Crossing Jordan Review Page
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Crossing Jordan Season 3 Reviews
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Season 3 Episodes
EPISODES 1-7 SEASON 3
Episode 1 , O Brother Where Art Thou?
When we last saw Max he was standing over the dead body of Capt. Malden with
a gun. Woody was pointing his own gun at him. We open with just Woody asking for
back up and such, and the cops come in quick which surprises Woody.
Daytime later and Woody looks around Max's Pub. Walcott questions Woody. Walcott is catty and snooping for answers. He tells her
At the hospital, Garret & Jordan talk as she is slowly getting her memory back. She believes she was drugged, though tox screens came back negative. When Garret asks by who she tells him
The preliminary autopsy of
At Police HQ, Woody waits to be briefed A women comes in thinking the room to be vacant. Woody asks her to stay. She does, and starts to ask vague questions, like why he's not with the other detective on the case about Malden, Woody tells her he’s waiting to be debriefed by a Detective Capra. Never met the guy he says. She introduces her self as Anne then questions about the scene, he tells her a few things then figures out she is Detective Capra. He thinks it's crummy of her to do that, and when she asks about
At the office the whole staff is in the conference room, with Walcott holding court. She tell them that due to irregularities in the Jeffers case by this office, mistrust has developed between the DA and the Coroners office. She notes only one person followed procedure, Dr Winslow. As Nigel and the others give him the evil eye , Walcott states she can't trust anyone and she has brought in an outside coroner to handle the autopsy Dr. Horace Banner. No one reports to Garret now. No one is to touch
Garret phones Jordan on her cell who is outside somewhere. He tells her he’s having a hard time looking the other way.
Woody is in his office when
Nighttime and
Nighttime at the office, Garret and Peter have a talk about loyalty and family, especially the family here. Peter goes on about how he's supposed to follow the rules and not stretch his neck out. Garret tells him that this family here needs trust, he should have come to him about what
Woody is doing a model airplane when two people come into his office. They say they are his PBA rep and lawyer, but when they start to ask questions he is alerted that they are not who they say they are. They say
Morning, the autopsy of
At Jordan's loft, Capra is going over the scene when Walcott shows up. Walcott is not happy with her for letting Jordan go before she could talk to her. Capra defends her decision saying Jordan could lead them to the killer. Walcott mentions Max but Capra is not sure on him any more. She asked for evidence from IA about the case Max, Cahill and Malden worked on 30 yrs ago. She's curious since all the men seemed to come off good in the end. Walcott is not happy, she's already convicted Max. Capra sarcastically congratulates her.
At the office, Jordan shows up, but Nigel and Bug stop her before she runs into the police. They have good and bad news. Bad news, Banner has determined that the gun was Malden’s. Good news is no hemorrhaging near the chest wound but around the abdomen. That means it would have taken time for it to bleed out at stomach. Malden was already dead when Max shot him, not guilty.
As Jordan leaves the building, Max calls her on her cell from across the street.
They talk, she tells him about the drugging and that she knows he didn't kill Malden, that he is taking the fall for James. Max says that's how it has to be and walks off, leaving a puzzled Jordan who doesn't understand.
Jordan talks to Woody, and asks for his help telling him Max didn't do it. Woody then surprises her and says that Max was in fact covering for her, accuses her of Malden’s murder He tells her about the call at the bar, someone said Jordan had just killed Malden, Max left, but at Jordan's loft she's gone but Malden dead. Jordan denies the whole thing but Woody still can't believe her. Jordan tells him it was James who killed Malden, but Woody has never met him. Wonders how to prove it, she tells him he's the detective and smiles.
Office, and Capra comes by, introduces herself to Nigel and Bug and asks
them to help her, first asking nicely then ordering it. They reluctantly do so. In the lab they sample some blood for a DNA match. It's Malden’s blood against some sample Capra had, and they match. Capra says the blood came from under Jordan's nails and the scratch on Malden’s neck, leaving Nigel and Bug unhappy. Meanwhile, James who has dressed as a cop asks Garret where Jordan is. He says with Woody.
