Theli11

This episode is good. Just feels like it needs a bit more meat on the bones, and a better finish? I did find it weird that they didn't find Shaver to be a perv/pedo sooner. I really hope they give Connie Shi an also starring credit because the girl's been in like every episode since the second episode of Season 22. I don't even think Profaci was given this much screen time. I like the conflict in the episode, I just don't feel the emotions. They should've driven home how terrible Shaver's actions were, and the defense attorney should've been all over that, and made him plead the fifth or have him confess on the stand to a different crime. Felt too safe for me.

I think for at least the very last part of the episode that Nolan would've opened the door and the defense would've testified how the tape could've been a deepfake. I'm pretty sure they would have to present the tape to evidence and there's no way the defendant wouldn't want to check it's authenticity. It's up to the prosecutor to make sure that there is no reasonable doubt and I think the tape being deepfaked is a reasonable thing to think of considering that AI is involved in the prosecution. He should've been acquitted off of the fact that another viable suspect brought in the evidence indicting him. I would've liked Nolan a lot better if he tanked this one because of his morals. Way better episode than last week though. They gotta stop with these chase scenes, it should be like once every three episodes.

It feels like there was meat missing from the case in sacrifice of the overall agenda that's being pushed. This episode was very tough to watch and not in the good way. A twist would've done this case so damn well beyond the professor driving Cam to kill. This episode seems very barebones and pretty much makes everyone who's got personal feelings about the Israel-Palestine.... conflict (!) insane. [Specifically the Palestinian side]. It makes it seem like the only reason they killed the president was because of this which isn't how normal people act. Just felt dreadful and I can't imagine anyone on any side liking this particular episode which I feel is why the writers decided to make a Not Guilty verdict to appeal on both sides :/ A better twist that I would've at least liked some semblance of the kid being obsessed with the professor for another reason, the professor having a personal reason to kill the president besides the Palestine connection... something else. This case should've devolved into something insane by the end.

More "8 Years" stuff I just wrote down because I'm watching it again and incase you want another reason to watch this episode: This episode is one of Cold Case's more creative ones. There's a melancholic theme of adulthood and nostalgia that plays with both the guest and main cast. I'm glad that episode ended with Stillman trying once again with his wife even though the episode hinges of the fact that going back isn't always a great choice to make (seen by the love square in the episode). I'm glad this episode ended like it did (none of the cast killing Clem) because frankly I would've been upset if it did ended differently [one of the three suspects killing clem instead] I'm a huge fan of the flashbacks to the other parts of the episode because honestly they're trying to relive something that can't be lived again. It's not as cruel as other episodes or even as historically poignant but rather a melo-drama about 4 high schoolers realizing over-time that life is not "fun and easy and right" Nobody gets what they want at the end (May is/was a prostitute, Petey was in jail prior to the episode and was a thief and Sally is all alone. (I wonder if the reason the writers have her working at a flower shop is to see couples in love but that might be a leap)). The detective's stories also coincide with the plot (going back to their old habits or at least reliving them [bar Valens who didn't have focus this go-round]. I do think this episode is one of the sadder episodes but it's not because the victims is innocent or the murderer is sympathetic but rather all the reasons above. The music is above and beyond and I love it. There's a lot of symbolism this episode as well.. The road being one of them; When we open up with the road bright beaming and seemingly going on forever and we end with the road is now dark and now there's no where left to go. It's a direct contrast with how their lives have changed in just 8 years. They have a car, they have hopes, they have dreams, they have each other and they have love. Now, nobody has love, and their lives are dull. They can't go down the road anymore (May has no car), and is now stopped here, in the darkness. Yeah.. this episode is sad, and I can watch it over and over again.

If you haven't watched "8 Years" (Season 3, Episode 11), you really should or at least refresh your memory. This episode is probably the strongest in story telling and honestly the most dynamic. A story of marriage, love, and nostalgia (not of the 80s, but rather the interjecting flashbacks inside of the flashbacks that touches on the memories of the characters), all coming together beautifully.

My problem with Roku is that it has really bad ad-placement and no options for getting rid of advertisement. HBO Max has this problem as well with ad-breaks appearing right before flashbacks or right after. Kinda ruins the train of thought through the episode.

I came to the show thinking Scotty's my favorite character but time and time again he does really stupid shit. Unlike Danny Pino's character in SVU (Who's honestly really similar in their actions just not the reasoning). He comes off as this cowboy cop who doesn't understand why this is happening to him. There's moments where he's really good like Season 1 Episode 19, Late Returns. He starts getting Lily's knack for cold cases and desperately wants the truth to come out. This show sets up that they can't solve every case, or that one slips by sometimes. (I find it oddly funny in the cold open when Lilly mentions she hasn't seen bodies in a while, which makes me think who does the regular homicides in Philly..) I think SVU really had the balance of character drama from seasons 13 - 17. After that it started being repetitive in the cases and the characters started either being exceedingly boring (like Olivia) or really underused like Fin. SVU has an episode like this with a corrupt judge. They've also both used Boy in the Box and the case in "Flashover" also.

Flashover might be the last episode that's really good. I think Bombers, Chinatown, Read Between the Lines, Soul, and Jurisprudence are all good episodes. I just can't stand the subplots in between the episodes. I think the best episodes are the ones where the subplot really relates to the episode itself. Best example is Lilly's Mom killing herself slowly being paired with the episode "The Good Death". Other episodes, Lilly's issues with her mother comes up with "Fly Away" which pairs well with the episode. "Offender" and Scotty's issues with child rapists (specifically in relation with his brother, Mike). "The Sleepover" where the brother has psych issues and that obviously gets to Scotty. "Bad Night" which focuses on a car accident and Jeffries can't care about the victim because of his wife's accident. Flashover does this well also. Season 7 can't get that balance and it also is a pain to watch one off.