A famous baseball newscaster is murdered, and the team is on the case. Soto and Morgan meet with a potential lead to discuss Roman's disappearance, and Tom has some personal news to share with Morgan.
Gio doesn't immediately provide any clarity as to what happened to Roman fifteen years ago. In some respects, that isn't surprising. Progress needs to be made on this overarching mystery for the season - which will wrap after 13 episodes overall. Gio's presence is enough in that regard. However, he states he will be traveling out of town for a little bit. He will contact Morgan again when he has information to provide. All the teases are there to suggest he will provide meaningful information at some point. Morgan is reluctant to trust him. Gio sharing that he knows the inside joke Roman used to refer to their family is reassuring. Morgan is still stunned because she knew nothing about this man before now. She didn't know Roman was talking to him. She's baffled as to why he was involved with a guy like this. Gio is a criminal fixer. He's involved in a lot of shady dealings. He requires a favor from the police first. Even then, he is only willing to engage with Morgan. Soto puts the plan into motion. She relies on Karadec's relationships in the District Attorney's office to get a kid released to rehab and not sentenced to jail. That allows Karadec in on the secret that's kept Morgan and Soto busy. He deserved to be let in given his prominence throughout the season.
However, the episode feels incredibly disjointed in that regard. Morgan's behavior throughout the murder investigation is reminiscent of how she behaved when she first accepted the job as a consultant. She doesn't particularly care about rules and protocol. The police need to collect evidence a specific way in order to build a case. Meanwhile, Morgan is happy to lift a cover off a car and steal a suspect's phone. All of this can potentially be explained by who wrote this episode. Rob Thomas was initially hired to be the drama's showrunner in its first season. He was eventually replaced by Todd Harthan. As such, elements of the case feel like an extension of what Thomas delivered when he was at the helm. And then, other stories were stitched together in the hopes of creating something more cohesive. And yet, it's still strange when Morgan receives a shoutout at the press conference notifying the public to the arrest. It suggests how pivotal she was to the overall investigation. She figured it out. Her efforts needed to be recognized. The season has done plenty of that. Recently, it's done so through an acknowledgement of what she brings to the team to make the unit better. Karadec and Soto recognize her talents. Meanwhile, Daphne and Oz remain relegated to the background.
Moreover, it's sudden and jarring when Tom announces his departure. He was hired as a nurse in San Diego. Morgan was distracted during the final week they could spend together. She did so by not responding to his calls. He saw that as a hint she was ghosting him. She was actually just overwhelmed and distracted. That's how her brain works. She needs others to acknowledge that and not jump to conclusions. In doing so, Tom proves he isn't the ideal partner for Morgan. San Diego is far but manageable should the two try to make this relationship work. Everything up to this point suggested importance from Tom. If this turns out to be his exit, then it feels like a "waste of time." That phrase was relevant in the case Morgan and Karadec investigate. The legendary baseball announcer had a shorthand for reflecting his frustration in that specific way. It's pivotal to the entire case. Someone had to be a true fan to get that reference. Morgan cracks the mystery though. She does so by watching old games. Meanwhile, Karadec shares stories about what the announcer meant to him and his father. He forms a connection with the victim's son who mourns not having a chance to say goodbye. The emotional demands of Karadec require him to be of service elsewhere. That just makes it odd how much he professes to being a fan while not being able to make sense of the clues.
The mismatch of stories requires some tonal shifts as well. The opening sequence highlights how overwhelmed Morgan is especially when she can't easily rely on Ludo for childcare. It's demanded of her to arrive at the crime scene as soon as possible. It's played for laughs how she needs the team to look after Chloe while she searches for clues. And then, she's frazzled during her first meeting with Gio. Soto asks to take the lead. Morgan has interviewed her fair share of suspects. However, Soto has much more experience on the job. She has baggage to overcome because of the badge. She also has the resources to make all of this happen. She does so over text. That's how she communicates with Gio. It's a little ridiculous. It's a shot meant to connect everything together. It pales to the emotional resonance of Karadec telling Morgan she can lean on him during this investigation. She needs answers. He is willing to help however he can. It's not much of a sacrifice in this particular regard either. But then, everything shifts again when Morgan is alone with Gio. She fears he can't be trusted and is taking her somewhere dangerous. He provides nothing in return. Yet he acknowledges the significance of being "the RAMs." That was endearing to Roman. That provides insight. But it's a lot of nonsense getting to that point with no real payoff.
