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Cold Case

The Good Death

Season 4, Episode 23, Aired Apr 29, 2007

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9.1

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The team re-opens the 1998 case of a terminally ill man when a nurse comes forth confessing to euthanizing six of his former patients.

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Susie Ruckle

Young Ellen Rush (scenes deleted)
GUEST STAR
Madison Meyer

Young Lilly Rush (scenes deleted)
GUEST STAR
Trent Gill

Tommy Dratton (1998)

Tracie Thoms

Kat Miller (Episodes 3.13+; recurring previously)
Thom Barry

Det. Will Jeffries
Kathryn Morris

Det. Lilly Rush
John Finn

Lt. John Stillman
Jeremy Ratchford

Det. Nick Vera
Danny Pino

Scotty Valens

Fan Episode Reviews (11)

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Truly touching episode...

10

"Perfect"

By ZandriaWinn, Jul 20, 2011

Anthony Starke definitely should have won an Emmy for his portrayal of a ruthless businessman who was humbled and eventually taken down by a brain tumor. It is sad that it took for him to be diagnosed with a terminal illness in order for him to see the harm that he had caused to so many, but I found hope in that he did eventually find redemption and was able to die peacefully. I hope someone in my life would be kind enough to do for me what was done for him. This is my absolute favorite episode of "Cold Case", followed by "Final Appeal...". Even after watching it several times over the past few years thanks to syndication, I am still brought to tears.moreless
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Tearjerker!

10

"Perfect"

By moonlightenvy, Jul 31, 2009

A business man is diagnosed with cancer. He is very dedicated to his job and his family life has suffered. His son is very angry at him because of it. He begins to have hallucinations (or not) about someone named "Louise". He eventually remembers what his hallucinations are about and tries to make amends with his son before he dies. This episode was so good! You hate the businesses man in the beginning and by the end you don't want him to die. The guest cast was amazing in this episode as well as the regulars. Definitely one of my favorite episodes!moreless
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Tremendous episode, with an amazing, powerful performance by Anthony Starke and explores a sensitive topic delicately.

10

"Perfect"

By sfulton229, Apr 04, 2009

Wow, Anthony Starke's performance was just amazing. He took an unsympathic jerk through a life changing emotional growth that was completely believable. He really showed the vunerability and regret the character was feeling when he realized that his illness was terminal. The love between the character and his wife really shown through at the end. Mr. Starke used his body, posture and face to maximum effect to show the painful progression of the illness. I couldn't take my eyes off him when he was on the screen. The other actors were impressive and the plot holes were easy to overlook while the show was on. I am surprised that no one won any awards for this episode; it was fanstatic.moreless
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A business man gets cancer, makes peace with his family, and then is euthanized by his wife at his request.

2.1

"Terrible"

By Progo35, Dec 19, 2007

Frankly, I'm disgusted by the way Cold Case represents disabld or terminally ill people in its episodes. Yet again, someone euthanizes a sick, desperate man with little hesitation. And, worst of all, she then goes on her merry way with her new boyfriend with the blessing of Lilly and th ADA. Just atrocious. It's on thing to have liberal POV in a show like this. It's another thing to depict killing the terminally ill as a merciful act whn only 6 out of all the medical schools in America require courses in appropriate pain relief/end of life assistance. I'd feel a bit differently if CBS actually showed an episode where euthanasia was depicted as something wrong, where the character did not act with good intentions. This would show both sides, but that hasn't happened.moreless
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Anthony Starke should have won an Emmy Award !

10

"Perfect"

By LisalovesEzra, Oct 06, 2007

This episode of Cold Case is one of the best episodes of a show I've ever seen.I watched it for my favourite actor Anthony Starke,and am never disappointed by him.He's always fantastic,but he is just absolutely brilliant in this episode as Jay Dratton.It was just heartbreaking seeing him get sicker,it was awful.I felt so sorry for him.I couldn't stop crying at the end.It's terrific that Anthony Starke is in this episode so much too,pretty much the whole episode was him,which was wonderful.Usually the guest stars on Cold Case don't get such a huge amount of screen time,so it's really great that he did.I would very,very highly recommend this episode,especially to fans of Anthony Starke.He's just amazing in it.Definitely 10/10!moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (2)
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- Jay Dratton died on June 28, 1998.
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- We find out that Scotty's grandfather suffered from ALS, short for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The degenerative neurological disorder is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
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QUOTES (9)
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- Lilly: It matters where the heart begins, you know?
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- Lt. Stillman: Scotty and Lil are out at Chester Prison starting with the good nurse Kenick. Det. Jeffries: Hope they don't cough around him...
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- Lilly: Mom, you've got to hang on. Ellen: You can't fix me this time. Lilly: Every day you get a new chance to start over. Ellen: I'm outta chances.
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- Amelia: Dying people need to shake things out from their past; they hang on until they make peace with it.
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- Amelia Flores: No one's gonna give a rat's ass when you're gone. Dying alone's got to be the worst kind of death. Jay Dratton: No, the worst kind of death is dying poor in a Target shirt.
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- Jay Dratton: (on the cell phone with his business partner) Phil? Yeah. Your balls were on the other line, they miss you.
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- Jay Dratton: (to his doctor) I'm gonna beat this. It's a simple fact, like today's Tuesday, like your golf tie is absurd and inappropriate.
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- Lilly Rush: Mom, the doctor said if you drink any more, you're gonna die. It's that simple. Ellen Rush: Doctor has it backwards. I die if I don't.
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- Kat Miller: Someone really had it in for this Dratton. Scotty Valens: Otherwise why kill someone who's literally on his deathbed?
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NOTES (3)
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- International Airdates: - Denmark: May 23, 2007 on TV3+ - Norway: July 11, 2007 on TVNorge
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- Music Featured in This Episode:
  - 1979 by The Smashing Pumpkins
  - Out of My Head by Fastball
  - The Freshmen by The Verve Pipe
  - Barely Breathing by Duncan Sheik
  - P.S. You Rock My World by Eels
  - Good Day by Paul Westerberg
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- In the original version of the script and in the CBS press release, Amelia Flores' (played by Justina Machado) last name was Lopez. Further, the CBS press release also indicated that Susie Ruckle and Madison Meyer would play young Ellen and young Lilly, respectively, but they never appeared in the episode.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- The title is the English language translation for the Greek word euthanatos (sometimes also translated "easy death" or "dying well"). This term generally applies to assisting a sick person or animal to a painless death.
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