Max's bar, Jordan and Woody go over what happened the night of the murder. Around 10 pm they got a call, but the cell phone is blocked. Jordan argues Woody could get the info from the phone company. Woody says no and they argue a bit until Woody gives in.
Later Peter's in the crypt, Garret comes in and apologizes to him. admits he does play favorites, especially Jordan. He tell him he'll see him tomorrow for a morning autopsy. Peter smiles slightly as Garret leaves, he's off the hook.
Nighttime as Jordan and Woody walk around in a run down apartment. They approach a door hear noises in side and Woody busts in gun drawn and finds Capra. They then explain the whole convoluted theory of who killed Malden and why Max did what he did. Capra tires to follow but thinks it's all wonky. She herself thinks Jordan killed Malden. They then look around the room as she tells them the room looks dirty but it’s an illusion, it's clean of any prints. At the window they see it's across from Jordan's place and James had binoculars to see her. They find a phone book with a marked page for charter flights. Jordan wants to go but Woody and Capra say no. They escort her to a waiting cop car not noticing James as the driver and off it goes. Another cop car comes up and says they were high jacked just moments ago, and Woody and Capra realize Jordan's been kidnapped.
Jordan notices the car is going the wrong way and tries to alert the driver. James then reveals himself to her and tells her to enjoy the ride. They keep going as James rambles on about parents and lies, and cowards. Cop cars spot them and give chase until Woody tells them to back off and just follow. Woody turns around and heads for the address given.
James stops at an abandoned building and they go up a construction elevator.
As they head to the top floor he again rambles on. At the top they get out into a room, as Jordan asks where and why they are here. It's a low class apartment, James tells her he spent the first 15 years here. Used to hear his parents argue about him, wondered why? They didn't love him he realized. Jordan tries to sympathize with him, but then Woody and Capra show up with guns drawn. James holds on to Jordan at first until the edge of the window then lets go and continues to ramble. Says the cops killed mom, they are the only ones left, blood family. Woody is trying for a clear shot but Jordan is in the way, as James teeters on the edge. He asks Jordan to come with him but she won't and he jumps into the river below as Jordan can only watch sadly.
Later at the Bar, Woody tells her no body has been found yet. Walcottwon't press charges against Max, not enough evidence now. Jordan asks him to leave her alone for now and he leaves. Max comes out of the back room and says no more of this, because she isn't going to ask any more, it's done. She does ask if any of it true? Max tells her that he has always loved her and that's true.
COMMENTARY
This was a good episode to start the season, but it had it’s weak points. In fact it really fell flat at the end and there seems to be some confusion about James, which is usual with this family. A new Detective was introduced and looks to be a great addition to the cast. Good performances through out the episode.
The whole episode dealt with the same plot, so this made the episode flow together. While we don’t get a definite answer to who killed Malden, it seems likely it’s was James. He was staying at Jordan’s apartment, so if Malden went there to confront him it’s likely James did the deed. James actions though are weird and why would he accuse Jordan of killing Malden when she was trying to help him last episode?
I liked how the others were willing to help Jordan, even though some of them suffered a little. Bug was brave and a true friend to point it out to Jordan that sometimes she goes over board in her beliefs. A good friend would point these things out and still be friends and later on Bug does indeed help find out that Max is not the killer. Nigel was his usual self, after being interrogated last episode, he was still willing to help.
Garret got bashed around a bit again thanks to Jordan as well as having to let another doctor do the autopsy. Perhaps he shouldn’t be dating the DA? Garret keeps it together and has to admit a few things and humble himself in others. I liked how he described the group of doctors there as a family. Chewing Peter out and then apologizing later was a nice touch. It was also funny to see him listening to the guys describing how they tried to conceal evidence.
Peter came off a little better here. He learned that things that go on at the office stay there, unless they go to Garret. True Jordan used him and his clueless ness about procedure but it was nice to see him straighten out and join the club.
