisabeth Shue) the gunman had a bloody nose.  The Vic is Dr Dennis Kiel (Vaughn Armstrong) and his cash and credit cards are missing.  David (David Berman) finds he was shot once and there are no exit wounds so the bullet is still inside.  Blood drops are also near the DB, which belong to the killer.

DB (Ted Danson) and Finn re-inact what could have happened and find the second bullet in one of the slot machines, since two shots were heard.  This has to be transported back.

Nick and Morgan (Elisabeth Harnois) do a search of the rooms and a bikini clad woman, Shelley (Sonia Rockwell) opens the door.  Nicky doing a 'Flack' (Eddie Cahill) from CSI:NY here in ogling her.  She was waiting for the man to return.  She spent the night with him and even made a video.  Sara and Brass find the Doctors son, Avery (Jackson Pace) in his room.  His father had won $800 at the slot machine, hey Gladys won $4,000.  Sara notices the computer which they need.  That was a clue.

Doc Robbins (Robert David Hall) finds the Doctor's liver is chopped to pieces, calling it "chopped live.r"  He also finds bullet fragments and the jacket; as well as an hourglass shaped object.  Finn finds the same from the slot machine.

Nick and Morgan continue their search and this time, Lee (Andrew Keegan) answers the door.  The man in the photos is his roommate and he acts suspiciously.  Nick finds size 13 shoes which belong to him.  His name is Jordan (Christopher Maxwell) and Nick wants to take Lee downtown and tells him to get a jacket form the closet, where they find Jordan hiding out.  Jordan claims he's not in the photo.  His alibi checks out as he's seen coming back from a game with Lee.  But Archie also finds him on camera with Shelley.

Henry (Jon Wellner) discovers the blood from the casino matches Jordan, as does the condom DNA.  However the prints on the wrapper aren't a match.  The shooter and Jordan could be identical twins.

Morgan finds Jordan was the only child born on that date and checks his financial records.  The man with Shelley is identified as Xavier, (Joshua Desroches) who is found in a hotel room in bed with twins.  He didn't kill the doctor either.  Someone was pulling our leg with this episode and having lots of fun in the process with all these clues and misinfo!

Both Jordan and Xavier won free trips to Vegas.  Finn suggests they use antibody profiling, since that's her speciality, to determine who fired the gun, but the blood samples aren't a match.  The twins were born to different families at different times.

Jordan's mother, Vivan (Stepfanie Kramer) arrives, a lawyer who tells them she had IVF treatment and the doctor was at the same clinic.  He took the remaining embryos and instead of destroying them, he gave them to other families.

Finn solves the bullet mystery discovering they were 'No Rico' bullets, so the gun most likely belongs to an air marshall.  Another child is found, Kevin )Joshua Desroches) and he has had air marshall training.  He is found dead in his room, the result of an OD.  He's left a suicide note on computer.  There's that pesky computer again and who else had one in his room - Avery.  So he has to be a suspect, since they have had child killers in this show before, but also cos of the computer found earlier by Sara.

Doc Robbins finds Kevin had a blow to his head and the pills were already in the Scotch when the bottle was forced into his throat.  DB thinks the twins must have left some DNA behind somewhere.  They think the Vegas trips were booked by the doctor and he withdrew large sums of money from the bank to pay them off as they had such miserable lives.  Whose fault was that - life is after all what you make it.

DNA on the bottle leads to Avery.  He's another child.  They're all brothers and Avery arranged the trip.  He forced Kevin to drink form the bottle but he didn't kill the doctor.  That was Kevin and he was left to take the fall as the other two split the money.  Avery claims his mother was the only one who loved him and his father was cold towards him.  He refuses to turn on the twins and prefers to take his chances in court, since they are his only family.  He went to elaborate schemes just to kill his 'father' when in a few years he'd have left home anyway.  The twins may have been his family, biologically, but he didn't really know them and they left him to take the blame and walked away with the money.

Stepfanie Kramer whom you may recall from Hunter had a very brief role in this.
Brass: "I'm not, like impressed with her story."
Sara: "...she's a defence attorney, she's not a criminal."
Brass: " don't see the distinction."
Everyone telling Archie that at least he knows it's the same suspect he's looking for, when Archie is fed up of his face!

Have to say, CSI has vastly improved in most of its storylines this season which is good for a show running 12 years and now 13.

So Eddie Cahill...

Eddie Cahill keeps a low profile, but when he does get out and about, gotta spread the word!  Even if it is just in pictures!!  Like this one of Eddie on the TCAs red carpet.

Man he looks cute! Roll on season 9 CSI:NY...

