Greater Good

Season 5, Episode 23, Aired

Episode Summary

EDIT
9.2
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Superb
184 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate Now!
The team re-opens a two year old case to clear someone of wrong doing. Lindsay returns from Montana and has her big moment.
  • A Father's Love and a CSI baby!!

    10
    "Perfect"
    I just loved this show. It's one of those feel good shows that just makes you glad to be alive. And, no one died in this show! I wonder if this might be the only CSI: NY episode in which no one dies. I haven't seen them all yet, but it's the first one I've seen that is sans a death.

    I thought the story of a father's love for his daughter was deeply touching. I'm a believer is doing the right thing, but one can certainly understand why Talmadge Neville took the actions he took on that tragic night.

    The story of the hit man was woven into the story very well and it turned out to be someone I would not have suspected. I actaully had a completely different plot line in mind.

    This was an episode that shows how things really are not black and white in our society. Mac's compassion, Mr. Neville's actions and DAs with common sense who would not prosecute the case are examples of the types of choices many people face each day. It's also a good reminder that we shouldn't judge.

    More than anything, it was a show that really lifted my spirits on a day when I needed it. :)moreless
  • I loved it simply because I'm a fan.

    8.0
    "Great"
    I was intrigued by the idea of investigating not only an older case but one that the wrong person was convicted. The scene with Flack and Mac, explaining why he was looking into a case that was supposedly cut and dry, it was typical Mac. I kinda reminded me of his digging in the Melissa Danville case in The Closer from the first season. I actually like seeing the evidence being presented to the viewers. The fact that Katherine Donovan put a hit out on the Nevilles was no surprise. Mac's reflection on Claire was poignant and fitting. Karita Neville coming forward was predictable just as her father taking the blame in order for his daughter to succeed. I really loved the idea of the "ghosts bikes" I thought it was a nice memorial. Okay the comic relief was the hospital scenes. Both Danny and Lindsay going through their own insecurities, normal as they were, were great.moreless
  • OK despite the big moment!

    7.5
    "Good"
    This has not been the greatest season of NY this year. And that this episode, was ok. As Charles Dutton played a man who spent eighteen months in Riker's. For a crime that he felt guilty of doing. But really didn't and Mac admits that there was a mistake being made. Really felt bad as Dutton was trying to protect his family from harm. Meanwhile, the moment has arrived. As Lindsay and Danny had their baby. Wonder how they are going to take care of the baby. Maybe do baby duty with one in the morning or one at night. Or Lindsay staying home for awhile before, going back to work?!moreless
  • The greater good.

    7.5
    "Good"
    This episode started off really well, it looked like it had the potential for a classic. We all were tricked into thinking the wrongly convicted man was attached to the hitman (or contract killer) but it turned out it was the mother of the deceased that was responsible for hiring her.

    I think where CSI: NY went wrong tonight was by bringing in the man's daughter into the equation. It was an unpleasant turn and really killed the momentum of the climax when the big reveal turned out to be her behind the wheel. While the episode was still enjoyable for the most part it certainly was not the first time this show gave us a sub-par ending.moreless
  • Good chapter, definitely not the best of the season...

    9.5
    "Superb"
    I don't get why Mac and Stella put so emphasis to the fact that the debt is not paid until the real criminal is put behind bars and then, Mac says that all was an accident and that no prossecutor would follow the case... Why all the fuss?? It was quite predictable, I knew from the begining that he was protecting someone he loved and when he mentioned that he was a single father I knew it had to be one of his kids.
    On the DL side... I don't think Lindsay was that rude to Adam, she jsut says that she is not used to deal with him after just coming back from Montana, and she is in labour so... Danny was really cute being so nervous but I kinda missed some more scenes of the 2 of them together. Danny nervous and rambling being calmed down by Adam was quite funny!
    Lucy or Lidia??? I prefer 100 times more Lucy but I have the feeling that it's not gonna be either of them....
    Just a note: If the images of the team processing the car and eveything from the closed case were from 2 years ago, why is Danny not wearing his glasses?????moreless
WRITE A REVIEW

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

FILTER BY TYPE

  • TRIVIA (7)

    ADD TRIVIA
    • It's a surprise that Mac and Stella allowed Talmadge to be convicted just on his confession alone. In Wasted, despite Paul Richmond's confession and turning in of the murder weapon, Stella refused to close the case without looking at the evidence first. And in Til Death Do We Part, Connor Mulcahy also claimed he killed someone but Stella didn't believe him until checking out the evidence.

