Cold Case : Affaires classées

I found that I absolutely love this show way too late apparently. I have been checking on all steaming access for several years now and cannot find a place to watch it. I never have had the opportunity to see them all therefore certainly not in order. I am a out of the closet, unashamed binge watcher. I want to see them all. Someone please add it to a streaming format.

I starting watching COLD CASE while in a hotel room at a conference. When I returned home I found that my wife had also begin watching the very same episode. So we started making it our regular Sunday viewing. It is in a word - fantastic! The mood, the music, the actors, the back stories and the weird plots draw you in each week. In addition they work in themes that are important but they never beat you over the head with them. So far i have seen stories on the ease of getting guns and how they harm society, child abuse, pedophiles, and racism. But I never feel I am being preached to. The episode about the little boy sold into sexual slavery by his uncle and the tragic way this evil pedophile ruined his and others lives will stay with me forever. It was very heartbreaking. The opening credits and the great music by ES Posthumus ( as well as the songs that set the time, place and mood throughout the episodes) are eerie and evocative and just wonderful. I love this show.

This is one the only mystery/crime drama I saw during the 2000s, and it was pretty good for what it was. It starred Kathryn Morris as Detective Lily Rush, whom took on the task of solving cold cases at the Philadelphia Police Department.

As Lily Rush, Morris displays much intelligence, care and precision while digging up clues from the old cases and interviewing those involved years ago - all the while trying to track down the criminal after spending years in hiding. This plot device gave the series a unique twist and a refreshing perspective - something different than much of the crime dramas aired during that time frame.

The show captures the humanity and emotions of all those involved in the crime; therefore, you can't help but feel connected to their plight and problems. You also get to see the personal stories of Lily Rush and her superiors and associate - all contributing some sort of added suspense to the show. The series touches a lot of subjects from wars to racial controversies (which were overused I think), and from family dysfunction to friendships gone awry. There are some episodes with political tones as well, but too bad they tend to slant a certain way every time.

The episodes were written with much intrigue and surprises, with a well-acted cast of characters and guest stars to boot. The cinematography was brilliantly done, carefully differentiating the past when the "cold case" took place and the present time.

A good mystery drama, overall.

Grade B+

A few years ago, I remember hearing stories about actual cold case squads, and how they successfully solved cases that went unsolved for many years. I was so intrigued by such stories that it soon occurred to me that it would be cool if there were a TV series involving characters solving unsolved crimes. To my knowledge, there wasn't one. But that has finally changed, thanks to this clever new show.

In my personal opinion, Cold Case is television's best new drama of 2003. What sets it apart from most other "whodunit" shows is that we see detective solving old crimes, rather than new ones (that, of course, is why they are part of the cold case squad). When characters associated with a given cold case are introduced, we get to see images of how old (or should I say young) they looked when the crime in question took place. When the case is resolved and arrests are made, we see an image of the murder victim (or victims). It's as though the deceased is actually seeing justice about to be done, and realizing that they can finally rest in peace, now that those responsible are about to get a long overdue punishment.

Cold Case may be dealing with fictional cases, but it just goes to show that there's no statute of limitations on murder. If you commit a murder, your punishment (whether in life, in the afterlife, or both) may be postponed, but it can't be prevented.

Since Cold Case is doing very well in the ratings, I am optimistic about its future. Hopefully, the show will go on for at least five or six years. I highly recommend this show.

Cold case is a great comfort show: it's repetitive and predictable but in a good way, the cases are mostly interesting, and the detectives take up just the right space. The use of flashbacks and the signature emotional finals with period music are a very nice touch.