Desperate Housewives - 7.17: "Everything's Different, Nothing's Changed" Review

Bree tries to make Andrew see he's an alcoholic. Renee wants to throw her Spring Fling party, even if it's distasteful in the wake of Beth's passing and Gaby wants to come, until she realizes she shouldn't have the party after all

Mary Alice: (Brenda Strong) "We can never know the moment our lives are about to change forever...enjoying a glass of wine, tending to our aches and pains and then when we least expect it, the moment comes."  Paul (Mark Moses) and Susan (Teri Hatcher) each receive calls at the same time, but each with completely different news.   Paul learns of Beth's (Emily Bergl) death and Susan learns she has a kidney donated by Beth; who is still on life support.   Mary Alice: "There are moments that change our lives forever, but not always in the way we might expect it."

Mary Alice: "The women of Wisteria Lane look for any excuse to celebrate...a bottle of champagne...a new dress for turning 39 again...so when my friends heard about Susan's good fortune, they just couldn't resist."  Gaby (Eva Longoria) shouts out, "Congratulations...kidney" to Susan in the hospital.   The doctor calls this a sad day.  They're surprised about Beth and feel sorry for her now, when it's too late.

Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom) is passed out on Karen McClusky's (Kathryn Joosten) couch, drunk and refuses to believe or accept he's an alcoholic.  His partner's given up on him.   Renee (Vanessa Williams) prepares for her Spring Fling party.  Beth wasn't invited to the party as she's a clinger, she'll stick around for months, is Renee's opinion.   Gaby's bought a new Versace dress for the event.  Renee thinks it could be a tribute to Beth.  Would you believe, Renee is even shallower than Gaby.  Susan attempts to comfort Paul with the thought that Beth lives on .   Paul doesn't accept she's dead and wants her to stay that way and Susan doesn't deserve her kidney, she "gave her nothing in life." Well it could be said, neither did he.   Only grief.   He drove Beth to shoot herself, with his behaviour and rejection.   The doctors tell Mike (James Denton) that the legal documents are binding but the hospital won't sanction an action against a grieving husband.

Mike wants to take Paul to court, but Susan refuses, it's Paul's decision, not theirs.  So what about Bree (Marcia Cross) when she found out Beth had signed donation papers but Paul refused to give her the kidney, why didn't Bree step in like she intended to.  No she's busy asking Andrew for help dropping off donuts to an AA meeting.   No one needs to know they're related.   Andrew introduces himself as Elvis, accompanied by the glib comment of, "that's another reason for me to be mad at my mother."

Tom (Doug Savant) introduces Glenn (Ron Melendez) who asks Tom to be CFO of his company, he can't leave Carlos (Richardo Antonio Chavira).   Lynette (Felicity Huffman) insists he accept the job offer.  "Integrity got a better offer from Glenn and turned into prosperity." Andrew talks about the problems with his control freak mother and calls her "Attila the Mom." Bree goes on the defensive.   The residents of the Lane don't want to attend Renee's party and neither does Gaby now.   Bree says it reminds her of Mary Alice.  Renee still pushes ahead as she's had the party for 10 years now.   Gaby thanks Renee for "making me the compassionate one."

Susan thinks Beth killed herself so Susan could have the kidney but it doesn't make sense.   No it wouldn't since she could have still had the kidney without Beth doing that.  Mike reminds Susan it was Beth's final wish.   Lynette, up to her usual antics, attempts to seduce Tom into taking the job.  He still refuses.   He should tell Carlos about the offer and see if he matches it.   Felicia (Harriet Sansom Harris) has Beth declared dead.  Paul refuses to accept she's dead, as we know.  Felicia: "We both know what killed her."  So Paul can't use her anymore.   Their "hate has finally found a victim." Beth loved him and he spurned her.   Paul believes she can recover.

Alex (Todd Grinnell) tells Bree he works, whilst Andrew does nothing but drink.  Drinking helps Andrew get through he day and we know Carlos will find out about his mother's 'accident'.  Bree confides in Andrew about Beth and how she let her walk away when she knew something was wrong.   That's not going to happen to Andrew.  Alex left Andrew.   Carlos insists Tom is valuable to the company but he can't offer him a raise.   Lynette says the company doesn't have any profits since Carlos takes them.   Lynette has to be the one who has to push Tom so that he moves on and doesn't remain stagnant.  Carlos would take the job offer.   They now fight over the job.   It's always about money with these two.

