S05.E15: Deception

[Trini]

The team suspects Aunt Vi's friend Evelyn is being taken advantage of by a con man. Meanwhile, McCall decides to take the day off equalizing and spend quality time with Delilah.

Directed by Daniela Ruah (who some might know as Kensi from NCIS:LA).

Airdate: April 13, 2025

 

[AnimeMania]

Michael Michele as Evelyn Rodgers

[Trini]

Ugh - You can tell I don't follow sports; I thought we were safe from overruns, but it was golf this time. I guess I'll catch up later this week.

[milkyaqua]

I guess Mel needs more help than she thought.  At least she told Harry after blowing her undercover gig.  And thank goodness that was an undercover gig because I couldn't believe even in her worse depression she'd lash out at Harry like that.

Glad they got that slime ball and I feel bad for Evelyn being taken advantage of like that but how could these women at least not suspect a tiny bit that this guy was too good to be true?  But of course Aunt Vi was on to him.  Hopefully Dante doesn't get into trouble for laying the guy out (even if he had it coming).

Glad Robyn and Dee had some bonding time and it seems like Robyn may have gotten through to Dee that her not getting into either her safety school or Princeton with her friends isn't the end of the world for her.

[marceline]

Dee, honey. Please learn better coping skills. Leaving a classic car in an illegal parking space with the keys in it so you can wander down the street crying? If the car got stolen the insurance company would rightly suspect fraud.

I suspect that Dee will still get into Princeton then find an excuse to stick around home unless the show wants to do a Gilmore Girls and follow her to school. 

Michael Michele did a very good job as someone full of booze and pills. She was so wobbly and hysterical. It really worked.

Did they explain why Mel relapsed?

Edited April 15 by marceline

[possibilities]

The therapist said that relapses are common and can be triggered by random stressors. So, I guess Mel relapsed because of plot device necessity.

[KWalkerInc]

I figured that Harry and Mel's big argument with the slap was acting, because with them showing it at the beginning of the episode for shock value it probably wasn't really the way it seemed, if that makes any sense.

I got a laugh out of Dante knocking out the con artist because I pictured the writers' discussion:  "They couldn't access the guy's phone because Mel was triggered and got hurt.  We need some type of elaborate plan to bring the guy down."  "Eh.  Just have Dante knock him out and take his picture while he's unconscious."  I don't want to have to hear the captain going, "Detective Dante, you didn't have anything to do with this, did you?" so I hope that he was anonymous enough.

I like Robyn taking the day off to spend time with Dee.  It was an interesting change of pace, and I hope that Robyn can get through to her.

[possibilities]

I thought Robyn did a great job talking sense into Dee, but then when D got out of the car, LEFT THE KEYS IN IT MY GOD, and walked away, I was really frustrated and kind of decided she's a lost cause.It's lucky I'm not a parent because I don't have patience with that degree of teenage dysfunction.

Weirdly, though, I'm enjoying the show more when it's about the family than when it's about the equalizing. I also liked Mel and harry working things out.

I have been dangling by a thread with watching this show. I am tired of the big cases and wanton carnage.

[andromeda331]

I had hoped Robyn got through to Dee but then Dee took off leaving the classic car with the keys in it. At that point I was done with Dee and her whining about not getting into her safety school. That was too much. The car could have been stolen and she already messed up the car earlier this season. 

I'm glad the fight in the beginning was part of the plan. I can't see Mel or Harry behaving that way to each other no matter how bad things got. 

I wish we had known Mel was struggling instead of finding out that it's been going on for awhile. I think it would have been better since it can happen at any time. I can see Mel thinking the first time that it was just that. Only for it to get worse. I wish she had told Harry sooner and not after messing up with the con artist.

I'm happy the con artist was punched but it was funny that it was the "only" way to get him. I'm sure there were better ways to handle it.

It was fun to see Vi working with Harry and Mel and Robyn taking a break.

[Trini]

Yeah, I did like the change of pace of Robyn having a day off and spending time with Dee. And yes, I know Dee is still a teen, but I feel like she should be at least mature enough not to abandon the car and her mom because she was upset.

They could go several ways with Dee's college plans; but Princeton is like less than an hour away by train in NJ, so she could be accepted and still believably come back to visit often.

I don't want Mel to have PTSD, but I don't mind the storyline; but I didn't like that she was hiding it from Harry. But TV writers need drama.

I do have sympathy for people who fall prey to these 'sweetheart scams', but it's still hard for me to imagine handing over that much money to someone else.

Edited April 15 by Trini