This week just might be easily summed up in one sentence. The Compass Killer is back, plus Mac (Gary Sinise) confronts Flack (Eddie Cahill). Do I have your attention now? Before starting with what happened, a few words of description might be in order.
A company party gets crashed by a fired employee who is none too happy. No word on what causes the dismissal, but Bob livens things up by shooting one man and preparing for bullet number two when he's stopped by a truly lifeless body crashing the affair. Oh, and this was all on a rented yacht. The case appears cut and dried since the 59th Street Bridge is directly overhead the festivities. Mac and team must now declare the supposed jumper dead (not hard, with the fall's impact) and get the corpse in for a proper autopsy from Sid (Robert Joy). There are, however, a few kinks.
Flack is assigned the case. Or rather, he would be except he never shows for work. No biggie, everyone gets sick sometime. This, unfortunately, is not the case. Flack does not call in sick or request a personal day. Another homicide detective must step in. Okay, this is NYPD. I assume most who work there have a pretty high level of competence. Besides, it's not as though Flack has been the only detective on site who is not part of the crime lab. So why would Mac and Stella (Melina Kanakaredes) be concerned? Simple. Their buddy has been acting strange since his girlfriend was killed in the line of duty ("Pay Up").
Mac makes the bad decision to keep Flack out of trouble with the guy who heads the homicide division. Had he left well enough alone, the consequences might have been strong enough to get Flack's attention. Reprimanded? Probably. It's possible he would be suspended, but I am pretty sure he's too good of a cop to be kicked off the force.
Sinise is well adept at coming on strong when the script calls for him to do so. I do believe, though, he takes Mac's bad temper over the line this week. yes, there is a serial killer on the loose. That shouldn't be the main reason Mac loses his temper. Any cop could get him the information he needs to solve the case. Worse is the not wanting to hear Flack out. Cahill is trying to tell him something important, and his eyes speak volumes. Technically speaking, what happened between him and his girlfriend's killer in the warehouse would be self defense. At the very least, cold blooded calculated murder does not fit. Mac tells people his deepest secrets, and yet won't listen when a good friend needs an ear? Some leader.
Article comments
1 - Maddy
Great review! I agree 100%, Sinise came of way to strong this week. Luckily Ulrich, Nelly and most of all Cahill saved the episode from going down the tubes.
Maybe Cahill should give the rest of the cast (Not including Buckley and Joy) a few pieces of helpful advice. What do you guys think?
2 - NancyGail
As in, 1.don't tick off Mac 2. Call in sick if you are not up to going to work? I will say that Cahill has not been acting out of character but rather the others could not leave well enough alone.
3 - Victoria
God, you missed so many points in your review of this episode, and especially where Mac Taylor is trying to jar Flack back to his sensibilites; the only way a true friend can with Flack.
You missed the fact that Flack and Mac are close. Mac laid his badge practically on the line when he lied for Flack to cover his behind because of Flack's drinking problem. Mac KNOWS how best to handle Flack. Case in point - Mac could have kid gloved him and not snapped Flack back, but he knew exactly what to say and how to say it to reach Flack.
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True, just any cop in most departments fill in for one another. But this is a serial killer and small tasks force groups are created. Det. Flack is the one with all the notes, the police files, without Flack on the case, everyone else coming into the case would need hours and hours of research to catch up and become abreast of all the intricate details to this case.
Sorry again, but writers played it exactly as it needed to be portrayed.
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This is not a rented yacht. This boat is a famous touring ship around the Hudson. Major corporations lease it - they do not rent it. The New Yorkers on here know what I'm talking about.
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I think Mac Taylor was laid back in giving Flack some time during the morning to get pulled together. But when he had to track him to a dangerous burrough, Mac realized enough was enough. Flack was either going to step up to the plate at that moment, or get his ass out of the way. I'm surprised Mac didn't recommend therapy and time off for Flack for his offenses, after all, Flack was intoxicated in public and carrying a loaded firearm. The entire department could have been sued, and there he was kind and caring covering Flack's butt.
No, if anything, Mac was the perfect friend to Flack because if you noticed anything it only took one conversation, one good stern talking to and Flack snapped back into shape.
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Gary Sinise is an incredible actor. He plays the scenes as they are written not needing to twist and twirl something to put his spin on it.
If you have something about how the scene was carried out, research the writers and executive producer for the episode and sound them out.
Kind Regards,
Victoria
4 - Maddy
No Nancy, I meant acting advice!
It's not your fault; I just should have made it a little more clear!
5 - Grace
Cahill should totally give some cast some acting advice!
Victoria you totally nailed what I was thinking. Except, to be honest I think Sinise’s acting has gotten worse and worse. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not the worst actor on the show (Ether Harper or Belknap have that title) but he could soon become a Horatio like character.
Also, an actor or Actress adding their own twist and twirl something and putting their spin on it can be a good thing as well as a bad thing. Look at Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, you cannot tell me he sucked, honestly can you?
6 - NancyGail
Mac lied? I'm not so sure he went that far. Lt. what's his name (Sutton I thought) already knew Flack did not show up for work. Flack drinking on the train and later barfing tells me perhaps he was okay when he went in. Also possible it was the next day when he was in Mac's office.
7 - Jo
Sorry Victoria, but I think Nancy nailed everything worth mentioning in her review.
I also would like to state that Grace and Maddy are right. Sinise isn't a good actor as he used to be. But he is far from being the worst actor on the show. I know I asked who do you think is the best actor/actress last week, But Nancy (And to everyone else who is reading this) who you think is the worst actor/actress on CSI: NY?
8 - Anita Rayz
As someone said earlier it's down to ether Harper or Belknap. They simply ruin the show.
BTW: Good review
9 - Maddy
I would say Harper or Belknap as well, The two of them just seem to walk on the set, say there lines and not care if their characters came off likeable or not!
The show would be better off without them.
10 - NancyGail
I'm not sure I would call anyone the worst. That being said, characters not my faves are Kendall and Mac when he comes on too strong - I have the advantage of getting to mention it in a review when it happens.
11 - Victoria
Worse acting on the show...I would say Harper with those horrid expressions of positive intent. Second, Belknap. Third, Carmine.
Best - I still vote for Sinise. Out of all the cast, he brings it home time after time.
I fault the writer's strike, and the show turning to Executive Producer - Mz. Vicki for the writing and poor scenes with Mac Taylor.
During Season Six, the episodes she has not wrote have rated higher then those which she has.
And she tends to like to put the emphasis on Lindsay and Danny, her pets of the show in hopes of racking up the 18 - 25 age group ratings.
In emphasising Lindsay and Danny's story lines, she down plays the other cast members.
These scenes are shot 12 and 16 times from various angles. Once the digital mix goes to editing, none of the actors have much of a clue what is going to actually appear in the show and MZ Executive Producer is the one I fault again for the poor scenes of Gary and Melina both.
The story lines are just not there for their lead actors because she's been too focused on going for the bubblegum viewers.
I stand firm that without Sinise the rest of the cast are just furry lab rats without much of a clue.