Episode 32
Prisoner Exchange (12-09-02)

Brief Synopsis: Garret is put to the test when he becomes the prime suspect in a homicide forcing the victims husband a forensics expert to question Garret's work on the autopsy.

Jordan’s case we knew the guilty party from the start, but then this case was used more as a vehicle to flesh out the tension between Jordan and Elaine—as well as bring out the main difference between the two characters.

I just want to take a moment to comment on this phenomenon of knowing ‘who’ the guilty party is from the start.  (I hear many people not liking this writing technique)  If you look at the majority of the episodes where this is done the case is usually not important—it’s the character growth or interaction that is important—the case just allows this to happen.  It’s a valid technique for story telling.  Not every story has to be a mystery from start to end.  This isn’t like some other shows where the appeal is in the mystery-the case.

Jordan and Elaine: Two strong personalities finally really clash.  Oh they’ve been going at it since they met, but today Jordan and Elaine have a very vocal disagreement.  Jordan is a fairly simple person in some respects.  She sees black and she sees white.  There’s wrong and right.  Guilty and innocent.  As much as she can sympathize with Pomerantz she can’t condone murder.  There were other options she could have chosen.  Murder is wrong in Jordan’s book and she’s going to do her best to always find the guilty party.

I found the conversation at the end between Elaine and Jordan to be head on—perfect.  Elaine is very similar to Jordan.  She to sees right and wrong.  She’s headstrong and stubborn.  Though the big difference is she does things through the ‘back door.’  She sneaks around and doesn’t let people know what’s going on in her mind or what she has up her sleeve.  Jordan might tick people off but she’s up front and always goes through the ‘front door.’  People can respect that.  Plus Jordan’s got a certain charm about her when she does it (it helps too that she’s almost always right).

Jordan lets Elaine know about their ‘family’ and how she better start acting if she wants to be a part of that family.  I don’t think it’s in her to join the family in the morgue.  She’s very closed off from everyone.  Probably has to do with her son (still wonder what happened to him) and her type personality isn’t naturally trustful.  She strikes me as independent type who’s never relied on anyone for help but herself.

Lily: Lily is put in a situation that’s difficult.  She takes her job seriously and she doesn’t see Beth as a risk to others so she believes she should keep quiet.  She gets quite upset with Jordan.  The two of them are very different—especially in their beliefs on right and wrong.  Lily is much more open and understanding. 

I agree with Jordan’s stance that murder is wrong no matter the reason.  I have to admire Lily for standing up for her beliefs. (whether I agree with her or not).  I thought it was pretty lousy of Elaine the way she went about things with Lily—but that’s Elaine’s style—backdoor.

I was glad to learn that Jordan didn’t rat Lily out.  I didn’t believe it when the opinion was first voiced.  It’s not Jordan’s style—that was backstabbing and that’s not Jordan.  No one seemed to believe otherwise so I was doubting myself…foolish me.  And shame on the others for thinking Jordan would do that.

Garret and Walcott:  Now there’s some onscreen chemistry.  Couldn’t you see the sparks flying?  What was nice about this episode was that both Rene’s and Garret’s perception of the each other proved to be wrong (oh right in some respects, but wrong in others).

Rene is going to be a thorn in Garret’s side.  There’s no question about that.  But the found a mutual respect for each other in this episode—which I think laid the path for an interesting relationship to form.

Two good stories.  A lot of interaction between the characters and some speaking of minds going on in this episode.  Overall it was a great episode—with great character interactions going on (and not always positive).

4 out of 5 Dead Bodies.

P.S. I didn’t get the title.  Is it obvious and I'm just missing it?