CSI: NY 8x05: Air Apparent

Original Air Date: 21 October 2011

Storyline: Despite having been stabbed to death in a gruesome way, a young woman seems to have found a last moment of strength to leave a clue pointing to her assassin. The team must determine how much truth there is in the victim's last act. The main suspect is a drug addict, which makes Flack reconnect with his estranged sister, who had drug problems of her own. Trivia: Flack's sister Sam was first introduced in season 5 episode "Dead Inside".

Justin Bruening, who plays Hank Frazier, also appears in the CSI: Miami episode "CSI: My Nanny".
Bonnie Burroughsm, who plays Linda Frazier, also appears in the CSI episode "The Hunger Artist".
Flack references Lesley Stahl and Andy Rooney. Lesley Rene Stahl is an American television journalist who has been reporting for the CBS on 60 Minutes since 1991. Andrew Aitken 'Andy' Rooney is an American radio and television writer who had a weekly broadcast on CBS's 60 Minutes from 1978 to 2011. His final appearance was made on October 2, 2011.

Best Quote:

Hank Frazier: Yeah, well, I couldn't have done that because I wasn't there. I was in a dope house getting high.
Flack: That's your alibi... you were in a crack house getting high?
Hank Frazier: Yeah.
Flack: Your Honor, I'd like to call my next witnesses... Two Tooth Willy and Crackhead Pooky. You think that's gonna fly in front of a judge and a jury?

Review: I've been complaining about this season ever since it started, for going with storylines that could have developed interestingly (like Mac and Danny's), but were dropped for no apparent reason, and for over-promoting Sela Ward, who's mostly a dud and makes me miss Melina Kanakaredes immensely.

However, this episode was closer to the CSI:NY series we've been used to for seven seasons, though it didn't feature enough lab stuff than I would have wanted. But the case and Flack's side plot were well written and I was especially happy to see that much of Eddie Cahill in one episode.
The case they worked on this week was the murder of a young woman whose boyfriend - the brother of a promising basketball player - had just been released from prison after a drug charges conviction. The murder had been staged to make the boyfriend, Hank Frazier, look like he was the killer, but a smart observation from Jo ("I believe our killer gave us the finger.") and a satellite blood spatter discovered by Lindsay led them to the discovery that someone else killed the girl and made it so Hank would be blamed.
The theme of the episode was sibling love. The story of the two brothers was emotional, but what mostly got to me was the relationship between Flack and his sister, Sam, whom we've seen before, back in season five. We already knew that she has a drug problem and things between her and Don were strained due to his overprotective nature. It was great that we got another look at that and maybe now, with Don getting her a job in the NYPD, we'll see her again in the future. It surely beats having to witness Jo's problems with her kids, doesn't it?
Couple of complaints: we haven't seen enough of Danny, but maybe they took a step back after having an entire episode focus mostly on him; still, I would have assumed we'd get the chance to see him get reacquainted with the crime lab, after his street days. Also, they have to start using pigs to reproduce stab wounds. This is violence against animals, people!
There was also a funny moment - an Adam moment, to be more precise - which reminded me why I love him so much as to put him in my all-time top 20 geeks on TV.CSI: NY 8x04: Officer Involved Back to Season 8