CSI:NY, "She's Not There"
This is another episode that's difficult to talk about in any kind of comprehensive way because it is, again, very case-oriented, without much in the way of furthering any of the personal storylines.
So I'll use bullet points:
- Mac still has major, major authority issues. Everything worked out nicely in this episode, because Gillian ultimately told him that he should do whatever he needs to do (which is, really, what Mac always wants to hear), but if she had tried to stop him, or to tell him to take different action, I'm sure that he would have had a complete fit.
- Despite this, Mac continues to show wee signs of personal growth! When Gillian explains to him that she's having a personal, emotional reaction to the case, he listens and understands -- even before she tells him to do whatever he needs to do, so this reaction isn't just happening because he got his way. Compare this to how Mac has frequently reacted in the past when someone has had an emotional reaction, and note how it comes close on the heels of Mac being understanding about Hawkes' emotional involvement in the case in "Help," and he really is making some progress. Slow, painstaking progress, but progress nonetheless.
- Not that he's not going to go ballistic when Gillian (or anyone else) does eventually try to tell him what to do, of course.
- Or when he finds out that Stella is going behind his back to pursue the guy from the Greek Embassy, because I'm still convinced that's going to be an utterly spectacular meltdown. And, honestly, in that instance? He'll be justified.
- Given that the "It's the Big Apple" shirts are presumably stand-ins for "I ♥ NY" (which is trademarked, and no way in hell were they going to get permission to use it here), Hawkes is correct in his assessment that the chances of someone wearing one voluntarily are inversely proportional to how far away from New York that person lives.
- However, I can also totally believe that Danny wanted one as a kid, because that's the exact sort of thing that seems really cool when you're young, especially if you're from one of the outer boroughs, as we've established that Danny is. It was also completely believable that he would beg and beg for one, then get into a series of fights about it, then never wear it again.
- Which is to say that this was a nice, low-key little character moment.
- I also enjoyed Danny's completely-over-it reaction to having to chase down yet another suspect, and his practical solution to forcing her to stay put once he did catch up with her.
- I covet Stella's belted coat.