Renee throws her party and Gaby is surprised at the turn out.   All of them wearing "cheap, poly-cotton blend." Renee won't feign sadness.   Beth "did it to herself."  Everyone has pain but Beth didn't care who she hurt.   Renee, really talking about herself lets Gaby know her mother killed herself.   Renee isn't into hugging and refuses to let her death define her.   She chooses life over death and the party is her way of expressing that.   Lynette test drives an expensive car and leaves it parked in Carlo's drive.   Tom is loyal to someone who doesn't care about others, in her effort to convince him to take the job.  He finally relents and accepts the new job.  Lynette confesses to yet another manipulation and Tom loves driving the car.   Paul changes his mind about the transplant.   Susan was horrible to Beth so why did she do this for her?  Paul replies Beth loved people and not because they deserved it.   He cries.

Mary Alice: "There comes a moment when our lives change forever...the moment we admit our weaknesses; the moment we rise to a challenge, the moment we accept a sacrifice...let a loved one go and sometimes the change in our lives is an answer to our prayers."  Felicia gets humanitarian release cos of Beth and now she's going after Paul.  Well she doesn't exactly thank Beth for her sacrifice.   So how come Mary Alice isn't more sympathetic towards Paul in her narrations.

A bit of a routine episode this, so really nothing much has happened, so we think.   But as the title suggests; things have changed for Susan receiving Beth's kidney, Paul admitting Beth is gone.   But there's also  just more manipulation on Lynette's part,  so nothing's changed there and Felicia being released so she can get up to her vengeful tactics all over again.  Then there's Renee admitting her secret about her mother and Andrew attending AA.

Jared Padalecki and Family

Jared Padalecki and Genevieve were out and about at the Vancouver Food Truck Festival, on 29th July 2012 together with their son Thomas.  Who is just so positively cute.  Thomas has his dad's nose I think! At only four months old, he's fast becoming a sweetie heart breaker, following in his father's footsteps already.

It was great to see the couple out, most celeb couples usually hide away and hide their babies away too, waiting for six figure sums before any photos can be published.  At least it's great to see not everyone is like this and Jared and Genevieve are down to earth and can share their family time with others.

Jared also posted a photo of Thomas on his Twitter page showing him dressed in his USA T-shirt to show support for the USA Olympics team!  The caption read: "Thomas has some Olympic pride :) GO USA!!!!"

Awww...

CSI:Miami 10.2 "Stiff" Review

Ryan (Jonathan Togo) is already at a call out and is waiting for Natalia (Eva La Rue) to arrive.  A male DB has been found in his cabana.  Ryan notices the panama hat floating in the air and tries to take a photo of it.  Unfortunately when he shows it to Natalia all you can see is Ryan's reflection and she says as much.  Derek (Brandon Beemer) suffered multiple head trauma from a mysterious object and this murder weapon isn't found.  Natalia looks at the cheques and finds they were all from women and he used them to pay his hotel bill.  Turns out Derek was a gigolo: so how many of those could they squeeze into a Miami episode.  He's been seeing many women but the hotel owner, Hector Romero (Jordi Molla) claims he didn't know what he did and was only interested in getting his money but claims he isn't a pimp.  Knew his daughter, Luisa (Martha Higareda) had something to do with this as she lurked in the background.  Well come on, it's obvious considering he had many women, he had to have at least someone he had deeper feelings for; or claimed to.

Natalia's Hummer acts up and she can't get the alarm/siren to stop.  A man offers to fix it for her, Joe (Eric Winter) then asks her out to dinner and she gives him her card.  He's not put off by what she does.  Natalia accepts without knowing anything about him and only last episode she was complaining about the near misses she's had over the year. You see, she goes for his looks.  Which is exactly what this episode is about.  Women getting their fulfillment from handsome men.

The last woman to see Derek was Gretchen Cambridge (Julia Campbell) and she wants this kept from her husband, Steven (Brian McNamara).  He was in Idaho on business, but you can bet he already knew about her and was around too.  That's apparent too in many other episodes.  She also claimed her husband was away on business.  She was seeing Derek cos he made her feel good and even said she was too old for him but still went ahead.  Tripp (Rex Linn) doesn't want to keep it to himself but Natalia says they were here for a donation.  "We'll collect later."  Which they did, collect the suspect that is.

Delko (Adam Rodriguez) teases Ryan about the hat and Ryan comments he'll never live it down.  At the lab, Walter's (Omar Miller) already heard about the hat but after a bit of ribbing, he says there's a logical explanation for it.  He finds it floats in the glass tank when propane is introduced and Ryan recalls the the propane valve for the fireplace.  He calls Delko but his phone is miles away from him and on vibration too.  Aren't you supposed to keep your phone with you at all times, especially when at a CS.  He then calls Horatio (David Caruso) who rushes to warn them.  Delko notices something's wrong and as he tries to warn Calleigh (Emily Procter) there's an explosion.  Cue Calleigh leap backwards with hair flying everywhere.  There goes their evidence she says.

