Directed by John Peters
Written by Anthony E. Zuiker, Ann Donahue, Carol Mendelsohn, & Eli Talbert
"Dancing with the Fishes" is the 5th episode of Season 2, and the 28th episode overall. It originally aired October 26, 2005.
Synopsis:
Three cases: A young woman falls onto the windshield of a car on the freeway, a tramway driver is found dead in his tram, a fish merchant is found stabbed to death. Dr. Sid Hammerback joins the team as coroner and will remain so for the duration of the series.Tropes for the episode:
- Backstory of the Day: Stella is revealed to have taken dancing lessons and demonstrates a few steps for Mac and Flack. No other mention of her dancing skills is ever made.
- Car Cushion: The first victim falls onto a windshield of a car as a couple is driving home at night.
- Clothespin Nose Plug: Mac and Stella walk into his office to find Lindsay waiting with two bottles on his desk, one of hydrogen sulfide (which is known for smelling like rotten eggs) and the other of a test product not yet on the market which is designed to block out bad smells. She demonstrates the new product's use by smearing some of it right underneath Mac's nose, then opening the smelly chemical and having him sniff it. All he can detect is the scent of vanilla.
- Clothing-Concealed Injury: The tram driver's wife exploits this. She uses makeup to fake a black eye in order to convince her brother that her husband was abusive, then covers it up with dark sunglasses when she's in public.
- GPS Evidence: One suspect is caught due to sand from a specific Hawaiian island which the suspect had imported to donate to a prestigious pre-school in order to increase the chances of his son getting in.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: It is determined that the fish merchant was stabbed through with one of the swordfish he was selling.
- Swordfish Sabre: The fish merchant was forced backwards onto the sword-like nose of one of his fish.