    • The Ghost Riders depicted in the episode are actually called Ghost Bikes. New York City Street Memorial Project is the group that builds and maintains them. Currently, there are 35 among all 5 boroughs.

    • Goof: Danny and Lindsay's baby girl is clearly not a newborn but a baby or around 1-2 months old.

    • Goof: Even though Maris Donovan death occurred two years ago, Stella shows Mac a photo of the dead girl on a digital camera in one of the flashbacks, and the screen reads 2009/3/25, which would make it two years into the future.

    • Goof: Danny is not wearing his glasses in the flashbacks seen in this episode that took place 2 years ago. He started wearing contacts at the begining of season 5, until then he always wore glasses.

    • Everyone insists that Mac never takes a day off; however he actually took 10 days off at the end of Season three final 3x24 Snow Day when he went to London with Peyton, as Adam points out.

    • This episode features the first child born in the CSI franchise history since Danny and Lindsay's baby girl is welcome to the world. Her name is still not revealed yet (Danny's choice is Lucy, Lindsay's is Lydia) and Mac accepts to be her godfather.

  • QUOTES (27)

    ADD QUOTES
    • Mac: I was wondering if we could talk. Talmadge Neville: Why? Mac: Because you just spent 18 months in prison for a crime you didn't commit.

    • Lindsay: Go get a set of keys to a car, any car. Meet me in the garage in five minutes. My water just broke. (Adam's jaw drops) Lindsay: I'm about to go into labor and you are taking me to the hospital. Go! Adam: Okay. Lindsay: Adam... Adam: Yeah, wrong way, sorry, j... just relax. Everything's going to be okay.

    • Danny: (Leaving a message in Lindsay's voicemail as he heads to the hospital) Baby, it's me. We're close, okay? Hold on till I get there, okay? I don't want to miss this. I love you. I love you, okay?

    • Flack: Here you are digging up a closed case. Mac: Our lab didn't analyze the evidence collected at the scene because at the time Neville took full responsibility. Flack: Well, makes sense. He was driving the car. Mac: Maybe not.

    • Flack: (To Mac) You were that kid in school who did all the extra credit projects, weren't you? You made all the rest of us look bad.

    • Talmadge Neville: Why would I lie? What would I gain? I am now and forever an ex-con. Unemployable, unreliable, unworthy. It doesn't sound like something a man chooses if he's got an ounce of common sense.

    • Lindsay: Do they really think that I'm just going to walk this baby right out of me? Why can't I be one of those women who just sneezes and before you can say, 'God bless you', she's had the baby? Stella: Think of what you'd miss out on. Reminding your child of all those long, painful hours of labor that you endured to bring them into this world. Lindsay: I guess I could get some mileage out of that.

    • Lindsay: (About her daughter) She'll come home, she'll scream that she hates me, then in rebellion she'll get some part of her body pierced that's inappropriate. And she'll get an infection, and she'll wind up on antibiotics which we find out 12 years later they cause an eating disorder and pretty soon I'm in therapy trying to save my whole family.

    • Lindsay: What if some people just aren't cut out to be parents? Stella: Well, the fact that you already thought about all this, tells me that you're gonna do just fine, Linds. Lindsay: I'm losing it, huh? Stella: Yeah.

    • Katharine Donovan: Everybody keeps saying it was an accident. Just doesn't feel like that on this side of the glass. Oh, that man was stupid and reckless. In one split second, he took my daughter's life. And he has to live with that. Unfortunately, so do I.

    • Sid: You working on your day off? Mac: Why is it that everyone is so concerned with what I do on my day off? Sid: Are you kidding? I mean, come on, you never take a day off.

    • (About Maris Donovan's autopsy report) Sid: Strange. Yours is the second request for this particular case this week. That rarely happens for one this old. Mac: Who made the first request? Sid: Usually, it includes a name, but this says: Confidential.

    • Stella: (To Dr. Karita Neville) I'm in awe of your unwavering commitment to the lie. Can't imagine what it was like to watch your father cuffed and later locked up, knowing the whole time that it should have been you.

    • Stella: Was there a moment that you ever felt guilty? Dr. Karita Neville: The debt has been paid. Stella: No, Dr. Neville. No debt is paid when the wrong person is convicted.

