CNET Networks Entertainment GameSpot | GameFAQs | SportsGamer | MP3.com | TV.com | Metacritic
Score: 8.8 Great 163 votes

Identity Crisis

Episode Number: 8    Season Num: 1    First Aired: Friday April 1, 2005    Prod Code: 108
A man wanted for stock fraud is found garroted in his apartment, and the crime is eerily similar to a murder committed a year earlier, a case in which Don closed when an ex-con confessed. Now, Don must re-investigate the old case to determine if he put an innocent man in jail. He asks Charlie to go over the evidence to see if he missed anything the first time around.

Cast and Crew

Add Cast | Add Crew
Writer: Wendy West
Director: Martha Mitchell
Star: Rob Morrow (Don Eppes),  Sabrina Lloyd (Terry Lake),  Alimi Ballard (David Sinclair),  Peter MacNicol (Dr. Larry Fleinhardt),  David Krumholtz (Charlie Eppes),  Judd Hirsch (Alan Eppes)
Recurring Role: Navi Rawat (Amita Ramanujan)
Guest Star: Noah Bean (Desk Clerk),  Vanita Harbour (Valma Howard),  Scott Paetty (Michael / Poker Buddy),  Marek Probosz (Mark Andric),  Chris Butler (Cliff Howard),  Luis Antonio Ramos (Jose Salazar),  Dominic Fumusa (Jonas Bayle),  Molly Hagan (Fingerprint Technition),  Angela Paton (Mrs. Janas Meloy),  Janan Raouf (Mikelle Peters)

Notes

add »
International Airdates:
Czech Republic: July 14, 2008 on TV Nova (edit)
This episode is rated: TVPG-V. (edit)
This was the first episode to air after coming back from the 2005 NCAA tournament. (edit)

Quotes

add »
Terry: How is this math?
Charlie: It’s not math, it’s logic. Mathematicians are trained in logic.
(edit)
Don: So what's the possibility that these two murders could have been done by different people?
Charlie: Okay. According to the FBI's crime stats, in the entire country three or four people are killed by garrot every year. Now five percent of total murders in the United States take place in Los Angeles. Assuming that he didn't get the idea from the first killer... 4.9 percent chance that this is a coincidence.
Don: Yeah, I knew it'd be slim. (edit)
(Charlie explains to Larry the numbers he's working on.)
Charlie: We're trying to say that we shouldn't be debunking the traditional method of identifying suspects through police lineups even though it's seemingly unreliable.
Larry: Okay, I just... yyyyyeeeeaaaaahh. (Walking out) I would just consider the implications just very carefully, you know. Cause, this is a real murder case, isn't it? I mean, someone has died. I mean, yes, you're demonstrating that the identification may be wrong. It's just you haven't proven it was wrong. (edit)

Trivia

add »
The MATH:

Geometric Progression - A sequence of numbers where the quotient of two successive numbers is constant.

Pyramid Scheme - A nonsustainable business model that promises high returns for very little investment.

Random Match Probability - Used in relation to DNA evidence to calculate the frequency of a random sample match in a population.

Schrödinger's Cat - In quantum mechanics, this is an exercise used to illustrate questions surrounding subatomic theory. (edit)
The method of execution--a garrote is a handheld weapon, most often a ligature of chain, rope, scarf, or wire used to strangle someone to death. Garrote refers to an execution device, and is sometimes used in assassination because it can be completely silent. (edit)
Opening numbers:
23,360,309 ACCUSED
1,541,809 CONVICTIONS
10,160 EXONERATED
2 SAME MO (edit)
We learn in this episode that Don originally got into college on a sports scholarship for baseball. After realizing he wasn't good enough at the game, he knew he wouldn't be anything great professionally. He took the FBI entrance exam the next day. (edit)
Look hard at the CD player Mark turns down. The CD isn't spinning. (edit)

Allusions

add »
Charlie: If I folded the paper 50 times, how high would the stack be?
The world record for doing so (as mentioned in the episode) was performed by Britney Gallivan in 2001. She still holds the record for folding it 12 times. (edit)
Tell the world what you think of Identity Crisis, write a review for this episode.
Write a Review

Community Reviews (4)

 
9.5
Superb
Identity Crisis
"Exciting"
Logic, it all makes sense
Continue » Posted Feb 10, 2008 9:27 pm PST
9.4
Superb
Identity Crisis
"Adventurous"
Review
Continue » Posted Jan 30, 2007 12:23 pm PST
9.0
Superb
Identity Crisis
"Cleverly plotted"
A man is found garroted in his apartment, and the crime is reminiscent of a murder committed a year earlier, a case in which an ex-con confessed.
Continue » Posted Jul 15, 2006 1:43 pm PST

thepackleader
Report Abuse 2 users agree
with this review
9.1
Superb
Identity Crisis
"Informative"
The error in DNA testing.
Continue » Posted Oct 19, 2005 7:10 pm PST
Previous Next
advertisement

Episode Vital Stats

 
Episode: Identity Crisis
Season Number: 1
Episode Reviews: 4
Episode
Score:
8.8 Great 163 votes
Rating Statistics:
great: 63 (38.7%)
superb: 51 (31.3%)
perfect: 28 (17.2%)
good: 17 (10.4%)
Other: 4 (2.4%)
Your Identity Crisis Score
This content requires Macromedia Flash Player 7 or higher. Get Flash
Review This Episode Contribute

Top Contributors

 
Retired phf3947
Score: 2,160 points
Editor scc1fan
Score: 1,960 points
John_Q_Public
Score: 262 points
LaCholo
Score: 248 points
SrRui
Score: 129 points
Trusted lavikluva
Score: 126 points
layle1
Score: 77 points
agent_0042
Score: 72 points
Laukie
Score: 43 points
ntonks_tvtome
Score: 38 points

Episode Downloads

 
Numb3rs Episodes can be downloaded from these services:
Identity Crisis No. 8 season 1
1 iTunes Quicktime get download