Morgan's intellect and cleaning experience prove useful when the detectives are called to a hotel room murder scene, eventually uncovering the victim's many cons.
Captain Soto already knows Morgan well enough not to take her declaration of quitting her new job seriously. It's a situation Morgan frequently finds herself in. She pushes back against authority and those trying to tell her what to do. Karadec is furious after she ambushes him with a reveal. He only sees the danger and reckless decision-making. It makes his job more difficult. More danger and uncertainty was introduced that he wasn't prepared for. No one can predict and calculate every action in the field. However, the detectives have to be smart with how they approach every situation. Morgan made a discovery. She wanted to show off to her reluctant partner. That escalated. It resulted in a police chase as well as a fight with words. When that occurs, Morgan would rather quit than conform to a new situation. She doesn't handle that pressure well. An apology smooths things over easily. This is simply who she is. She's bold and demands attention. That has its ups and downs. The results have to be worth all of it.
That highlights how the effectiveness of the overall storytelling hinges on Morgan's unique perspective. If the viewer notes any hole in the plot, then the entire story comes crashing down. Morgan suggests the criminal climbed down the outside of the hotel to enter the apartment to kill his victim. Oz is assigned to investigate the theory. He believes it's possible after examining the outside of the building. However, this is the only theory offered as to how the killer gained entry to the room. None of the other detectives suggest other ideas for how the impossible seemingly happened. They are just skeptical. That's all they are required to be. That ambiguity lingers for awhile. The drama is distracted by exploring the various cons the victim was running at the time of his death. He scammed vulnerable women out of their money. He projected wealth and status. He cared for his family. So much of it was a lie. That had to be unraveled. To understand the motive, the detectives had to know the victim. As such, the logistics of the story fell to the side.
All of this ultimately results in Morgan cracking the case because of the length of a suspect's fingernails. That's the more damning clue instead of noting he was wearing a shirt with a climbing club logo on it. That seems more crucial in proving the case. This man's loved one was targeted by the victim. Revenge is an easy motivation. It's complicated by the addition of an accomplice. However, that person was already interviewed by the police as the first person of interest in the case. She was the only person seen on camera entering and leaving the hotel room. It's easy to assume she was involved. It doesn't matter who came up with the plan to kill either. They were both complicit in the action. That means they are responsible for everything that took place in the room. Morgan doesn't have all the answers right away. The killers were free to go earlier. However, she still gets her moment in which she gets to explain how it all happened and be proven right. That's a boost for her ego. It also comes across more empty than the previous stories. That's a letdown in a show that needs complexity and a unique perspective in order to work at all.
Moreover, not every element of the episode is relevant to the latest mystery Morgan must solve. That's to be expected given the serialized investigation into what happened to Roman. Morgan wants answers. She's tasked Soto with looking into how the police handled the original case. That hasn't produced any meaningful leads so far. However, progress has to at least be teased in every episode. That's the only way to maintain its relevance apparently. That's frustrating. It gives the character something to do. It builds a stronger bond between Morgan and Soto. That's rewarding. The show puts the effort in. It just remains too tentative without offering something truly special. The payoff has to be rewarding eventually. Right now, it's the show throwing characters into the narrative to convey complexity. It's not quite done with the assuredness of everything coming together at some point. It's action that should define character. It's all plot. That's lame in a way that robs a lot of urgency out of the storytelling too.
