photo: cbs

Original Air Date: Feb 4, 2011

Maria – TwoCents Reviewer
maria@thetwocentscorp.com

We start, as many CSI:NY episodes seem to, amongst a scene of pretty people partying. It may look like they’re dancing at a club but, nope, they’re dancing in a truck. The truck is obviously supposed to be stationary but, nope, it ends up crashing into the water. So many people in such an enclosed space, it’s surprising there are only two dead bodies. “Make that three,” Mac replies as they see another dead body still trapped inside the truck.

It’s evident that this was no accident since the exit hatch was welded shut, but thankfully it didn’t hold and many people were able to escape. It’s up the CSI team we know and love to question those survivors, and to gather evidence from the deceased.

One deceased party-goer is Victoria Enzo, the daughter of Carmen Enzo. Carmen Enzo is described by Mac as the type of goon you cross the street to avoid. It is thought that Victoria was the main target, but it turns out that’s she wasn’t supposed to be at the party at all. Distraught friend Jessica Thompson explains to the CSI agents that she was the one who got the invitation, but she had to work so she told her friend to enjoy the party instead. Looks like Victoria wasn’t the target, after all.

Those that claim to have received actual physical invitations are: Chris Boyle, the hero who was able to open the welded hatch; Abigail West, a housewife with two kids, Neal Cooper (played by Michael McMillan, known for his role in True Blood as Rev. Steve Newlin) and Jessica Thompson, bartender.

Only four invitations were actually made, it is revealed. Jessica still has hers and the CSIs are able to trace the artist, Akiko Haruka, due to the fact she mixes her blood in with the paint. Akiko recalls being paid by a man with a stutter, yet she doesn’t recall the four names she wrote on the invitations. She is able to sketch the man who paid her though. The CSIs show this to Neal Cooper. He amends it and then it is recognised by Jessica as her ex-fiancé John Everett.

John Everett looks like the prime suspect. I’m a little worried at how quickly Mac is to suggest that John might be suffering from paranoid schizophrenia just because has a lot of locks on his doors. Those locks were completely justified as it turns out that he was a victim of the stalking. Unfortunately, this is revealed when his body washes up. He didn’t die from drowning. He freed the trapped driver, only for the driver to then kill him to prevent identification. John was invited to the party, which means that one of the men is lying.

So, either Chris Boyle or Neal Cooper is the murderer. Mac is able to determine that it’s Neal Cooper from the way that he flinches when presented with a jug of water by a female officer. I’m sure if I had almost just drowned, I might flinch at a glass of water too, but of course Mac is correct. Mac and Jo put psychological pressure on Neal until Neal snaps and confesses.

Neal tutored Chris Boyle for a while in college. Chris Boyle went on to be popular and wanted whilst Neal was overlooked. Abigail West was the girl-next-door, well, on the opposite street but she soon outgrew him. Neal then went on to fall in love with Jessica and he hated the way her fiancé treated her, like a possession. Neal would rather kill her than be rejected by her. Neal was sick of being alone, which is why Mac wants to make sure he spends the rest of his life in solitary confinement. Neal’s life gets cut short though, because Carmen Enzo shoots him in revenge for the loss of his daughter’s life.

Personally, I probably feel more sympathy for Neal than I should. His actions were horrendous, he almost killed dozens of innocent people, yet I can’t help feeling like if people had paid him just a little more attention, he wouldn’t have turned out the way he did. The way Mac and Jo push him to his breaking point may be ‘acceptable’ because of his crimes, but I still found it cruel. I almost feel relieved that Neal was murdered, because I wanted him put out of his misery.

I found the episode interesting as I watched it, although I think the ending is rather cliché. I’m also curious as to why no investigator saw the likeness between Neal Cooper and the sketch the artist drew of her commissioner. Despite that, it is a good episode. I’d enjoy it a lot more if I didn’t feel scared of Mac and Jo though.

So, what are your thoughts on the episode? Did you feel any sympathy towards Neal Cooper, or am I alone in that? What do you think of Mac’s attitude, was it necessary or was it cruel? Please, send a reply and let us know your TwoCents.