Walcott was her nasty self as usual and really made her presence known. She really jumped the gun on the guilty part. I would have thought she trusted Garret to do the autopsy since he would be extra careful about it. The doctor she brought in was a buffoon. As to the relationship with Garret, it looks to be as bumpy as ever. As well Lily got shut out by Garret this time and it was actually nice to see. Given the whining she did last episode in bringing up an issue that really was already settled I’m glad Garret shut her out. She did come thru for Jordan though, warning her about getting out before Walcott came by and all.
We got a new detective this episode, a female one at that. It’s great to see given the lack of female officers around the Boston PD. Capra has a great style, different from Woodys and it’s nice to see the contrast. She’s not afraid of Walcott, and takes chances. She also has good detective skills, as she showed here, finding the room before Jordan and Woody, getting the files from 30 years ago. I hope she stays for the season.
There seemed to be some confusion with previous episodes involving James and his growing up years. Last time we heard about him (Ockham’s Razor) he was growing up in a nice house in Framingham, and that in his teens he got mentally ill. At 16 he found out who his real father was and left home. He left Sept.17,1979 one day before Emily Cavanaugh was killed. I seem to recall the mother saying she had kept his room just the way he left it. Now James claims he grew up in some low down apartment building. Either there was a goof up or James really is out of it and is having delusions. It would also explain why he would try to pin the murder on Jordan, when a day before he was begging her for help to hide him. I suspect we will see him again although hopefully not too soon.
This leads us to Max and Jordan who suffer a huge break in their relationship. It’s still not clear whether Jordan still suspects Max in her mother’s murder since James is also a likely suspect. Still Max continues to hold back and I feel undermines the relationship he has with his daughter. Telling her basically to forget everything is a cowards way out. If they could just get it out and deal with it, both I feel would be on much better ground.
As for effects and such, not much was in use here in this episode. The dead body doubles looked freaky. Nice medical technical talk that wasn’t confusing for the audience.
Overall I give the episode a 3 out of 5 stars. An average episode that didn’t really resolve anything, only adding to the confusion. James will most likely come back to wreak havoc with Jordan, but hopefully not too soon. Jordan will recover I believe and for now will put aside her mothers death and her father’s deceit and finally concentrate on her job and the people around her.RTMS
As
Office conference room, gang's all there as they go over
Autopsy of Reeves, Garret comes in and asks if
Nigel and Bug are going over the clothes. Nigel is excited about case, believes they are really going to help find the girl. Bug is not so excited. He thinks she's dead and they shouldn't hope for more, that they are just going through the motions. Nigel deflates a little at this but does not give up hope. Bug then finds a hair on the clothes.
Later at the
Office Peter has found nothing but high THC, but shows he stopped smoking earlier.
Capra and Jordan narrow down where Raves has been which is likely near crash site,due to stab wounds he would only have had 15 min before he bleed out. Capra needs more answers.
Later at a church building, Capra, Nigel and cops get ready to search, Nigel thinks they will be using high tech stuff and wonder how she came to this building, but Copra disappoints him and uses dogs. As well the building is also close to crash site. All thanks to old fashioned detective work, which makes Nigel deflate. They all follow the dog, who leads them to a room, while the dog acts as if Marie has been there. She has been, Capra gets sample of clothe from her braids while Nigel finds blood.
Nighttime, at the police office, and Capra meets
Morning at the office, and Garret tells the group the good news on Marie She's at Boston General right now.
Hospital, and Marie is being treated while Capra and Jordan talk outside in the hall . She's fine physically , but emotions who knows? Capra found the knife in Marie's bag, needs to know how Marie escaped. Walcott needs more evidence to wrap up case. Would
Peter arrives at death scene, a ravine where the victim is stripped, and has fallen down a hill. The cop, Dodd is a jerk. At the scene Peter notices a smell that he seems to vaguely remember. The victim he determines has been dead a day, but not beaten as it it first looks like. He seems to have fallen.
Peter's autopsy is not going well. He determines the clothes were taken off after death. Garret checks on him. Then Lily comes in, Peter is frustrated, he has no clues as to who he is, how he died. As well blood alcohol level is 3 times over limit, and has he has wormwood in his system.
