Without a Trace

When Darkness Falls

Season 4, Episode 10, Aired 12/8/05

Episode Summary

Sam agrees to do a favor for a friend by looking into the identity of a young amnesiac who was found wearing expensive clothes by two police officers. The investigation leads them to a play the woman was involved in and a mugging gone wrong, then they follow the trail to the woman's past, which seems to have been the trigger for her amnesia. Jack takes some time off work to deal with his father, who is getting worse as his Alzheimers begins to take over and his kidneys fail. Jack finally convinces Frank to seek help, but it's too late, and Jack has to say goodbye to his father.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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Roselyn Sanchez

Elena Delgado
Poppy Montgomery

Samantha Spade
Eric Close

Martin Fitzgerald

Fan Episode Reviews (4)

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Not exactly a missing person's case but... *SPOILERS*

10

"Perfect"

By mandytjie, Nov 12, 2006 Report Abuse

This was such an excellent episode. I thought Anthony LaPaglia's acting was superb and his performance at the end of the episode when his father died was just amazing.

I liked the departure this week from the show's usual formula and I felt that the directors handled the dissociative amnesia remarkably well. (Psychological disturbances have so often been portrayed incorrectly in TV and film, the worst being Trisha Alden's MPD being described as schizophrenia in the now defunct soap, Loving).

I also enjoyed watching Poppy Montgomery in her role as Sam Spade. She is absolutely lovely - so demure and composed. In fact, I far prefer pictures of her where she isn't <em>trying</em> to look sexy or sultry, because to me that shines from deep inside of her.moreless

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1 0
Sam helps a woman who has amnesia. Jack says good-bye to his dad. Martin get's addicted to pain killers. Anything else to say?

9.1

"Superb"

By RyanWolfeFan, Dec 12, 2005 Report Abuse

Wonderful episode. One of the best so far that I've seen and remembered. Amazing story development as well as character development. I was wondering what they were going to do with Martin and his whole traumatic experience. I'm happy the producers are doing it this way. Pain killers are dangerous things especially when you've been on the path of self-destruction for so long. Jack's painful good-bye to his dad was heart wrenching. It reminds me about my Papa and why life is so gosh darn short. Poppy Montgomery did a good job acting wise. Sam's attatchment to the victim was well written.moreless

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This time a person isn't necessarily the one who's lost, who they are is.

8.5

"Great"

By cokebeard, Dec 09, 2005 Report Abuse

this is twice now this season that trace has done an odd episode. and by odd, i mean one that goes outside of the usual formula for the show - where person is missing, they hunt for said person, and either find or don't find person and those responsible. first it was following the parents that you either loved or hated. here the person wasn't lost. her identity was, not the paperwork, but her memories. it was a different twist on the same drink, but one that broke up the monotonous rut this show can get in. there was one last season with the depositions for jack's divorce. i really liked this episode. sam really emersed herself in this. there is something beneath the surface that got to her. it may not have been a christmas episode per se, but it at least had a happy ending.moreless

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Samantha helps an amnesic woman regain her memory.

6.5

"Fair"

By Milks23, Dec 09, 2005 Report Abuse

Samantha helps a amnesic woman retrace her steps and eventually her memory.

This, was one of those episodes where it focuses on the agents personal lives and struggles with issues: Sam has to help a lost soul, and in some way help herself, Jack spends time with his father, who dies before he could hear Jack say I love you, and Martin is getting addicted to pain killer. (Oh man, they better not spoil this).

In the end, Samantha is able to find the missing woman's parents and give some relief that she is loved and her family is on the way.

Overall, an average episode.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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Notes
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- Original International Air Dates: Norway: March 11, 2009 on Nrk1 Slovakia: November 26, 2009 on Markiza Edit
Quotes
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- Jack's father, Frank, has an episode of Alzheimer's and believes he is just now proposing to his girlfriend, Jack's mother Frank: Do you think she'll say yes? Jack: I'm pretty sure she will, yeah. Edit
- Vivian Johnson: In the spring of '99, I've got one student by the name of Carmen Kuskowski. Martin Fitzgerald: No wonder she changed her name. Edit
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