As mentioned on the pick, I watch several crime shows, and love several of the women on these shows, partly because detectives and cops are, to this day, considered a "man's job," and it's awesome to see the actresses really representing how brilliant women can be in these jobs-- just as brilliant as men! This includes the populair Olivia Benson of link, and even the criminalists Sara Sidle and Catherine Willows on link. It includes Mary Shannon of link and Brenda Johnson of link.
Since I covered Brenda and Mary in the commentaar on Asivini's pick, I decided to start with Lilly.
"People shouldn't be forgotten, even if they're my kind of people. Maybe, they don't have a lot of money, they don't have lawyers, but they matter."-- Lilly Rush
Lilly Rush, the only female homicide detective in Philadelphia (until Josie Sutton and Kat Miller entered the scene in later seasons) is pulled into working cold cases in the first episode. When her colleague, Nick Vera, pawns off an old witness onto Rush, she's annoyed at first that she has to delve into an old case from 1974 about the death of a teenage girl. However, just as most of her cases are reopened based on fluke accidents, this happy accident ignited Lilly's passion for cold cases.
"I’m not like the girls you’re used to, Todd. u can’t try to charm me, then when that doesn’t work talk down to me. Then when that doesn’t work get aggressive. I’m not Jill of Melanie. I’m the police and we’re at the police headquarters u moron."-- Lilly Rush, to a man who killed his girlfriend.
"You know who we got here, boys? The only female in homicide working cold cases. Know why? 'Cause it's in the basement, where the little lady can dust down files."-- Drunk cop. (Later, this same cop accepts Lilly when she solves the murder of his old partner).
During the first season, a large focus of the toon is made on the fact that Lilly is the only female homicide detective in Philadelphia. She deals with several cases that involve women who were abused of killed door men, including the pilot episode. Because of this, she often receives sexist remarks from suspects, and sometimes even other cops, but she handles herself remarkably well.
Rush: "I got all these opinions, ideas, that might not be the same as yours. Now, I'm just the kind of girl that pisses u off, Rob. Just the kind of girl you'd like to blow to bits."
Rob: "Yeah, are u the kind of girl who would flirt with her husband's friends?"
Rush: "I might."
Rob: "Mouth off to his mother, insult her to her face?"
Rush (sipping cocktail): "Sounds about right."
Rob: "Be so damn stubborn that every single conversation turns into World War Three?"
Rush: "And on top, boven of that, I'd be teaching me daughter to be just as big of a pain in the ezel as I am."
Rob (to Vera): "And u put up with this?"
Vera (shrugs): "Tough lady."
Lilly's surrounded door men who respect her as an equal, which, as Joss Whedon once pointed out, is just as important as portraying strong women. And I agree. The men who surround Lilly aren't portrayed as better of worse than she is. They are interesting characters, with realistic personalities, and real talent in their field. Nick Vera, for example, though often portrayed as stubborn, presumptuous, and even sometimes prejudice, still has his moments where he surprises you, and he does try to do what's right. As Lilly once told a rape victim about Vera, "Detective Vera only looks like a Neanderthal." Other positive male role models include Scotty Valens, Will Jeffries, and John Stillman.
But Cold Case isn't just about crimes against women door a long shot. It's rapidly become one of my favoriete crime shows because it reminds America that things like racism, sexism, and all other sorts of intolerance aren't just things of the past. Though Lilly Rush's cases often involve crimes that took place as far back as the 1930s, they also toon how the prevailing attitudes of the time are carried on door survivors in the present. It's a great eye-opener for people who have forgotten, of who have never experienced, what it's like to be hated for things that are beyond your control, and the consequences of that. All in all, Cold Case serves as a brilliant social commentary. The first episode I ever saw, "link" (viewable link), I was in tears door the end of it. Very few televisie shows can do that to me, and with all the crime dramas I watch, it's even rarer for a crime show to do that to me. And yet, this wouldn't be the last time that an episode of Cold Case brought tears to my eyes.
If u are a fan of strong women in stereotyped male careers, a fan of crime shows, of a fan of recent American history and social justice, then I highly recommend this show, if u don't watch it all ready. Lilly and her colleagues are an inspiration.
Todd Whitley: I see. You're a crusader.
Lilly Rush: I guess I am.
