The Why Chromosome
Directed By: Kyle Secor
Written By: Anya Epstein
Ballard and Sheppard team up to investigate the murder of Jackie (nicknamed "Destiny"), a teenage girl who was the member of a gang. Billie Lou asks Munch to talk to the ex-boyfriend of her neighbor, but this ends up backfiring on her when the ex ends up attacking her.
This episode contains examples of:
- All Periods Are PMS: Discussed - Casper claims unless it's "that time of the month", girls aren't able to be as tough as boys because Women Are Delicate.
- Anger Born of Worry: When Mrs. Kelb finds out Rochelle, Crystal's youngest sister, went along with Crystal and Jackie to a party, she yells at Rochelle and tells her not to do it again.
- Berserk Button:
- Falsone does not like anyone insulting New Jersey, which is what causes him to get into a fight with Lewis at the beginning of the episode.
- Crystal does not like it when Ballard and Sheppard imply she's weak.
- Sheppard does not like it when Casper declares to her and Ballard that Women Are Delicate.
- A Day in the Limelight: For Ballard and Sheppard, as well as Munch.
- Disguised in Drag: When Ballard and Sheppard find Neecee's corpse, they discover photos of Neecee dressed as a male gangbanger (complete with fake mustache), which she used to get close to Jackie to shoot and kill her.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Crystal may put up a tough front, but she does really care about Rochelle (as she's being arrested, she tells Rochelle to stay out of trouble), and she did care about Jackie, which is why she avenged her murder.
- Hard-Work Montage: Ballard and Sheppard interviewing several people on the streets to find out who killed Jackie.
- I Take Offense to That Last One: When Lewis calls Falsone a "stupid-faced, confused, meatball," Falsone responds, "I ain't confused."
- It's Personal: Crystal killed Neecee for killing her sister Jackie.
- Pun-Based Title: The title comes from the "Y chromosome", which is the chromosome that determines if a mammal is male.
- Testosterone Poisoning: After Falsone and Lewis go into the coffee room after their argument (see Berserk Button above), Ballard says, "Ah, the cloud of testosterone has risen!"
- Women Are Delicate: In addition to Casper (see All Periods Are PMS above), Ballard admits she doesn't like to think women are as capable of violence and bad behavior as men are.
- Your Mom: Ballard claims the argument Falsone and Lewis got into (see Berserk Button above) eventually descended into "Your mom this" and "Your mom that."
