Just Say No! 7X19 (**out of 5)

Hawkes hits his rebellious teens on a very special CSI:NY. (And unfortunately this episode was about as cliche) It’s love and other drugs for our ME turned CSI in an episode that seriously left me with the munchies. From the french fries with foie gras gravy to Hawkes’ sudden adolescent behavior I was left...well...confused.

Let me just start by saying I tried desperately to get into this episode. I like Hawkes, but I’ve never felt like they’ve nailed down his character. In the first season he was creepy. In the second season he was suddenly outgoing and eager to be out solving crime. In the third season he began to fade into the background and tends to remain there until a Hawkes-centered episode is written (one or two per season) and then we learn something new about him; former fiance who was raped, lost all his money in a scheme or druggie sister who was murdered. He takes the moral high road most of the time (remember how he chastised Danny during the blue flu?) but doesn’t mind not taking the moral high road either (remember how he argued with Lindsay about vigilante justice?). I don’t understand his character. Can a character be too enigmatic? It’s difficult to identify with a character that moves so far across the spectrum. Some times he seems noble and gallant and some times he’s secretive and closed off. He was willing to walk out of Camille’s party when he saw people smoking, but with a batting of the eyes from Camille he walked right back in. I’m not yet ready to crucify Camille, because I don’t know her, and while I don’t really understand Hawkes, I at least feel like I know him well enough to say that he is a responsible adult male who put himself through medical school and now works as a crime scene investigator. He is choosing to destroy his life and career, no one is forcing him. Though let’s be clear: I DON’T LIKE CAMILLE. I would actually be more intrigued with Hawkes’ character if he continued down this destructive path. But if the show stays true to its pattern then we may get some vague reference to Camille before she disappears completely.

I groaned out loud at several points during this episode. I don’t know what Trey Callaway was thinking here. The dialogue between Camille and Hawkes was incredibly trite. “Have you ever tried it?” Camille asks. “You mean weed?” Hawkes responds with a frown. They gotta be careful or Old Principal Taylor will catch them! Then to hear Camille go on about how she was too busy going to school and getting a career to be in her twenties. GAG! Are we seriously suppose to believe that Hawkes hangs out at a party where there is weed and then the next day he is randomly selected for a drug test? That is not good writing. In fact, that is bad writing that is reserved for high school motivational plays. I’m surprised by this because Callaway has a pretty good track record with emotionally involved episodes. (Shop ‘Til You Drop not withstanding)

This episode felt disjointed and uneven. It seemed to be more a series of random scenes than a clear, cohesive narrative. We had great Danny and Lindsay interaction towards the beginning of the episode, Jo and Don towards the middle, and a sprinkling of Mac until the end when he steps up for the arrest then gives a half-assed chewing out to Hawkes. He gave it to Adam with both barrels at the beginning of the season over for breaking a rule in order to catch a killer? He gave Hawkes a tap on the wrist in comparison. I also didn’t buy the bad guy. Why blow up the truck in the middle of a food fair? That wasn’t to help his father, that was to hurt other people. If his motivation was to get the truck off the streets then why not wait until the truck was parked and empty and not in the middle of a crowd? It didn’t make sense.

Yet, because I am such a sucker for character episodes I didn’t hate it. I was bored by it, but I at least felt something while watching it, even if what I was feeling was frustration with Hawkes. That is better than being bored by an episode and getting NO character (see most of the episodes from the middle of this season). There were some good moments here too. I liked how Jo told Hawkes to save his excuses for Mac. She didn’t need to know, and she was respecting his privacy. Danny and Lindsay are finally giving us evidence that they are a married couple; loved how she knew exactly what he was thinking when she made the “I’m not pregnant” comment. I enjoyed how Danny covered for Hawkes, and I liked Mac and Sid’s interaction. The episode just felt convoluted and top heavy. It was not a well made episode but it is still better than what we’ve seen the majority of this season. I would at least watch this episode again.

Highlight of the episode: I hope I sound like a broken record and I hope I continue to sound like a broken records when I say: DANNY AND LINDSAY! Thank goodness it seems the writers have given up ignoring their relationship and insulting us with those pitiful and ridiculous references to their marriage/relationship. We are finally getting some meaty interaction!

Guilty Pleasure: Don going all 007! He was under cover and looking sexy.