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Episode Recap: "Vanishing Act”
Hi CI fans, so last night Goren and Eames were taken into the world of magic with their investigation. I will be posting a recap of last night’s episode later tonight, but in the meantime please comment away on your thoughts on last’s night crime solving.
Added recap:
Miles Stone, a David Blaine like magician buried himself alive for 31 days. When the TV crews arrive to witness his rise from the dead, they find the casket empty. Meanwhile on the other side of New York – old school magician Ray Carmine played by Christopher Lloyd (who looked like Abe Vigoda right?) does the old trick of swording the pretty assistant through a box – the box however reveals a punctured and dead Stone.
Not surprising when Goren and Eames show up to scene of Carmine's show, we see that Goren knows all about magic tricks and demonstrates how the sword/box trick should have played out. The magician’s assistant Miranda fled the scene right after it happened, so Eames and Goren are left to try and get some facts out of a drunken Carmine. They end up bringing him in to sleep it off, while they go see what the cause of death was. Autopsy reports show he starved himself to death, which provoked a heart attack.
When the detectives go to let Carmine go they discover an empty cell – and the officer on duty doesn’t know how he got out. In a funny scene, Goren reacts how Carmine used the spilt coffee to distract and get the guards keys to escape. Now they are off to Carmine’s house to look for evidence of where he could be. More funny Goren as he shows his magic skills – even revealing Carmine in the dollhouse. Pretty neat trick huh?
While trying to find the assistant Miranda they are led to another magician Dean Holiday. He seemed suspicious for the murder right away. When Goren implied that Stone was really buried alive no trick, Holiday said, “Ask any true magician…there is always a trick.” The trick Eames and Goren learn was electro-magnetic strips hidden in the head board of the casket gives a clever way out. But to where? Apparently there was a tunnel through the cemetery yard that ends to an inside room.
New report from autopsy finds traces of a drug in the IV bags and the insertion point of the central line- that would have triggered a heart attack. In the end Stone was killed by another magician- Holiday- because he eclipsed him and was getting more attention and bigger TV deals.
This was a fun episode to watch. It was nice to finally have Goren back – he smiled. And it appears Eames and Goren are back being friendly again. It was great to see Goren showing his silly side again, and doing some magic. He was like a kid in a candy store in the magician’s house, and Eames seemed to be enjoying watching Goren. (Still the trust issue is there?) And is it just me or is Goren starting to look like a mountain man?
Two great Eames quotes from the episode:
"When my partner gets done playing..." ~ When Goren is looking at the casket for an escape route.
“OH, I can’t wait to check them out.” ~ After Dean expressing there are many websites devoted to him.
Next week looks like Logan comes to odd with Captain Ross. Could this be setting up his departure?
Well, as I mentioned before this new Sunday airing schedule of L&O:CI does not work well with my schedule, so this will be my last recap. I felt bad not being able to get the recaps up right away for you, so I hope you have a great replacement recapper.
For more Law & Order: CI, check out our Online Video Guide.
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Edited by Katie Bottner at 07/21/2008 5:44 PM
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Jul 21, 2008 11:37 AM
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It looks like Eames and Goren have made up...off-screen. That's how it appeared when Goren got all excited and giddy and was showing Eames the fake dollhouse trick.
and OMG! The killer was none other than Sir Thomas Cromwell from The Tudors!!! Dude looked smokin' HOT!
I still don't get why Nurse/Assistant panicked in the beginning of the show.
Would have much preferred to see more of Christopher. His magician reminded me so much of his character from Taxi, lol.
Now if only D'Onofrio would lose the beard and lose a few pounds. Just put him in a red suit, white beard and he'd be Jolly Old St. Nick!
~Sangeeta
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Jul 21, 2008 12:25 PM
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The magic technician looked like a smart Andy Samburg. That scared the crap out of me.
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Jul 21, 2008 12:34 PM
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Ok you know the killer as the guy from The Tudors but I know him as Paul Raines (Audrey's ex-husband) from Season 4 of 24. It took me until the last ten minutes to finally place him!
I loved this episode. I think CI is getting back to it's roots, now if only the same could be said about SVU.
I loved when the magician was reading Eames mind talking about the conflict, lack of trust, someone has betrayed you and she looks at Goran and he just shrugs.
Is next week Mike Logan's last episode? I hope not but it sure looks that way.
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Jul 21, 2008 12:42 PM
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KateDFW: "Is next week Mike Logan's last episode? I hope not but it sure looks that way."
I'm not believing it till I see it. If you remember all the hype NBC did for that SVU episode where Elliot was "Blind", that was all lies to get you to watch.
I would like it if all four detectives are in Noth's last episode, but I doubt it will happen.
