Ep 5. Dancing with the Fishes

Detective Mac Taylor leads the team through another intricate case in the crime drama CSI: NY season 2, episode 5, called Dancing with the Fishes. The episode opens with a fisherman who has discovered a human skull while casting his fishing line into the Silver Lake river. Detectives Flack and Angell are called to the scene and the investigation begins with the team collecting evidence from the river bank and the surrounding area.

As the case starts, the team begins to work on identifying the victim. Their efforts reveal that the victim was a woman, but a DNA test does not match any records in their database. Meanwhile, they discover that the river where the skull was found is home to an annual fishing tournament, and the victim's bracelet is identified by a woman who had participated in the competition but bowed out early.

The team interviews the woman and learns that she met the victim, who was going by the name of Maria, at the tournament. They went out drinking that night and had plans to meet up the following day, but Maria never showed up. The woman offers to help with the investigation and points them in the direction of some men who might have seen Maria that night.

The investigation intensifies when the team discovers that the victim had an inoperable brain tumor, and the highlight of her final days was to go on a fishing trip. They locate the driver of the fishing boat Maria had boarded, who mentions another passenger, a man named Benny. Benny had been hitting on Maria, and although she had rebuffed his advances, he had continued to pursue her. The team doubts Benny’s story and interrogates him.

As the investigation heats up, the team learns that Benny had taken Maria out on his boat and had given her a strong cocktail mixed with catfish blood, which made her dizzy. He then convinced her to go for a swim, where she struggled against the current and in her fragility, succumbed to the elements. The team puts the pieces together and finds that after realizing he had killed Maria, Benny had cut off her head and thrown it in the river.

The team finds it challenging to piece together this challenging case until finally finding the pivotal evidence to make the arrest. The detectives finally have enough evidence to arrest Benny and bring him in for interrogation. Benny continues to deny his guilt until he is confronted with the damning evidence at which point he cracks and confesses in a great season two finale.

Overall, Dancing with the Fishes is yet another example of CSI: NY's brilliant mix of drama, detective work, and forensics. The episode makes fantastic use of its themes centered on Maria’s love for fishing and the beauty of the river. Each of the show's actors impresses with their performances, particularly Detective Mac Taylor, who carries out the investigation with his usual efficiency and patience.

In closing, CSI: NY season 2 episode 5, Dancing with the Fishes, remains one of the popular show's most memorable episodes, thanks to its intriguing story, strong character development, and deep plot. The episode concludes with a satisfying twist, leaving the audience on the edge of their seat, eagerly anticipating the next installment.