It took me a while to warm up to this series while watching reruns on ION TV. One has to realize that in order for this series to work, the writers had to provide clues to the detectives that sometimes stretched the boundaries of credibility. With that in mind, this particular episode covers a home scenario that far too many of us have had to endure. I am not ashamed to admit that I sat there completely transfixed by the amazing acting and directing job done by all of the main actors, including Maridith Monroe, Michael Roderick, Charlotte Stewart, the twins, Amy and Zoe Schlagel and all of our regular cast. Director Roxann Dawson (Lt. Torres of Star Trek Voyager) is seeing her best moment in this episode. Whether she personally had this experience or not, she and the show's writers have created a timeless expression of what so many families have gone through. The episode covers spousal and child abuse with a chilling note of restraint. You may not actually see the worst of the physical and emotional moment, but the story demands that we slowly come to realize the secretive manipulation that occurs when a husband develops an insanity that compels him to injure or kill those he loves. And, I can say from personal experience (in my childhood) that wives who discover they are victims of the insanity will cover up the crime when there seems no reason to do so - sometimes ignoring the problem until it is far too late to save their own children. Family abuse is also one of the most emotional, difficult and dirty sides of police work. I will rate this episode as one of the most riveting and poignant portrayals of an all too common social sickness. As a man I don't often tear up during a television show. But, this one jerked my heart out.
Review of A Perfect Day
