In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« Law & Order: CI
Episode Recap: "Depths"
I don't know if it is safer to dive underwater by yourself or with a partner after watching tonight's episode. Heck, I think it's better if we all just stay out of the water — unless some of you are already after the treasure that wasn't recovered!
A dead scuba diver washed up on shore attracts the attention of Detectives Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio ) and Eames (Kathryn Erbe), not to mention the FBI, on suspicions that he was a terrorist looking at underwater gas lines. Goren and the FBI agent right away butt heads on a number of issues. After debating if anything useful would be found on the murdered diver's camera, I loved the line the FBI agent said to Goren: "If I find any pictures of Nemo, you'll be the first one I call."
The murdered diver's girlfriend, Dana, is "dating" his partner, Chilly aka Stan, on the side. And for a while it looks like they are the ones who murdered Rick, to have the treasure all to themselves. Further into the investigation we are introduced to Dana's ex-husband, Tommy, who is still in love with her, and Simon Harper (Fred Weller) a wealthy investor who was funding Rick's expedition.
Turns out they weren't looking for terrorists but buried treasure — and what a loot of gold coins there was. I wonder how much money they were all worth? Goren said one 1866 coin would sell for $3,000. The fact that he knew that off the top of his head, and the shopping Dana did from skimming off the top (three pairs of Jimmy Choos, four Versace dresses, and the diamond earrings) we are talking thousands and thousands of dollars. The old man on the beach was the real pirate, though: buying the gold coin off the little boy for $10 and a snow cone. What a deal!
Later, Chilly shows up dead when out diving and the anchor gets pulled up. At this point I was convinced that Dana was in on it. The detectives question Tommy, who all along has been helping Dana avoid police trouble. It's a good thing she never tried to run away from the police, since I don't think a bright-pink Benz is the best car for that. Tommy spills that he told Harper where the coins were hidden, which leads Goren and Eames to further dig into why Harper was searching for this buried ship in the first place. Bingo — the ship was linked to Harper's ancestry, which proved his forefather Roundtree was in violation of fraud — not to mention being pro-slavery.
So if the ship was found with the buried treasure on it, the Roundtrees would be entitled to Harper's fortune, leaving nothing for his child's future. In that last scene I think all that family stuff hit Goren personally, so he had a right to throw Harper in the ocean — oops, I mean he slipped. And did you notice Goren's jeans?
I think this was a fun episode this week. What did you think? Did you know Harper did it? Let me know what you thought.
Next week looks like Det. Falacci (Alicia Witt) finds herself in hot water when she doesn't want to follow the rules.
For more Law & Order: CI, check out our Online Video Guide.
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 12:31 AM
|
|
Katie: I liked this episode also. I did not think Harper did it until the detectives did. I think all the episodes this season so far have been great.
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 1:57 PM
|
Interesting episode, but am I the only person who wondered why Harper went looking for the ship in the first place?
Harper knows the impact if it's proven that his ancestor committed fraud (as evidenced by his subsequent crimes). To the viewers' knowledge, Harper had no specific reason to believe that his ancestor was innocent. So why take the risk by looking for the ship?
|
|
Nov 2, 2007 2:38 PM
|
|
What was up with the funny looks when the M.E. and the captain greeted each other? A little romantic hinting there, or did I miss something in a previous episode?
|
|
Nov 3, 2007 4:48 AM
|
betterjester, as Goren pointed out, the statute of limitations on fraud doesn't start to run until the fraud is discovered.
If the loot aboard the Philomena was discovered, it would be evidence that Josiah Rountree had come by his inheritance due to fraud. He was a Quaker supporting the South during the Civil War. According to the codicil to the will discovered in the archives, the Rountrees would be able to sue the Harpers and take away the unborn child's inheritance. So Stephen wanted the wreck to remain undiscovered, he just wanted to verify the family scuttlebutt (the Rountrees had been shafted by the Harpers) which is why he funded the salvage operation in the first place.
He wanted to uncover the information in order to bury it forever (ripping the page out of registry, killing everyone who knew anything about the ship or it's contents).
|
|
Nov 3, 2007 10:28 AM
|
|
Did anyone else notice the breathing corpse. I rewound the DVR to double-check what I had seen. Sure enough, as the camera is centered on Goren, with the body in the shot -- not even the head -- the stomach definately moves. I think there was a slight movement before that too. Very bad editing!
|
|
Nov 4, 2007 9:22 AM
|
I think this is my second favorite episode of this season. "Amends" is my first. I liked all the location shots and I thought the scenes with Goren and Eames searching through old books and historical archives was a very interesting way to bring all the puzzle pieces together.
I also noticed the looks between M.E. Rodgers and Captain Ross and wondered if that was the romantic relationship Eric Bogosian referred to in his TV Guide interview.
|
|
Nov 4, 2007 4:56 PM
|
|
I really enjoyed this one. I also noticed the stilted conversation between the ME and the Boss. Wonder if there is some "sexual thing going on there." He also made some acid remark about "marriage." High time the ME gets more air time.
|
|
Nov 5, 2007 11:12 AM
|
Just saw that you are recapping L&O:CI and I'm happy 
Love the season so far. Alicia Witt is a great addition to the show. She's the best partner Chris Noth has had so far on this show.
On this episode, I liked the sparing between Rodgers and Ross. Maybe a romance brewing? I also liked Bobby getting sweetly flustered when talking to the pregnant wife about the baby. And it was strange, but nice, to see Bobby in jeans.
|
|
Nov 7, 2007 5:43 AM
|
Ah yes. Bobby (Vincent) in jeans. 'Tis a good thing! A verrrry good thing . . . 
|
|
Nov 11, 2007 6:45 PM
|
|
|
