The Killer, November 26, 2002

By Michele Blackburn

A serial killer, a profiler and an unwanted baby make for this a very intriguing episode of JAG entitled The Killer

Warning: For those enthusiastic Catherine Bell fans out there, this is not a CB episode. While this episode was taped, she was busy filming her part in a Jim Carrey movie.

Harm is re-routed from the USS Seahawk where he and Singer took off in last week's episode to Naples, Italy to investigate a serial killing. Manetti is sent down to help him because she took a profiling course at the FBI's BSU during the beginning of her naval career.

I'm glad they're giving her more of a background. In this episode, Harm learns that she speaks fluent Italian, she was a public defender that got a serial killer off death row and that she joined the Navy because her father was a Navy man.

I loved the scene with Harm walking in on her in the towel. Is it just me or has he seen all of his partners coming out of bathrooms in towels? He's very embarrassed. I love to see Harm embarrassed.

Another scene I loved was with Inspector Gianinni in his office as Manetti described the serial killer. She described Harm to a tee. However, this isn't the first time a female officer has described Harm to a tee. Jordan did it at their first encounter on Jaggle Bells. It freaked Harm out just as much as it did this time. I do have to mention that DJE has great facial expressions. I loved to watch his expression when Manetti was describing him.

Debrah Farentino played a female skipper, Commander Amanda Waller. I liked her in this part. She helped Harm and Manetti since it was her ship, USS Gillcrest, that was the ship they thought the killer was off of.

When two suspects were found, the two men were tracked down and questioned by Harm and Manetti. First, let me say that PO Lester Pestrosky was from West Virginia. Okay, I'm a born and raised West Virginian. We are not all as dumb as Pestrosky was made to seem. Why is it everytime JAG does a show about a West Virginian they come out to be hillbillies or dumber than a crock of butter? (See River's Run with Montel Williams for another WV story).

The second suspect is PO Benjamin Holt. I didn't like this guy and with good reason. In interrogating the officer, Harm and Manetti find out that he assaulted a waitress, but is not the serial killer. I seriously look for Harm to be the one to prosecute Holt for assault. There was something in his eyes when he was talking to the waitress.

Okay, Manetti and Harm are 0 for 2 on the suspect list until they find out that many of the dependents visit their husbands and wives in many of the ports. They go back to Commander Waller and find out that their are 25 women on board the Gillcrest. Amanda reminds them that there are 26 if they had her to the list. It seems she has a stepson with emotional problems. He visited several of the ports she was at the same time of the killings. Harm and Manetti go to Peter's hotel room and question him. Peter knocks Harm to the ground and goes to leave. Manetti stops him and Harm knocks him out. In his suitcase, Manetti finds a PO's uniform. Peter Waller was their serial killer. The show ends with Harm talking about Commander Waller and her duty even as she and her ship sail out to Monaco.

Meanwhile, at home, Singer returns to JAG with a greeting of Mazultaf from Sturgis (he's still making her go along with her lie about being Jewish). She informs the Admiral that her pregnancy is not permanent and requests a month's leave. The Admiral looks sad as he realizes that she means she's going to have an abortion, although Bud knew she would have one. Harriet tries to talk her into reconsidering. I don't know if Harriet got through to Singer or not. How about Little AJ coming down and asking Harriet if Singer was the wicked witch. How embarrassing for Harriet. It reminded me of the commercial where all the kids are saying things on camera that they've heard their parents say.

As for Bud, Sturgis is helping him get back into shape for his appeal hearing with the Physical Evaluation Board since he failed the first time. Patrick Labyorteaux looks really good. My mom and I were talking about that. He looks like he's lost some weight.

I was glad to see that they kept up with the same dates and had the show over the Thanksgiving holiday although I was hoping for some kind of Thanksgiving celebration from them or even mention of the day.

Have a great turkey day everybody. See ya in a couple weeks.

BEST QUOTES OF THE SHOW:

"It's Singer. She returned today."~Harriet
"Say no more."~Bud

"Sorry, Commander,"~Manetti (after Harm walked in on her in his hotel room)
"No, I'm glad you're here--I mean in Naples not in my hotel room although your certainly welcome to it."~Harm

"Single white male, young, father absent from his life, distant from his mother, a lack of committed relationships with a woman. What is it, sir?"~Manetti
"I was just thinking that could describe me."~Harm
"You're too old for the profile."~Manetti
"I don't know whether to be insulted or relieved."~Harm

"Mommy, is that the wicked witch?~Little AJ

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