Cold Case

It is incomprehensible to my 15 year old son how different the times were then. He has no frame of reference for the racism that everyone took for granted in those days, and any time we have watched movies or shows depicting racism in the 60s or early 70s there are always things that I have to explain to him - attitudes and subtle actions that I only know about because I was there. There were certain unwritten rules that we all knew about, but that are very mysterious to him.



But for me, it also brought back memories of my own 40 year friendship with a black girl that began at a time when that \"just wasn\'t done.\" We had become good friends in school, and during the summer when we wanted to stay in touch, we ended up writing to each other - usually every day! But phoning or visiting were out of the question. We didn\'t think a lot about whether it was right, it was just the way it was. This episode was pretty authentic in its depiction of the turbulence of the times - the slime sucking \"block busting\" real estate guy who only cared about making a buck off the chaos, the white parents who wanted to do the right thing by their neighbors but got caught up in the peer pressure of the neighborhood, the girls who didn\'t understand why they just couldn\'t be friends and the persecution of white kids who befriended blacks, the rage of the boy who was the victim of a violent and racist dad. I remember them all.



Another interesting thing was the response of the black friend, who stopped trusting whites altogether. I didn\'t realize that in in \"the real world\" that relationships between blacks and whites was different from the way we experienced it in our high school, and at least one of my friends was also totally unprepared for her experiences after we graduated and had our \"consciousness raised.\" I remember how surprised I was at our 10 year reunion how my wise-cracking, easygoing friend had become very hostile and bitter towards me and all the rest of the white kids who has been her friends in school.



A really good, thought provoking episode - one that provides a great opportunity to talk to our kids about racism, how far we have come, and how much farther we have to go.

Melanie Campbell was an innocent 8 year old girl who believed in fireflies and fairies. When a black family moves in to her all white neighborhood, she becomes friends with the young girl. Neither has no idea what damage their childhood friendship can do. Melanie is believed to be abducted from her bedroom in 1975.



This episode was very sad because of the childlike innocence that brought to the table. They were so obvious to the hate that was going on around them. They had no clue what there friendship meant to all of the grown-ups. They just knew that they loved hanging out and wanted to be best friends forever.



The acting was great, it was well-written, and the story was original. One of the finer episodes of Cold Case.

It is an absolutely perfect episode! i had tears in my eyes when watching this. How one would never stop believing in something. How strong friendship could be! What people could turn into when they are pushed to their limits. How racism was like in the past; and how it will always stay as an issue in future. And how small minor unimportant acts could affect one's life forever; even leading to unexpected horrible consequences! And the ending is perfect; no more deaths, but happiness and reunion.. years of friendship.

Best friends forever! The music adds a perfect touch to this episode with its simple title "Fireflies" .. A definitely must watch episode!

Like one reviewer said, I am too glad that the

Person lived unlike others that have died as well

As there were no personal stuff involved as sometimes the personal issues of the cops lives can get in the way of the crime. Went by to book and didn't skip no beats at all due to no personal lives involved!

A perfect episode .The one i loved the most. The first time i ever put a 10 and ever write a review. ( and cold case is not my favorite show)

I really enjoyed that episode. And i start to cry like 10 minutes before the end. Hard to stop crying after. But nice to have joyfultears for a change.

It is really good to see an episode that finish happily. She is back home after 31 years. The fairies and stuff always make me dreams. I just wish i would have had such imagination when i was young. I really liked the 2 girls and the story about their friendship.

Just show a much friendship is important.

This instantly became one of my favorite Cold Case episodes and, IMHO, is as close as the show's gotten to perfect since the Season 2 finale.



There's nothing more heartwrenching than a dead little girl, except possibly said girl being killed out of hatred and prejudice. Watching her parents reactions thirty years on - Mom denies, Dad just wants to bury his baby girl - grabs those already taut heartstrings and pulls 'til they just about break. And then we find out the truth: she's alive. Just doesn't remember anything before the shooting that almost ended her life. I must take the show's writer's to task over one thing: if Melanie's alive, why is Dale being jailed? Surely after thirty years the statute of limitations had run out on all the crimes involved. But aside from that and the high improbability of the same ending in a real life scenario, this is definitely a series highlight. Bravo.

Finally an episode with no personal stuff in it. It was nice that the girl was found alive and reunited with her parents. Didn't care for the welcoming committee the one family got on moving day. So is what's her name going to start something with the Terrell? The way the show ended kind of left you thinking they were going to date.