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Score: 9.3 Superb 202 votes

Identity Crisis

Episode Number: 36    Season Num: 2    First Aired: Thursday January 17, 2002    Prod Code: 213
Grissom's nemesis, serial killer Paul Millander (Matt O'Toole), reappears and claims a third victim in this gripping episode. The latest slaying matches Millander's previous killings in that it recreates his father's murder, which Millander witnessed as a boy. In each case, the victim is shot once through the chest while lying in a bathtub. A nearby tape recorder contains the person's supposed suicide message. All three victims share the same birthday of Aug. 17---the date Millander's father was slain---with the years in descending order from 1959. So presumably, the killer's next target was born Aug. 17, 1956...which just happens to be Grissom's birthday.

Cast and Crew

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Writer: Ann Donahue, Anthony E. Zuiker
Director: Kenneth Fink
Star: Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle (episode 2+)),  Paul Guilfoyle (Captain Jim Brass),  George Eads (Nick Stokes),  Gary Dourdan (Warrick Brown),  Marg Helgenberger (Catherine Willows),  William Petersen (Gil Grissom)
Recurring Role: Robert David Hall (Dr. Al Robbins),  Eric Szmanda (Greg Sanders),  Archie Kao (Archie Johnson)
Guest Star: Jason Azikiwe (Court Police Officer),  Matt O'Toole (Paul Milander),  Micole Mercurio (Isabelle Millander),  Neil Flynn (Officer Yarnell),  Rob Roy Fitzgerald (Detective Champlain),  Frank Novak (Clark County Judge),  Ryan James (Young Paul),  Steven M. Gagnon (Bailiff),  Devon Alan (Craig Mason),  Steve Witting (Peter Walker),  Cheryl White (Mrs. Mason)

Notes

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Music:
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - Hank Williams (edit)
Marks the last appearance of Matt O'Toole as Paul Millander. (edit)
The previous events of the Paul Millander case are in the Pilot episode and the episode called Anonymous. (edit)
Grissom's birthday is August 17 1956 (edit)

Quotes

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Catherine: I re-read the backgrounds of Millander's victims. I think that he slipped up. You know how every victim read the suicide note "I'd like to say 'I love you' to my mother"? Well, Pete Walker had no mother. (beat) She died in childbirth.
Grissom: He never slips up. (edit)
Paul Millander: Aren't you wondering about your birthday?
Grissom: No.
Paul Millander: Why I didn't kill you, since you were next?
Grissom: No.
Paul Millander: I've already picked my next victim, if you're curious.
Grissom: It doesn't matter, Paul. You'll be in jail. (edit)
Greg: Okay. The hair you found in Pauline Millander's bedroom two x chromosomes-- female.
Grissom: You didn't beep me for that.
Greg: Well, Sara had me compare it to the hair found in the tub at the crime
scene. They're a perfect match. (beat) DNA identical.
Catherine: So, her brother planted it?
Greg: Well... Not exactly.
Sara: Yeah, he planted it. He planted his own hair.
Catherine: Millander. It's female hair.
Sara: With endogenous testosterone. Pauline was taking male hormone injections.
Grissom: Why?
Sara: My theory? Sex change.
Catherine: You know, when I was back at the house I saw several photographs of Pauline and nothing of Paul. In fact, the only proof of Paul is a hidden baseball card.
Sara: There is no birth or death record for Pauline.
Grissom: Paul killed Pauline. But he didn't murder her. (edit)
Sara: Grissom, Catherine briefed us about your birth date.
Warrick: Yeah, what's up with that?
Grissom: Coincidence. Make anything more of it gives Millander more power than he deserves.
Nick: We work together; he can't outsmart all five of us.
Grissom: Yes, he can.
Catherine: Plan of attack -- split up. Nick, take the tape over
to A-V. Break it down. Warrick, Sara -- examine the perimeter. We need to
know how he got in and got out. We'll stay with the body. (they all pick up their kits and leave)
Grissom: Thanks.
Catherine: Anytime. (edit)
Catherine: Pete Walker, California. Date of birth: August 17, 1957. It's got to be the work of Paul Millander. What do you think brought him back out?
Grissom: The rain?
Catherine: Hasn't changed his M.O .-- Kills men whose birthdays are on the anniversary of his father's murder.
Grissom: In descending order -- first victim was August 17, 1959; second
victim, August 17, 1958; this guy, 1957.
Catherine (picks up tape recorder): Ready for this?
Grissom: I have a good idea what it's going to say.
Pete Walker (on tape): My name is Pete Walker. I reside at 715
Lady El Sol and I'm 44 years of age. I'm going to kill myself. I'd like to say
"I love you" to my mother. I'm so sorry, I never wanted to put you through
this. I just can't do it anymore." (gunshot heard on tape)
Paul Millander (on tape): Happy... birthday, Mr. Grissom.
Catherine: Isn't your birthday in August?
Grissom: August 17, 1956. (Catherine looks shocked) (edit)

Trivia

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After Grissom finds Isabelle Millander dead in her chair, he walks towards the bathroom. When the shot changes, you can see her shift her legs even though she's supposed to be dead. (edit)
Paul Millander has a birthday of August 17, 1956. His victim in the episode has a birthday of August 17, 1957 (a year earlier). So why is it that the victim says on his tape that he is 44 and Millander later says that he is 46? The only plausible way for that to happen is that if that date was crossed during the course of the episode. This clearly was not the case as, not only was the air date for the episode in January, but Nick states that summer was 6 months away. (edit)
The hair Catherine finds in the bathroom is 12 inches long, she says. Paul later mentions cutting his hair after his father's trial. However, all pictures and flash backs of child-Pauline have short hair. (edit)
The gsr on the victim’s face is a reference back to the episode “Anonymous” and the mask with the two different sides that Millander showed Grissom. (edit)
Mrs. Millander states that Pauline was 10 years old when Paul Millander Sr. was murdered. Sara states in "Anonymous" that the event occurred on August 17, 1959. But when Grissom finds Millander's body in the bathtub and the birth certificate, it clearly states that Millander's DOB was August 17, 1956. He was only 3 years old that night, not 10. (edit)

Allusions

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Cath: (picks up long hair from tub) “Hello Dolly!”

Hello Dolly is a broadway musical and movie. (edit)
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Community Reviews (6)

 
9.7
Superb
Identity Crisis
"Nerve-wracking"
"Nerve-wracking" ; is as close as I can find to "chilling", which was my gut reaction to this conclusion of the Paul Millander story arc.
Continue » Posted Jan 6, 2007 12:42 am PST
10.0
Perfect
Identity Crisis
"Cleverly plotted"
This episode was amazing!
Continue » Posted Oct 21, 2006 11:50 pm PST
9.6
Superb
Identity Crisis
"Conclusion"
The return of Paul Millander.
Continue » Posted Mar 15, 2006 2:17 pm PST
10.0
Perfect
Identity Crisis
"Series classic"
The final instalment of the Paul Milander story line. Yet another unexpected twist in the enigma that is Paul Milander.
Continue » Posted Jan 14, 2006 3:04 pm PST

thepackleader
Report Abuse 1 user agrees
with this review
10.0
Perfect
Identity Crisis
"Exactly why I watch this series"
For sure one of my most favorite episodes.
Continue » Posted Oct 17, 2005 11:22 pm PST
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Episode Vital Stats

 
Episode: Identity Crisis
Season Number: 2
Episode Reviews: 6
Episode
Score:
9.3 Superb 202 votes
Rating Statistics:
superb: 92 (45.5%)
perfect: 61 (30.2%)
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