Autopsy room, Peter comes in for body, only to find it gone. Lily tells him the body has been ID'd. Exchange student from MIT, she moved body to crypt. Mother wanted to see him. Mark Novotny is the mans name which spooks Peter. Looks at chart and at mother in crypt. Later Lily has autopsy report and confronts Peter over it. Peter has listed death by accident. Drunk, went for walk slipped
fell down ravine etc. Lily can't believe it. You don’t go from homicide to accident she says. Peter doesn't want to explain it.
Capra comes by and Jordan and Nigel have news for her. Nigel promises the cliff notes version. On the computer they have a graphic that theorizes that a man as tall as Revas killed him not Marie who was too small, plus no blood on her etc. They realize she lied, but why? To protect someone? Father suggest
Later in the conference room, Peter arrives to find Mrs. Novatna and Lily, she wants him to explain her son's reason of death . Peter not happy and calls the woman Novatna-for woman, Novatny is man, which the mother picks up on. Peter makes excuses about this, Novatna wants answers and is not happy with results. Peter defends himself, mother speaks Czech to him which Peter seems to recognize. He excuses himself and leave with a confused Lily right behind him, and confronts Peter. She wants answers and so does the mother. No she doesn't says Peter. Lily stomps off to Garret, and complains but Garret defends Peter’s findings. Lily accepts this, then talks about Peters reactions. Wants to pull his personal file.
At the police station they go through ID pics of the felons that day, but no Adam.
One picture catches
Office roof, Peter meets Lily, who confronts him about his past. Novatny was his mother's maiden name, why? Parent were Czechs right off boat and he didn't speak English until kindergarten, because his dad didn't want him too. Father took off and mother remarried. He explains why mother was responsible for marks death. It’s a tradition to send absinthe on birthday, but the stuff is lethal and dangerous and is outlawed in US. The mixture of Wormwood and alcohol can kill you. Mark took some, but it was too much for him so he went for a walk to clear his head and tripped and fell broke his neck and died. Peter thinks its a stupid tradition, but Lily tells him he should tell the mother the truth.
Police station, Pam is getting answers to who killed Kurt . It was Erin Fernnie, who Kurt spotted at a soup kitchen and followed. He then tried to rescue Marie but was beaten and stabbed. Fernnie screwed Marie up, made her think they were Adam and Eve. Pam is not happy with the whole thing as Capra says the police made a mistake.
Peter finds mother and talks to her telling her truth. Lily watchs from the hallway.
At Max’s bar,
COMMENTARY
Very good episode, which managed to throw doubt as to who killed Revas , making some people suspect. As well the B story was also good and solid and help to tie in with the first. Solid performances by all the actors this time out.
The A plot of course was ripped right from the head lines, echoing the case of Elisebeth Smart who was taken from her home and held captive by cult members for almost 10 months as well. While there was no obvious signs of Stockholm syndrome from that case, here they throw it in to add a twist from the real story. The real suspect here came out of nowhere and was held back until almost the end, which I like. The build up to finding out who it was, was also solid. Having the father as a suspect was a nice touch and believeable with the way he was acting from the start. I thought he might even be the kiddnapper himself at times.
Peter’s case was more straight forward, but no less interesting. It was nice to see him on his first solo case and how well he did at the scene. He was all professional and really came out as a very smart guy. Even more interesting was the way he solved the case and how in the end he had to tell the mother the truth even if it hurt her some.
Peter gets some personal growth here and we learn some very interesting things about him. For someone who spoke Czech until he was about 5 or 6 years old, there is no clue about it now, with no accent or anything to give him away. We learn he is in fact an immigrant with his parents. We also find out about his father and his new family after wards. It would have been nice to know about his step father who seems to have been quite well off according to previous episodes. It was nice to see him face his fears of his old life and confront them. In the end he did the right thing.
Nigel was a lot of fun this episode and really kept the case somewhat lite. I like how he was so eager to believe the girl was alive and how they could maybe help keep her alive and find her. The way he went all geeky on Capra was too funny. Then for Capra to turn the tables on him at the church was priceless. Having learned his lesson earlier he tones it down a bit when telling Capra about who could have killed Revas. He came through as always for everyone.
