Numb3rs

Sabotage

Season 1, Episode 6, Aired 2/25/05

Episode Summary

While consulting with the NTSB at the scene of the wreck, Don learns that this tragedy is one of a series of recreated accidents involving railroad negligence. As is the pattern with the previous train wrecks, an undecipherable numerical code is left at the site, which Don recruits Charlie to solve. By breaking the code, Charlie is able to establish that this accident was a recreation of a deadly wreck that left only one survivor several years ago. Don's investigation leads him and his team to a dangerous standoff with their suspect, who has surprising ties to the railway system.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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Judd Hirsch

Alan Eppes
David Krumholtz

Charlie Eppes
Peter MacNicol

Dr. Larry Fleinhardt

Fan Episode Reviews (4)

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A man is waging a war against the railways, and a seemingly unbreakable code may point to his identity...

8.5

"Great"

By jamoon2006, Oct 23, 2007 Report Abuse

For me, this is a quintessential episode of "Numb3rs," and it shows the series firing on all cylinders. The balance of crime and family dynamic (the ending at the Eppes home is beautiful) is pitch perfect, and having a strong script doesn't hurt, either.

I have felt that more recent episodes of "Numb3rs" have stretched for Charlie to be incorporated into the investigation, so in "Sabotage," it's great to see a crime and evidence that directly calls for Charlie's help. I know it's only TV, but it's hard to swallow when Charlie is practically a junior G-man working on all kinds of crimes. For one thing, it's nice to see Don and his team arrive at a crime scene without Charlie in tow. It's only when they see the case requires a mathematical analysis that they call Charlie. Lately (most of Season 3, throughout Season 4), Charlie is already there, a part of the arrival team. I like the approach in "Sabotage" because it marks a distinction between cases where the FBI needs Charlie's help, and cases where they don't.

This was a suspenseful episode. I liked the cat-and-mouse game between the saboteur and Don, and Charlie's reactions in the climax when he feared for Don's safety felt genuine.

It all adds up to a very solid hour for "Numb3rs."moreless

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9.8

"Superb"

By cavanagh15, Jan 30, 2007 Report Abuse

I thought this episode was the best episode of numbers that the show was realeased yet. From learning about Charlies secret crush on Anita to solving a case at the same time - this was without a doubt the best Numb3rs episode yet. Charlies secret romance with Anita is something that I think we all saw coming at some point in time. They work together so closly and shes thrown a lot at him in terms of flirtation. I look foward to the next episode where something may begin to blossum.

The case in this episode was also one of the better ones. The "math code" which turned out to be nothing but a fake was kind of cool. The only part I didnt like was Don just grabbing the guy and forcing him not to push the button, that seemed a little farfecthed to me, but it was a good episode.moreless

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So this episode was about trains. Always cool.

9.5

"Superb"

By kateyvic, Aug 15, 2006 Report Abuse

Trains are always a cool topic for a TV show. You get the "old west" feel without having to break out the cowboy hats and saddles. Numb3rs did a great job of it in this first season episode.

This is the first episode where we truly get a demonstration of Charlie's genius. In previous episodes we had seen him work on equations and even somewhat seen the genius in "Charlie vision," but with the number grid at the beginning of the episode we see just how good he is in a short amount of time.

And Don in tight jeans is never a bad thing.moreless

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A perfect example of using mathematics as a problem solving tool.

9.5

"Superb"

By whiteraven2005, May 14, 2006 Report Abuse

Now that was an excellent episode! Excellent story, a perfect example of using mathematics as a problem solving tool. But also some great character moments, with some lovely humour thrown in.

Some great personal moments Charlie's distress at realising he put Don in danger, their dad commenting that Charlie wants to impress Don, Charlie's sweet awkwardness with his assistant, Larry's far too linear analysis of his love life.

Don is starting to think like Charlie when he figures out the drivers licence numbers. Charlie's obviously rubbing off on him.

This was intelligent, interesting, sweet and funny. A really great one.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- The information on Don's California driving licence: 10002074. 8111 Aguacate, Los Angeles, CA. Sex - M. Hair - Brown. Eyes - Brown. Height - 5,11. Weight - 160. Date of Birth - 07/15/67. RSTR - 35,36,38,41. Edit
- Larry ad libbed the line about the math department being the least libidonous place on campus, but needed permission from CalTech math professor and Numb3rs consultant Gary Lorden to use it. Edit
- The MATH: Cryptography - The conversion of information from its normal form to an incomprehensible format. The Golden Ratio - Also called the golden mean, 1.61803 is a number considered aesthetically perfect in nature. The Beale Ciphers - According to legend, a treasure in gold was hidden and the location given to an innkeeper along with three coded letters. Edit
Notes
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- International Episode Titles: Czech Republic: Sabotáž (Sabotage) Edit
- International Airdates: Czech Republic: June 30, 2008 on TV Nova Slovakia: October 12, 2009 on JOJ Edit
- This episode is rated: TVPG-V. Edit
Quotes
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- Charlie: It's not a code. It's a story told in numbers. Edit
- Charlie: I'm sorry, but does that ever work? Just coming out and being so.. obvious? Amita: Well, if it's the right guy, sure. Edit
- Alan: Is that Amita sitting in the car out front? Charlie: Yeah. We just stopped by for a minute so I can check this text on encryption and codebreaking. Alan: And you left Amita waiting in the car? No..no. This is not the way we treat people, Charlie. You bring her inside, you at least offer her something to drink. You know, like an adult. Charlie: We just stopped by for a second. Alan: You came in 15 minutes ago, Charlie. Edit
Allusions
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- Charlie: The number of petals in each row is the sum of the preceding two rows. It's the Fibonacci Sequence.
  The Fibonacci Sequence in a boiled-down form is the math equation consisting of specific numbers. These numbers are interesting in that they occur throughout both nature and art. Edit
- Beale Ciphers: The story, to which Charlie refers, is the 1820 treasure hunt where the directions were hidden in code and are commonly referred to as the Beale Ciphers. For years, people studied them until the code was finally cracked, but no treasure was ever found. Edit