Cold Case: Blank Generation

Air Date

Sunday January 9, 2005

Production Code

Unknown

Top Episodes

• Bombers
• One Fall
• Last Drive In
• Metamorphosis
• Two Weddings
• Stalker
• Fireflies
• The Road
• Saving Sammy
• The Woods

•  

  7.7 Good

  Above average episode of an always-gripping series hide show

  This intriguing case takes us back to 1978 and involves a cult, specifically the death of one of its members, Matthew by name. His sister turns up and has Lily and co. look back at the cult, its leader, its strong-arm deputy - who has switched to Christianity - and Matthew’s father, who drove him to the cult (a warning to parents here).
  
  As this investigation proceeds, it raises issues about the cult, amidst the sub-plot of Scotty’s personal life colliding with police work, and Lily finds the cult is still alive and kicking despite its leader being in jail. Things then really kick off as we discover who Maurice the cult leader’s real right hand on the outside is…
  
  Overall, an enjoyable, above-average episode of this usually-gripping series.
  
  

  Do you agree?

    0 0

  Report Abuse

  Tguy Added Sep 15, 2005 All my reviews
•  

  8 Great

  Teen blames dad for the death of his mother. Teen rebels. Teen dies. If that doesn't qualify as painful to watch, what does? Oh, and did I mention that one of the main character's fiance commits suicide? hide show

  One of the strengths of this show is how it brings closure to situations long after the world has forgotten about them. However, in this episode, they open as many wounds as they close. Valens reactions to losing his love are heartbreaking. I did think it unlikely that he would be allowed to return to work so quickly. When he returns to work, the first case he works on is a possible suicide. Would that not qualify the Philadelphia office as winner of the 2005 Insensitivity Award? Aside from this nitpick; the show balanced the story of Lily and company with the cult culture very well. However, if you are looking for an episode to leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling, this is not the one.

  Do you agree?

    2 1

  Report Abuse

  danasdude Added Jul 10, 2005 All my reviews

• Guest Cast

  • Bruce Wright Stewart Adams (1978)
  • Paul Gleason Stewart Adams (2005)
  • Susan Savage Alison Ray (2005)
  • Polly Cusumano Alison Ray (1978)
  • Robin Weigert Anna Mayes
  • Kate McNeil Beth Adams (2005)
  • Katie Walder Beth Adams (1978)
  • Daniel Kash (II) Nick Logan (1978)
  • Jason Matthew Smith Bill Crawford (1978)
  • Franc Ross Bill Crawford (2005)
  • Johnny Whitworth Maurice (1978)
  • Madison Mason Maurice (2005)
  • David A. Kimball Nick Logan (2005)
  • Bug Hall Matthew Adams

• Stars

  • Jeremy Ratchford Det. Nick Vera
More Episode Cast and Crew »

• Highlight below for a spoiler:
  We learn in this episode that Scotty's girlfriend, Elisa (played by recurring guest star Marisol Nichols), has (possibly) committed suicide. [edit]
• Matthew Adams was found dead on December 11, 1978. [edit]
• Goof: While there was never a clear, unobstructed shot of the sweater that Matt was wearing when he died, it appears to have said "Goodbye to Romance". This is an Ozzy Osbourne song written about the breakup of Black Sabbath, and would not be released until his solo debut Blizzard of Ozz in 1980. [edit]

• International Episode Titles:
  Czech Republic: Ztracená generace (Lost Generation) [edit]
• International Airdates:
  - Denmark: March 2, 2005 on TV3+ [edit]
• Music Featured in This Episode:
  - Surrender by Cheap Trick
  - I Wanna Be Sedated by The Ramones
  - Moving in Stereo by The Cars
  - Accidents Will Happen by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
  - Cruel to Be Kind by Nick Lowe
  - Why Can't I Touch It? by Buzzcocks
  - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding? by Elvis Costello [edit]

• Det. Vera: What's wrong with your cats?
  Det. Rush: (glares) Nothing! [edit]
• Det. Vera: Every cult you ever read about, the leader's doin' all the ladies.
  Det. Jeffries: (shrugs) It's good to be king. [edit]
• Matthew: I came back to save you!
  Alison: And I'm saving you. [edit]

• Title: Blank Generation
  The title of this episode is possibly derived from the album Blank Generation by Richard Hell & The Voidoids, released in 1977. The title song on the album has the lines "I belong to the blank generation / and I can take it or leave it each time", which is very reminiscent of the cult theme in this episode. [edit]
• Det. Rush: They were gonna pull their own Jonestown.
  
  The Peoples Temple was a cult founded in 1953. In the 1970's the cult leader Jim Jones decided to form a Utopian village called Jonestown in Guyana, Southern America. Following a visit by a U.S. congressman and an ensuing shootout as several of the cult members attempted to flee the village, Jones ordered a mass suicide. On November 18, 1978 over 900 people died of drinking of soft drink laced with Valium and cyanide.
  
  The Jonestown mass suicide also produced the saying "drink the Kool-Aid", defined as being a blind believer or follower of a cause. However, contrary to common belief the drink used in the mass suicide was actually not Kool-Aid but a similar product called Flavor-Aid. [edit]
• Bill Crawford: Now, or Charlie Manson here gets it!
  
  In the late 1960's, Charles Manson created a cult-like community called "The Family", made up of young followers who were fanatically loyal to Manson. He planned and ordered some of the community members to commit several brutal murders. On January 25, 1971 Manson was convicted for the murders and is currently serving a life sentence in Corcoran State Prison in California. [edit]