A nanny is found bludgeoned to death in the park. Morgan interferes when Elliot admits to not being invited to his classmate's party. Soto reopens an old murder case in the famous Donovan family, determined to uncover the true killer in classic "whodunit" style.
Morgan has frequently confided in Soto about parenting. The two bond over their shared experiences. The captain understands the struggle her consultant is going through. She knows that things will constantly be getting worse in new and unexpected ways. Yet there is so much joy to be found as well. All of this connects on a personal level with the latest murder investigation. Morgan and Karadec enter an upscale world of high-powered people and the nannies who care for the children. Morgan fought for childcare when she accepted the job with the LAPD. She found a balance that worked with Ludo. She still constantly worries about her kids. She celebrates what makes them unique. She comforts them when other kids are mean. She basks in the glow of knowing they are loved and seen. Ava is a teenager who is frequently annoyed by her family. She also delights in spending time with them. It just takes the right push to be reminded of that. They have a way of championing one another. That is never lost. Morgan worries. She reacts inappropriately. She is fiercely protective of her kids. That's what a couple wanted for their son when they hired Tara. They were worried after their previous nanny was completely indifferent to their son's well-being. They needed proof that Tara was loving and kind. They received that clarity. This open and honest communication only happened after her death. That highlights the tragedy.
Tara's only mistake was refusing to abide by the code of the other nannies in the neighborhood. The police investigate several possible motivations for her murder. They worry about jealous lovers and unhinged stalkers. In the end, it was another nanny who feared she would be deported. She weaponized the gossip of this world against Tara. She isolated her in an attempt to make her feel bad. Tara was fine keeping to herself. It didn't detract from her work whatsoever. She still felt like part of the family. Brett and Jeff praised her despite having different responses to the details of the investigation. They kept secrets from each other. Morgan picks all of them apart. She sees the deceit. The family operates with a ton of love. She offers that reassurance in the end too. She solves the case. She sees the divide based on religion that came to inform who was ultimately guilty. It's a lot of detail Morgan goes into. It captivates the detectives as well as Carina, who is no longer necessary at that point. The casting of Eliza Coupe and Ken Marino implies a more comedic direction. They add a bit of color to the overall mystery. The themes of wanting what's best for one's child still carried through. Morgan could relate to that. That helped her figure everything out. Afterwards, she wanted to celebrate with her kids while providing clarity to the family that just lost one of their own. It's not exactly full of depth. It provides solid entertainment for an hour.
A deathbed confession prompts Soto to reopen the cold case that has haunted her for a decade. She never thought Melon's theory of the case was correct. A jury didn't believe so either. Yet George's confession seemingly confirms it. The police celebrate. It still doesn't feel right to Soto. She asks Morgan to take a look. She wants reassurance from someone she trusts. She doesn't need it from people who want to accept the confession as fact without knowing for sure. Morgan presents an alternate theory of the case. It ultimately turns out to be true. Only so much can be gleamed from the crime scene photos. The team has to investigate the evidence still left behind in the Donovan family mansion. This scandalous crime completely altered the reputations of everyone in this family. George confessed to the crime only because he knew Cody and Nedda were planning on separately coming forward to bring media attention back onto the case. He wanted to spare the family the pain of this all over again. And yet, he couldn't control everything. The family held firm to their secrets. They protected one another despite not knowing the truth. They were grateful Barry was killed because he was physically abusive to Heather. The events of the night affirmed he wasn't a member of the family. The timeline was originally only investigated after midnight. The crime took place previously. And so, that isolation plays into the mystery. People attributed things to Barry that weren't true. Morgan cracks the case. In doing so, she proves to Soto's boss why she continues to be a valuable member of the team.
All of this is so personal for Soto. So much of this season has focused on Morgan. She is an entertaining character. Kaitlin Olson provides her with so much depth. Judy Reyes is commendable as Soto too. The dynamic between Morgan and Soto is ultimately the most nourishing amongst the precinct. Sure, the priority is largely on the partnership between Morgan and Karadec. However, the seasoned detective doesn't exactly have many significant personality traits. He's meant to be the rule follower whose style on the job contrasts with Morgan. He isn't much more than that. He is supportive of her. He has come to appreciate her insights. He still finds her annoying. He has grown used to her charms. He's willing to help whenever she needs it. However, more depth is provided to Soto - especially in this case. This murder informs her career. She didn't have any authority to step out of line and take a risk in the past. Now, she enjoys that freedom. It only extends so far. Fortunately, Morgan discovers the true killer at the precise moment when her friend needs to be saved. She deduces that Cody was more than the sullen teenager who wanted to escape the family drama. He had opportunity to kill his father. Moreover, this provides some grace as he will be charged as a minor for the crime. The family has the potential to heal. That uplifting note is hit too. The narrative provides the full complexity. It recognizes the humanity of everyone while still delving into the over-the-top nature of its crimes. Sure, the inclusion of the documentary doesn't really add anything. It's striking how Oz and Daphne are kept at the precinct doing the same job as the rest of the team. It doesn't make them feel as involved. They provide key updates. That's meaningful. It creates a compelling episode. It's still obvious the show can push itself even further in its storytelling.