Totally agree that CI looks like it's getting back to its roots. Don't watch 24 otherwise I'd've mentioned that as well, lol.
~Sangeeta
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Jul 21, 2008 1:04 PM
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Sangeeta, you are right! I thought Sabler was going to be blind the rest of the year, not until just the end of that episode! 
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Jul 21, 2008 2:20 PM
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KateDFW: "I thought Sabler was going to be blind the rest of the year, not until just the end of that episode!"
And he wasn't even blind!!! all he could see was blurred, fuzzy images! I'm sorry, but blind to me means CANNOT SEE. DARKNESS. There was none of that. pft.
~Sangeeta
Who wishes for the days when there was NO VOICEOVER when showing next week's scenes.
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Jul 21, 2008 2:36 PM
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I absolutely loved this episode. It was so much fun to watch and it looked like it was fun for the actors and everyone involved with the show, too. It was great to see Christopher Lloyd. I've loved him since Taxi and the Back to the Future movies.
I'm glad they brought up the tension between Goren and Eames. I don't think it is totally resolved yet, but at least they were both laughing and enjoying themselves delving into the world of magic.
The mystery itself wasn't too complicated, but I enjoyed the overall show and the exuberance of Goren and Eames was contagious. D'Onofrio's unshaven look is beginning to grow on me, but I did notice something in the last episode where he was clean-shaven, you could really see his expressions. He says so much with his eyes, but when he doesn't have a beard his whole face speaks to what is going on inside Goren's head.
Anyway, here's hoping the darkest days are over for Bobby and Alex.
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Jul 21, 2008 3:56 PM
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Thank you KateDFW! It was bothering me the entire episode that I couldn't place him. I'm usually pretty good at it but this one eluded me. (And BTW I really missed 24 this last season.)
I am going to say first off that I don't care for magicians or illusionists. Just not something that has ever interested me. I had not seen any previews for this episode and had no idea what it was about, so when the first few minutes aired I was prepared to be uninterested in this one. I have to say though, this one surprised me by how much I enjoyed it. My favorite part was when Goren caught Christopher Lloyd in the doll house. I thought that was pretty clever. I also liked when the killer was "reading" Eames about her trust issues. He sure was dead on with that one. I'll admit I enjoyed the behind the scenes look of how a magician fools his audience. Overall a very good episode.
I still don't get why Nurse/Assistant panicked in the beginning of the show.
She panicked because she had no idea the killer (forget his name) was going to do that. She didn't even realize she had given away the secret of the hidden room because he "read" her to get the information. She just thought he was going to help her boyfriend get the recognition he deserved.
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Jul 21, 2008 6:01 PM
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The victim was a total Criss Angel (Mindfreak) ripoff! I prefer the real thing.
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Jul 21, 2008 7:36 PM
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as usual a very clever show with great acting and all the other goodies one can expect.
someday NBC will realize this is a better show then SVU and put SVU on cable and really give CI the stuff it needs to get more viewers to try it.
am convinced they feel CI is ready to fold so put it on cable to save it. they are so wrong-CI is the cleverest of the franchise.
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Jul 22, 2008 9:19 AM
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Sorry but this was more like an episode of Monk than the Law & Order CI that I knew and loved. Too kitschy and gimmicky. Maybe this is a directive from USA to make the show a better fit with their Monk/Psych mode of shows. And the killer was so obvious from the get-go. Lame!
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Jul 24, 2008 8:52 AM
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This episode is one of my all-time favorites!!!!!!!
I love how Goren is back to being the Goren we all know and love!!!!!!!!
I loved seeing Goren so happy and smiling! He was having a good old time. "I know how to do this. I know how this works!" I was screaming with joy seeing how happy Goren was....
I'm so happy Goren and Eames are getting along again.....
I loved how Goren poured the water on the officer's feet! "I'm sorry!" That was so funny! I never suspected Christopher Lloyd's character was in the dollhouse!
In summary:
I love Christopher Lloyd in this episode! I love Goren smiling and happy and having fun! ... And Goren and Eames getting along! I love this episode!
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Jul 24, 2008 2:52 PM
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Did anyone in the show notice that the guy in the "coffin" showed no beard growth after all that time? Was that a goof or did I miss something? I noticed it right away and thought it would be mentioned. Does malnutrition stop beards from growing?...I don't think so. Anybody?
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Jul 25, 2008 12:18 AM
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Good show!! But they are really going way way out there with plot lines this season!  ">
I'm curious if this is helping ratings.
Usually when a show drastically changes like this one has, it doesn't has long to go before ccancellation.
And you guys are still really serious about having Jeff Goldblum taking over Chris Noth's place? Just asking? It's all just a really bad dream. Like when Bobby died on "Dallas."
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Jul 25, 2008 2:36 PM
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