Capra was good as well in this episode. She works well with
The special effects were all nice computer graphics this time out. The whole dot on the map was great looking and would be nice to have anywhere. The animation with the two men fighting was just as good and gave you a real sense of what had really happened. Of course the low effect of the dog was good too. As well you may have noticed that when presenting the map, Nigel was using a Tablet PC, a new type of laptop PC which you can write on and draw on with out typing any thing. It’s a neat little computer to have.
The episode was solid, with good acting, and good stories all around. There was a throw away suspect planted, as well as some humor thrown in. In the end I give it 3 and ½ stars for the episode. RTMS, TOP, DISCUSS ON MESSAGE BOARD
Episode 3 ,Till Death Do Us Part
AS a camera swoops down a vent shaft it brings us to the coroner floor, where Garret & Jordan are talking.
around, building needs new vents. No vents, no jobs. The other doctors are moving the bodies to the basement too keep them cool.
At the crime scene, a young man, Daniel Robinson 32, a computer consultant hangs from a tree over a pentagram, while one is cut into his chest. Woody walks over and reads the bottom of one of the candles. They are from a cult shop. It’s a gruesome scene, with blood all over and Garret reads a message left on the tree.
Later at the morgue Bug & Lily walk in on Garret doing the autopsy of Robinson. Lily is shocked to see mark on chest. Garret checks to see if he was drugged before hanging. Bug suggests it was suicide Garret
doesn't buy it.Test revels chloroform, a drug. They find red spots on shoulder and then find a hair on it.
At the cult shop, Woody and Nigel check it out. Nigel is think and acting like a cop team, but Woody tells him to cool his jets, he’s the cop, Nigel the coroner. They both look around and profess a crush on Buffy the vampire slayer. The clerk comes out. When they start to question the guy, he runs away. They catch him, but he thinks it’s for money not murder.
Evening,
Later still
Morning, at the school and Garret is telling Mrs. Robinson about her husbands death. She is sad but they were separated. She then remembers getting a love letter from a student that said they would do anything for them and threatened her husband. She points out the student who wrote it. Garret and he talk. Oliver knows all about forensic stuff. He pretends that his letter was just a crush. He reminds Garret that they met last year when he attended a event at the morgue and from that grew interested in forensic medicine. Thanks to Garret he attended a forensic camp last year.
Office, Nigel and Jordan are using the computer to reconstruct the building and find out where the shot came from. They find the floor and bring up pics of the two men who own the room. John Pappas is a name
They break into the room and look around. They find a mangled disk, and then blood drops that lead to closet. Try the door, locked. Pappas comes back and Peter hides behind the open door while
Bug tells Garret about the marks on Robinson. Then he shows him his eyeball, Up close there is a print on it. Garret leaves to make his plan. Woody and Capra are in the hall and he updates them. They have list of names from the candle shop. Too many names complicates things. Garret guesses a name on the list, Oliver Titleman. They look at him stunned.
Later Bug is wiping down cups in the staff kitchen as Garret and he are getting ready for Oliver to come by. They hope he touches something for prints. 0liver arrives and they chitchat, with Garret offering coffee. Oliver does not take the bait. Go off to do autopsy.
Meanwhile
Lily tells
In the autopsy room, Garret is briefing Oliver on the body and death. Oliver is bright and asks questions. He then asks if there is ever a perfect murder. Garret says no, that something is always left behind to find. Oliver then starts to get a headache and leaves, but then comes back and places his bare hands on the glass cabinet and tells them they just had to ask. Garrett and Bug are not happy.
As Woody and Capra walk with Garret to the Lab, they tell him about the pathology camp the police setup for high school students. Oliver aced his scenarios, one of which looked a lot like the crime scene of Robinson.
They come to Bug who tells them the print from the eyeball and Oliver match.
In interrogation, Oliver has an answer for everything. He says he found the body while going through the park and had to have a look at it. When Woody mentions how similar this crime is to the one he studied at forensic camp, Oliver says it's coincidence. Woody doesn't buy it, believing Oliver killed the husband. Oliver knows Garret is behind the window, and puts on an act for him. Garret is not impressed.