Later they attempt to salvage what they can and she finds a scorched piece of paper and the valve is also recovered.  By law the propane must have an additive to it so it can be smelt but Hector didn't do this since it was too costly so he will be charged with negligent homicide.  Analysis of the paper leads to an Emma Davis (Samantha Whittaker) and it was her parking pass for the high school she works at.  She was with Derek as it was her first time and she heard him arguing with another man when she left.  He was angry with Derek stealing her from him.  The other man being Joe.

ME Tom (Christian Clemenson) finds the injury to Derek's head didn't kill him but he was left open to the effects of the propane which entered his lungs and caused him to suffocate.  Well either way you can say he still wouldn't have survived.

A chase ensues with Natalia in hot (ha) pursuit of Joe, who is another gigolo working from the hotel too.  Notice Natalia remove her flat heeled shoes when she gives chase but at the CS she was wearing heels.  Tripp knocks him down with the car.  Joe didn't kill Derek and white trace is found on him which Walter thinks it dandruff.  How's that for an image killer, ha.  This turns out to be plastic flakes found in snowglobes and Calleigh finds there were traces of water and glycerin which is what makes the flakes float.

The women also used to give them gifts as Joe tells them and Natalia and Walter trawl through the massive amounts of receipts from Derek's clients.  One receipt is from a shop in Paris where the snowglobe was purchased by Gretchen.

A search of her house leads to Delko finding traces of a sticky substance on the garage floor and also a hammer which was used to smash the globe.  Then disposed of in the garbage, what he couldn't find anywhere else to throw it.  She confesses to killing Derek as she knows it was really Steven.  He saw the two of them together when he got back early and he confronted Derek and wanted him to leave her alone.  He refused, Steven then saw the snowglobe and got angry, repeatedly hitting him over the head with it.  He thought she had bought the globe for him.  Steven still loves her.  Isn't it always the way in these shows, what they couldn't talk about their feelings, so why were they still together?

A piece of leather is found in the valve, which belongs to a shoe and Luisa is suspected.  Her shoes haven't got any leather missing, but Horatio notices the frostbite on her toes from where she kicked the valve.  Didn't know you could just kick it in like that and only suffer frostbite!  Luisa was seeing Derek and fell for him but he refused to give up his work.
Ryan watches the hat float again and this time Walter has it suspended on string.  Love the continuation of their funny antics from season 8.

Everyone's 'nicking' the ol' text on screen these days from Sherlock and here there's text floating around when Walter and Natalia go through the records, to show you what they're looking at.
Ryan: "what are you, 8 years old?"
Walter: "7."
CSI:Miami likes its sexy teaser episodes, for example see season 1's Breathless where the DB was a male stripper, though usually it's the women who are portrayed as such.

As for the title to this episode, double entendre there, me thinks for all ye with one track minds, ah!!

Without A Trace "Nickle and Dimed Part 2" Review

Sam (Poppy Montgomery) tells Jack (Anthony LaPaglia) about her plan to go undercover at Everymart, so she can find out about Colleen (Audrey Marie Anderson).  Jack tells her when she says she’s done she must leave there.  Sam rents Colleen’s motel room and sticks her gun under the bedside cabinet.  She finds one of Jake’s crayons.

Martin (Eric Close) lists the residents of the Glen Capri motel.  Danny (Enrique Murciano) finds that the drug mule Elizabeth used to work at an autopart store.  The supervisor Burdick (Tim Kelleher) doesn’t recall her.  She was found dead in the river.  He also finds bank deposits were made of large amounts of cash twice before she went missing.  She wanted to make more money so he told her about Barr.  She was to deliver a package for him but he hasn’t heard from Barr for a week now.

Sam talks with Amy, (Mary Matilyn Mouser) a girl who used to play with Jake.  She saw a man and heard him mention Deke Barr (Sung Kang).  John had a cell phone and called before Colleen went missing but hasn’t since then.  Jack thinks there must be other recruiters.

Sam now goes to work at Colman Dyecast where she meets Howie (Jerry Kirnion) and Joanna (Mo Gaffney).  She tells Jack about her work and he rubs her shoulders.  He gives Sam a pot plant, she’s to take it out of the window if she’s in trouble.  Sam sits with Amy.

Howie talks to Barr at work.  She gives Jack a licence number.  Joanna might be a mule.  Social services has put Jake with his father.  Sam asks Jack if he finds Colleen’s body whether he’ll pull the plug on this investigation? Barr’s alias is John Burns with a record for armed robbery, assault.  Jack calls him too low level to be picked up.  Sam asks Joanna to lunch.  She lives in a  trailer with her boyfriend and he takes her money for beer.  Sam calls Martin and tells him she’s tired.

