BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: Revenge Best Served Cold

Episode 219: “Cold Case”

[photos: Ben Mark Holzberg/CW]

Beauty & The Beast’s “Cold Case”, i.e., episode 19 of season 2, is easily the best episode of the season so far. We get good story progression, a little lovin’, a mini-reunion, an important reveal, resolution of some loose story lines, and no stupidly irritating logical flaws, at least as detected by me (not necessarily saying a lot). Overall, a much more satisfying episode than many in recent memory.

The episode starts with Cat ditching several tails from her own police department. Really, NYPD, have we stooped this low? Yes, unfortunately, thanks to Gabe, who is now eating his revenge at nice 45° F. Cat tries to dart in and out of her apartment quickly so she can meet Vincent, but who should appear? Why, the elusive and rarely spotted Heather Chandler! Yay, love Heather! Waaaah, Heather! Why do you always appear at the worst possible time? Could it be that the writers are using you as a plot device? Noo, couldn’t be. And yet, I’m still glad to see you. Cute haircut; love the bangs.

Heather has important news, but because Cat’s on a timeline, she neither hangs around to hear the news, nor notices as Heather conspicuously twists a sparkler around her left fourth finger. Just as Heather attempts her proclamation, Tess texts a 9-1-1 to Cat to get to the station; there, the Captain demands both Tess’s and Cat’s shields and firearms. What, just because he overheard Tess telling Cat to say to Vincent the fugitive? Sheesh, so touchy.

When Vincent and Cat finally reconvene, they decide that Gabe’s had the upper hand long enough, and it may be time to put him on the defensive. Next step: dig a little dirt. But there’s still the small matter of attention-demanding Heather. Cat decides to send Tess to talk to her to buy time. Malheuresement, Heather finds her way to the station and talks to Gabe before either Tess or Cat can intervene, and Heather discovers that Cat has been suspended.

Before New York’s finest shuts down Cat’s access to the open and cold case database, Cat dips in to looks for unsolved crimes from when they first met Gabe, and she and Vincent hone in on the Ray Schenkman murder. For those of you have crummy memory like I do, Mr. Schenkman was the guy in the alley who tried to have Heather killed back in the day. Seems that the ADA assigned to the case terminated the NYPD’s investigation into the case. Three guesses who the ADA was (and the first two don’t count).

When Tess actually does catch up with Heather, Tess admits that Cat’s been MIA because she’s in trouble, and that it’s because of Vincent. Alas, Heather responds like a brat and storms out, which is pretty much the last thing that sisters need to do for each other. And I say this as a relatively successful older sister of an awesome younger sister (shout out, Becca).

Informed by Captain Ward that Cat was looking at the Shenkman case when her access was cut off, Gabe realizes that Vincent and Cat are coming after him. Not one to sit idly by, Gabe calls Ray Schenkman’s brother Tom to tell him (ahem) “new evidence has surfaced.” Gabe claims to have knowledge of the murderer, but Tom Schenkman reasonably wants additional proof. Just when you think Gabe can’t get any jerkier, he gives up Heather as a witness. And yeah, she was, but man oh man.

While Gabe is upping the hate-ante, Cat and Gabe scope out the scene of the crime. Vincent lets his beast senses play out the scene, and realizes there was a witness to the murder. Why Vincent can see the witness but not the face of the offending beast is a mystery, but whatever. Somehow, magically, Heather catches Cat and Vincent at the museum just as they’re leaving. What the heck; how’d she manage that!? When Heather sees that Cat is with Vincent, she turns heel and hightails it.

Cat catches back up with Heather at the coffee shop. Heather claims to just want the truth, but as Jack Nicholson so famously says, she can’t handle the truth. Heather indignantly accuses Cat of lying and storms out, insisting she’ll pick out her own wedding dress. This is the first time poor distracted Cat realizes what it is that Heather’s been trying to tell her.

With Heather effectively out of her hair, Cat visits Jack Watson, the witness from the museum murder. Cat confirms that Gabe was the murderer of Ray Schenkman, and Mr. Watson agrees to testify.

Tom Schenkman kidnaps Heather at the wedding boutique, and taunts Vincent to come for him. Cat struggles to believe that Gabe would put Heather in danger, but Vincent and Cat connect the dots and realize that if Schenkman has kidnapped Heather, it’s because Gabe is onto them. Bummer. That element of surprise could have really worked to their advantage. Despite knowing it’s a likely trap, Vincent forges ahead to rescue Cat’s cherished sister.

Vincent finds his way to Heather, who rather ungraciously screams at him to stay away. Vincent more or less ignores her, but when he works to free her from her chains, Schenkman locks him in the cell with Heather, and leaves him with a bomb. Cat shows up with Tess, and they take out the goons, including Tom. Vincent beasts out to break out of the cell and tells Heather to run. She finds Tess and Cat just as the bomb goes off. After a few tense seconds, Vincent emerges unharmed. Phew, for a second there, I thought season 2 was going to get cut short (ok, not really).

With Cat and Heather safe and reunited, Heather absorbs and appreciates all the implications of what she’s learned: nobody believed Cat all those years ago when she claimed to be saved by a beast, that Vincent was a beast, that Vincent was innocent, that he was the victim of a military experiment. They’re both glad to be past the secrets and lies, and they catch up on Heather’s normal relationship and engagement. Such a sweet sister scene.

The captain informs Gabe that Tom Schenkman has been found dead, and Gabe realizes that he may be in trouble. He politely offers to help any way possible, but the captain confesses that the only way he can help is to step into the lineup they have planned for him. Uh-oh!

Cat and Vincent meet later on the rooftop, and Cat shares the good news that Jack Watson the witness ID’d Gabe in the lineup and that the arraignment was the next day, however, that Gabe had made bail. Good news item number two was that Tess had gotten her badge back, but that since Cat was still sleeping with a fugitive, no badge. Vincent quite rightly points out that lately, Cat in fact has not been sleeping with a fugitive. Thank you! I have also noticed this, and been missing the vicarious action. When helicopters come towards the building, they agree to rendez-vous later.

The final scene has Gabe interrupting Jack Watson’s protective custody. Initially it appears that Gabe doesn’t have intentions to kill the witness. He uses a tranquilizer dart on the guard and simply threatens the witness at first. But once Gabe gets going, he strangles the witness. At this point, it’s pretty safe to say that Gabe has fully relapsed. Even worse, after the murder, Gabe stands and faces his reflection in the mirror, and sees flashbacks of himself as a beast. Guess we’re supposed to gather that the beast that has been tamed is back in full force. I won’t lie. Gabe, I’m a little disappointed in you.

With only two episodes left, it’s pretty safe to say that Gabe’s relapse and vendetta will play a large role in the lead-up to the season finale. I can honestly say that I hope that Gabe’s character sticks around for season three. Not only is he a pretty face, but for some reason, I find his moral ambiguity and character development complex and entertaining. I get him. The crummy things he does, he does for reasons I get. It’ll be interesting to see how Heroes affects Sendhil Ramamurthy’s character on Beauty and the Beast.

See you guys next week. Go, USA!

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