At the office conference room, Nigel tells
Nigel and Jordan go to the elevator and notice Corvo signed in but some one else signed out. As they go to board the elevators they run into Garret who gets on
Later in the autopsy lab,
At the interrogation room again, Garret and Capra confront Oliver on who his boss is. Oliver gives the name, who happens to be one of the only vets in town to handle an ocelot. Woody comes in looking grim, another crime has been committed.
A house with candles lit again, and another man is hanging. Garret looks around, tests body and says its only 2 hours old. Oliver has been with the police for four,
he couldn't have done it. Garnet looks frustrated, the man has a hexagram or Pentagram on his chest like Robinson and blood on walls.
Woody says the man wasn't expecting anyone. He then comments on the heat.
Garret says suspect came through the window. Victim is Vincent Wolf.
Caretaker found him when he came by. Garret still believes Oliver did this, but Capra doesn't buy it. She too comments on the heat as well. Woody explains Oliver may not be killer after all. Garret is still not sure and while looking around looks at Wolf's feet.
At the crypt, all the bodies are going back in there places and the doctors and Lily are counting them to make sure. Nigel says the body Lily just brought in can't be
right. Peter comes along and questions Lily as well showing her two bodies, one of whom should be a woman but is not. Nigel says there should be only 25 bodies but 26 are there. Peter realizes what's up and lifts the blanket to reveal Corvo the missing dead guy.
Autopsy of Wolf, and Garret, Bug, Capra and Woody are there to figure out what happened. Bug notes that almost everything is the same, while Garret notes hypothermia. Capra mentions the house being very hot. Woody then explains a theory, but it’s not completely right. Garret gives his theory, Oliver
knocks out Wolf and then hangs him with feet on blocks of ice, delaying body decay making it look as if it was done sooner than later. Still all of this is circumstantial. Garret then asks for a spinal tap on Robinson when Woody mentions the headaches Oliver keeps getting.
In the crypt,
He's a little humbled as
At Police headquarters, Oliver is signing out when Garret meets him, telling him the block of ice trick is old. Oliver is not worried until Garret says he a search warrant. Oliver says to search his home, nothing there. Garret surprises him and asks him about the headaches and all. Tells him about Robinson having meningitis, and that Oliver caught it when he cut Robinson. The search warrant is for his body. Garret asks if they taught that at camp. He is smarter than him, Garret tells Oliver.
Office, nighttime
COMMENTARY
A good episode, although the killer of both cases in the episode was known before the end came. It was more of a detective story for both cases. As well we got to see the whole team almost pitch in at some point in both stories.
Garret’s case was a little bit more interesting, even though it too was easily given away in the start. Loved to see how Garret was being played by Oliver and how close Oliver came to getting away with murder. That kid seemed to think of everything at first. I also was glad how Garret turned the tables on Oliver and smugly told him off.
As for out detectives, Capra is getting along fine with this group. She seems to have settled into her role well and I like her attitude. We need her and Carver more. She and Woody seem to work well together and don’t get on each other’s nerves. As for Woody, he was great as usual, just as geeky at times when he first came aboard. That fun routine with Nigel was great, and of course he’s a Buffy fan! Liked how he didn’t fall for Oliver’s innocent look or story about finding the body and all. As for the jerk cop, keep them away from this show.
The music was great in this episode. I have always liked the song, I Think We’re Alone Now, and it was nice to hear it and see Hennessy and Ferrer sing to it. The special effects and such were also good, kudos to the art department for the whole eyeball thing. If that wasn’t real I couldn’t tell. Nigel’s computer animation was nifty as well, as was the whole surveillance camera.
In the end I give it 3 solid stars out of 5. We knew the killers almost at the start but finding out how they did the crime was presented nicely. There was humor and neat gadgets to help out and some nice detective work by the doctors. Everyone was used in some way which was another nice touch.RTMS, TOP, DISCUSS ON MESSAGE BOARD
Episode 7, Is That Plutonium in Your Pocket?
Episode 8 , All the News That's Fit To Print