History Recap / ColdCaseS1E9SherryDarlin

* SpannerInTheWorks: The new owners of James's old house unwittingly kick off the events of the episode in the present day. If they hadn't permitted James to see the basement (or [[InnocentlyInsensitive what they made of it]]), he wouldn't have felt guilty enough to contact Lily, and Sherry would've likely gotten away with her machinations many years in the making.

* LaserGuidedKarma: Sherry did James dirty for many years. She killed his grandmother, tempted him into being an AccompliceByInaction, leeched away his money and the better part of his life, and unceremoniously left him for a doctor when she no longer had use for him. As such, she quickly loses everything she killed for when Jerry finally testifies against her: her new husband, his money and her freedom.

* LaserGuidedKarma: Sherry did James dirty for many years. She killed his grandmother, tempted him into being an AccompliceByInaction, leeched away his money and the better part of his life, and unceremoniously left him for a doctor when she no longer had use for him. As such, she quickly loses everything she killed for when Jerry testifies against her, her new husband, his money and her freedom.

* SmallRoleBigImpact: What led James to confess was during his house moving job, James happened to be near his old house and asked the new owners to show him the basement where he buried his grandma. Seeing the basement being turned into a bar and party place made him snap.
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: James's brother Lonnie was left alone with Sherry while James went on an errand. When Sherry intentionally flirted with Lonnie and suggested they go to New York, he instead went into another room with the intention of telling James what happened.

* BittersweetEnding: James has wasted his entire life pining for Sherry and will go to jail for assisting her in hiding his grandmother's corpse. Not only does he ultimately get back at Sherry by testifying against her, but his grandmother is also given a proper burial as Rush promised.

* SayMyName: A poignant one. James wants Lilly to say his name. Justified, as Sherry used to call him all sorts of pet names, but never his actual name.

* BittersweetEnding: James has wasted his entire life pining for Sherry and will go to jail for assisting Sherry in hiding his grandmother's corpse. Not only does he ultimately gets back at Sherry by testifying against her, but his grandmother is also given a proper burial as Rush promised.
* FreudianExcuse: Sherry used to grow up in the Foster Care system, having to fight to get what she wanted.

* MurderByInaction: Played with. Rather, James was only an AccompliceByInaction. But all the same, James feels strong remorse for not stopping Sherry from killing his grandmother as well as helping her unceremoniously burying the body in cement.
* SayMyName: A poignant one. James wants Lily to say his name. Justified, as Sherry used to call him all sorts of pet names, but never his actual name.
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: James's brother Lonnie was left alone with Sherry while James went on an errand. When Sherry intentionally flirted with Lonnie and offered they go to New York, he instead went into another room with the intention of telling James what happened.

* BittersweetEnding: James has wasted his entire life pining for Sherry, and will go to jail for assisting Sherry in hiding his grandmother's corpse. But not only does he ultimately gets back at Sherry by testifying against her, his grandmother is given a proper burial like Rush promised.

* MurderByInaction: Played with. Rather, James was only an AccompliceByInaction. But all the same, James feels strong remorse for not stopping Sherry from killing his grandmother, as well as helping her unceremoniously burying the body in cement.

* WhatYouAreInTheDark: James' brother Lonnie was left alone with Sherry while James went on an errand. When Sherry intentionally flirted with Lonnie and offered they go to New York, he instead went into another room with the intention of telling James what happened.

* WhatYouAreInTheDark: James' brother Lonnie was left alone with Sherry while James went on an errand. When Sherry intentionally flirted with Lonnie and offered they go to New York, he instead went into another room with the intention of telling James what happened.
* YourCheatingHeart: Sherry hasn't been the most faithful to James. All her doctors are rich men, and she eventually married one of them shortly after she divorced James.

* WhatYouAreInTheDark: James' brother Lonnie was left alone with Sherry while James went on an errand. When Sherry intentionally flirted with Lonnie and offered they go to New York, he just up and left.

* GoldDigger: Sherry used James as a meal ticket for few years until she upgraded to a doctor.