Sam has a flashback to when she was little and wanted to catch fireflies at night with her mother, (Lilli Birdsell) who doesn’t let her.  Sam doesn’t want to sleep in the dark.
Deke and Niran (Boyuen) are connected to Burns.  Jack wants Danny to have their photo incase he runs into them.

Sam calls Viv (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) Joanna wasn’t at work today.  Viv and Martin find her at home beaten up.  Martin delivers pizza to Sam and gets a call.  They’ve found Collen’s body in the river.  He gets a picture message on his phone: an ink stamp from Colleen’s hand.  Jack wants Sam to come in now as he’s handing the case over to the locals and the DEA.  She must collect her things from work. She finds Howie is looking for a replacement for Joanna and on the pretext of needing more money asks Brian (Alex Skuby) for work.  Howie says he can help.  She meets Jack and tells him this case is just based on paper trails.  He tells her it’s not her decision to make.  She accuses him of not trusting her.
Martin is agitated over Sam going undercover.  Danny stakes out the bar.

Sam thinks of her mother when she found her at the bus stop after she’d run away and takes her back home.  She says it’s not up to her and Sam must come home.  Burns makes contact in 2-3 days.  She’s to make a delivery to Port Jeff for $800.
Danny watches a waitress at the bar: Meredith Kim.  Jack says Sam should’ve called last night and he's also angry.

Joanna turns up at Sam’s motel.  She takes her back to the trailer to pack and attacks her boyfriend.
Meredith says she was given $1,000.  She saw Collen at the bar and wants protection.  She was short and paid only $350.  She agreed to pay more later and with interest.  Keit has Colleen followed. Danny tells her Colleen also had a son.

Kiet takes Sam from the motel and she manages to knock the plant out of the window.  Danny gets footage from a convenience store camera which has footage of Sam being aducted.  Viv talks to Amy who tells her about Joanna.  Viv says Sam got made.  Sam is beaten up and insists she’s not a cop.
Martin and Jack question Burns.  One of his men was watching Kiet.  Martin gets angry and loses his temper.  He directs them to a warehouse where Danny and Viv find drugs.

Sam is taken to a car yard.  She hits Kiet with a piece of metal and runs for it..  Martin and Jack shoot Kiet.  Jack goes to Sam’s side whilst Martin can only watch but rides with her in the ambulance.  Danny goes to see Sam being taken away. Jack pats Viv on the  back. Sam gives amy her plant and calls her mother in Kenosha.
Sam: “If you really cared about me you wouldn’t have told the boss I could lift 80 pounds.”
Jack: “I didn’t, I told him you could lift 150.”

Jack: “Unfortunately don’t think Colleen’s coming back from this.”  Just like the other drug mule.

Sam: “Nothing to stop me from going to bed early.”
Martin: “I’ve been getting a lot of sleep too.”  Yes no surprise there then.

Sam: “Green peppers you remembered.”  He’ll remember all about food.

Sam: “You know if we didn’t have a history you would let me do this no questions asked.”
Jack: “This has nothing to do with our history.”  A lot about their past in this episode and about Sam and Martin too.  It would have been better if we could have had more about Sam’s past than just a flashback to her wanting fireflies. Also running away from home didn’t add anything to her character we didn’t already know from season 1 episode?? Victory for Humanity when she told Jack this, we just got a visualization of it that’s all.

The ink stamp was the Ying and Yang symbol.

Viv: “If you’re so concerned why didn’t you pull ther out when you had a chance?”
Jack: “because I don’t make decisions based on fear.”    Wasn’t his decision in the season 1 finale based on fear when he went in to trade places with Sam because he feared for her life.

Martin gets a chance to eat again in this season!
Sam should’ve known she was probably being watched to check if she was on the level or not instead of engaging in such an obvious display, but then again she could just be someone who knows how to look out for herself and not necessarily be a cop.

Martin: “I’m just worried about her.”
Danny: “I know you are.”  That’s an understatement, the entire office probably knows by now, well if not, Jack also suspects something especially when he so eagerly volunteers to ride in the ambuance with her.
Viv: “It was a tough call to make.”

So much for Sam going undercover in episode 6 and this one as she’s been on TV too.  In seaseon 2 epsiode 5 Copycat along with Jack when he feigned resignation from his job, only to get a transfer in the season and return.  You can’t say criminals have a short memory – what about those with high IQs, and intellect – or do only the dregs of society commit crimes and peddle drugs.

So Sam was telling the truth when she said she’s from Kenosha in season 2’s Doppelganger.