Episode 81
Luck be a Lady (10-02-05)

Brief Synopsis: Danny from the Montecito comes and helps Jordan and the gang stop an assassination.

Another crossover episode with Las Vegas.  I thought last year’s crossover was better—more because there was a plot that carried through both episodes.  This year, while the Crossing Jordan half had a plot, the Las Vegas part didn’t.  It was all over the place (and I mean ALL OVER).  In fact you could have removed Jordan and no one would have felt a character was missing.  And the Woody/Sam scenes…well it was a little contrived and silly in my opinion.  That said I shall move on.

Boston, MA
Jordan and Woody: If you thought things couldn’t get worst…well they did.  Woody arrives at the crime scene and blatantly ignores Jordan.  In fact he doesn’t even speak to her until she talks to him and then he tells her to get over him and move on.  Uncalled for, mean and I hope this attitude comes back to bit him in the ass.  He sure as hell deserves it.  I know everything isn’t wired right at the moment with him, but poor Jordan is getting to the burden of dealing with all of it.

Jordan’s surprised me in some ways.  Good ways.  She’s tried to talk with Woody, tried to be understanding and has realized that he needs some help and has given him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to Woody’s behavior.  I half expected her to have her own little say in the matter, but she’s kept quiet.  I’m looking forward to Jordan hooking up with someone else.  I think it’ll do her some good.  (NOTE: So long as Jordan and Woody eventually hook up.)

Jordan and Danny: Can you see the sparks.  All they have to do is be in the same room.  I liked Danny instantly last year when we met him for the first time.  And I liked him even more this time around.  He was good for Jordan.  After the way Woody treated her in the beginning, she need some caring attention to be dolled out on her.

Danny knows Jordan, but not very well—as proven by the scene at the airport hanger when Danny tells Jordan to stay put and she says no.  He’s totally taken aback.  That’s one thing with Woody, he knows it’s not worth the effort to argue with Jordan over issues such as her safety.  It was cute to see Danny playing the 'big bad protector'.  Another aspect of Danny's character that I like.

Danny and Jordan have a good working chemistry as well.  She’s game for anything and jumps right in on the fight.  Love the pizza/bread paddle by the way.  It was a good story line for the two.  It also got Nigel and Bug involved, which was nice to see.  Nigel and Jordan still have that great rapport.  I love the way Nigel can always tease Jordan.

Anyone notice how when Danny and Woody entered and Danny went over to Jordan and asked how her ‘ducks’ had slept, Woody didn’t even bat an eye, much less turn his head.  He completely ignored Jordan.  I loved the pj’s even though they don’t seem like a ‘jordan dress wear’ item, they were still cute.

As to the Vegas half…well Jordan didn’t even have to be there and the show could have gone on, but I was pleased with Jordan’s decision to not have ‘meaningless sex’.  It wouldn’t have really solved her problems and probably have caused a few more.  Jordan’s growing up. (not in the sense of growing up—but more she’s realizing what’s important to her in her life.)  Do you think the ‘running away’ stage is over with?  I hope so, but I have a feeling she’ll still do a little jogging every now and then.

Lily and Garret: I’m not sure I like this new side of Garret.  He didn’t even crack a smile at Jordan’s welcoming.  A half grin and that wasn’t even a ‘Hi I’m happy to see you too’ grin.  It was more like a ‘I’m back leave me alone and get to work’ grin.  This is going to be interesting to see the path 'dark' sided Garret goes on.  The drinking is never a good sign.  He has me worried on the account.  The last think I want to see is our beloved Garret go down that path. 

Both Woody and Garret are having to deal with last seasons consequences and neither is doing a good job of it right now.  Jordan seems to be the only one who’s come out on top—if we can call it that.  She seems to have matured or at least realized what she has and is willing to stop pulling away/running from it.

The biker.  This was a case that showed us Garret might have regrets about his choice of career.  The biker (who’s name eludes me at this time sorry) has the courage to leave the life his parents chose for him, when he learns he’s going to die sometime soon, and become what he always wanted.  I never realized Garret regretted his career choice.  It’ll be interesting to see if they follow up on this or if it falls to the wayside.

It might just be me, but it seems Lily was being a bit more than ‘friend status’ with Garret this episode.  It really reminded me of the first season.  Maybe it was just her happiness at having Garret back.

Las Vegas, NV
Woody and Sam: Woody still can’t dance but it was a great scene watching him try.  I saw some traits of the old carefree Woody popping through.  As for the rest, well again we could have done without.  The voice over trick didn’t work—not for a show like Crossing Jordan or Las Vegas.  I don’t think Woody and Sam really have chemistry.  When they’re in the same room it always seems to be more like a game of cat and mouse between those two.

Asides from the few ‘old’ Woody moments I could have done with out the Woody/Sam story line.

Overall the Crossing Jordan story line wasn’t too bad.  They should have left it at that.  I would have been more inclined to have a CJ episode with Vegas characters with no second parter and then some other time a Vegas episode with CJ characters.  I think that would have produced a much better story--two independent stories.

3 dead bodies out of 5.