    • Adam: Hey, how's Lindsay? Hawkes: 7 hours counting. Adam: She dilated past one centimeter yet? Hawkes: That's kind of a personal question, Adam. Adam: Oh, sorry. I... I just have 18 hours and 15 minutes in the hours of labor office pool. 600 bucks on the line, yo.

    • Hawkes: Those bikes are all over the city. They're in memory of people who lost their lives in bike accidents. They're called ghost riders.

    • Ronny Desoto: Let's just say I'm a guy with a specific skill set. And I got the constitution to commit acts that other people don't have the courage to. Stella: You're a hit man. Ronny Desoto: I'm not familiar with that term. Flack: Sorry, contract killer. Is that what you prefer to put on your business cards?

    • Ronny Desoto: No women, no children. Flack: A hit man with a code of ethics how noble.

    • Ronny Desoto: (About Katharine Donovan) Hey, look, I didn't come in here for a pat on the back, Detective. This woman's desperate. I get the feeling, with or without me, she's gonna get this done.

    • Mac: (To Katharine Donovan I lost my wife on 9/11. Some days... it seems like it was so long ago. Others... like it was just yesterday. I wish I could promise that you'd stop missing Maris, hearing her voice or imagining she'll be there when you get home, but... I can't.

    • Flack: Dano, Dano, how's Lindsay doing? (..) You gotta be kidding me. Is that her I hear screaming in the background? (...) Yeah, yeah, all right. All right, daddy. I'll talk to you later. Take care, bud, bye.

    • Hawkes: Do you guys have a name? Lindsay: Lydia. Danny: Lucy. Flack: Guess that's a no.

    • Danny: Mac, we did agree on one thing. Lindsay: We were hoping that you would consider being the godfather. Mac: Absolutely. Yes. Adam: Made him an offer that he can't refuse! Flack: That ain't no godfather, that's code word for diaper change. (All laugh) Mac: (Holding the baby) Wow, wow... do I get to spoil her? Hawkes: I think Danny's got that covered. (More laughing)

    • Mac: (To Lindsay after she gives birth) How are you holding up? Lindsay: I'm great, but she is gonna be an only child because I'm never doing that again.

    • Stella: (Holding the baby) Oh Danny, I hate to admit it but she looks just like you. Danny: Yes, that's right. She is a knockout.

    • Danny: What if she has twins, Adam? I mean, I've heard stories about people being completely surprised, and you've seen Lindsay, right? I mean she's huge. Adam: Wow! Danny: She knows it. Adam: Relax. You got the ultrasound, it's not twins, alright? You are gonna be ok? Danny: No, no I'm not. I'm like... going into cardiac arrest while she is giving birth.

    • (Stella and Lindsay are walking down the hall to help the labor). Lindsay: I'm kinda scared, Stella. Stella: That's normal Lindsay. Just remember you're healthy and strong. You and Danny went through all the courses. (Stella thinks Lindsay is talking about the birth of the baby). Lindsay: No I don't mean about having a baby, I mean being a mom. What if I stink at it?

  • NOTES (4)

    ADD NOTES
    • Original International Airdates: Turkey: June 22, 2009 on CNBC-e. Spain: June 30, 2009 on AXN. Brazil: July 9, 2009 on AXN. Czech Republic: August 5, 2009 on AXN. The Netherlands: November 16, 2009 on RTL4. Norway: November 18, 2009 on TVNorge. Sweden: January 4, 2010 on Kanal 5. Germany: February 22, 2010 on Vox. Slovakia: June 21, 2010 on JOJ. Finland: July 14, 2010 on MTV3.

    • CBS had Greater Good episode up in full length on their site hours before its tv airing.

    • There was a preview of both episodes Pay Up and Grounds for Deception that was seen before Greater Good. CBS had a section on its site where such promos were available as well.

    • Geoff Meed, who plays Ronny Desoto, has also appeared in the C.S.I. episode Too Tough to Die and in the CSI: Miami one Body Count. Cynthia Addai-Robinson, who plays Dr. Karita Neville, has also appeared in the CSI: Miami episode Internal Affairs.

  • ALLUSIONS (2)

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Talmadge Neville: I just spent 18 months in Rikers. Rikers is New York City's jail and takes its name from the island on which it is settled between Queens and Bronx boroughs.

    • Dr. Karita Neville: He lost that Super Bowl bet. The Super Bowl is the NFL (National Football League) final and it gets the highest television ratings of the year.

More
Less