Jessica plans a trip for herself and Grady at a ski lodge, only to find her nephew locked out and herself locked in with another mystery when an unexpected blizzard blocks off the area. A string of mayhem begins with someone shooting ski champion Gunnar Tilstrom, who had made himself a number of enemies.
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- Affectionate Nickname: Gunnar calls his coach "Papa Bear", much to his evident dislike.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Dr. Lewis laments that he used to complain about his boring practice but that examining murder victims at the ski lodge is not the kind of excitement he had in mind.
- Bloodier and Gorier: The episode has three murders instead of the usual one or two, and the second victim is found strung up, naked, and bleeding in a shower, serving as one of the most brutal deaths in the series even with certain aspects censored.
- Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: The two rent-a-cops at the ski lodge are viewed as ineffective even at handling drunks and aren't given any role in the investigation, but they do help hold Ed and Syliva prisoner at gunpoint right before the police arrive to do the arresting.
- A Deadly Affair: The entire string of mayhem ultimately traces back to Gunnar's womanizing tendencies. Originally, the killer only intended to murder him, at the behest of a gangster whose wife he had romanced.
- Deceased Fall-Guy Gambit: The final murder. Mr. McMasters killed Mr. Anderson and set him on a snowmobile. Then he had his wife call Jessica and claim he'd had a midnight break in the case. Mrs. McMasters fired a shot with the bow and sent the snowmobile out of the shed, allowing her husband to shoot the "killer" in the act of escaping.
- Career-Ending Injury: Mike Lowery, the ski shop owner, originally held a place on the ski team. However, some accident which never gets fully explained injured him and prevented him from continuing.
- Gold Digger: Gunnar openly discusses his plan to find a rich widow to marry so that he’ll never have to get a real job once he’s too old for skiing.
- Hold the Line: At the end, Jessica gives the summation to Ed McMasters and his wife Sylvia (the killer and his accomplice, respectively). Eventually, they dismiss her and try to leave, only to be met by the police, indicating that Jessica only began talking to them to stall for time.
- Honest Corporate Executive: Pamela is portrayed fairly sympathetically, aside perhaps from the unprofessionalism of sleeping with Gunnar when they had a contract together. Her decision to try and replace Gunnar with Larry is portrayed sympathetically. After Larry is murdered too, she isn't concerned with the lost contract, but simply shaken and saddened about why someone would kill "that sweet kid."
- I'll Kill You!: Mr. Anderson, the ski team's instructor, drunkenly accuses Pamela Leeds of having a stake in Gunnar's death, given that her company had almost had to pay a lot of money. He further tells her that if she were a man, he'd kill her and he might kill her anyway if she turns out to have done anything.
- It's All My Fault: Mike blames himself for his wife's affair due to his bout of paranoia and self-pity after hurting his leg.
- Never Speak Ill of the Dead: Larry McIvor reacts with shock to the levity of the other ski team members after Gunnar meets his end. Later, he tells Miss Leeds that people respect the dead where he comes from.
- Only a Flesh Wound: Johnny Dowd arrives with a wound to his arm, saying he as attacked but didn't see the culprit. He's telling the truth, by the way. Dr. Lewis is able to treat it easily.
- Open Heart Dentistry: Because the murder happens at a ski lodge cut off by a blizzard, Jessica had to rely on a gynecologist to perform the post-mortem examinations and treating Johnny's wounds. He does fairly well. However, he begs Jessica not to include him in any more examinations after the third murder of the episode.
- Pet the Dog: Before killing anyone,McMasters is seen helping Karl to his feet with concern after Gunnar rudely shoves the man to the ground.
- Refusal of the Call: McMasters insists on Jessica helping with the investigation, saying he's not used to investigating any murders more complicated than a murdered junkie.
- Seamless Spontaneous Lie: Sylvia McMasters makes up a story about wanting to leave without waiting around for the police due to concern about her cat back in New York. She tells it pretty well and it might have worked if Jessica hadn't already solved the murder.
- Serial Killings, Specific Target: Jessica speculates that this could be a motive behind Larry's murder and Johnny's injury, as Gunnar's killer may be trying to make it look as if someone is targeting former members of the World Cup ski team. It turns out this theory is correct.
- Scenery Porn: The episode has some good mountain shots.
- Ski-Resort Episode: Jessica is staying at a ski resort. As per usual, a murder takes place and Jessica tries to figure out the culprit, all while a blizzard hits.
- That Came Out Wrong:
- When Pamela offers Larry McIvor a contract with her company while they have dinner, Larry says they should sleep on it, then gets embarrassed and says that he didn't mean to imply they should sleep together.
- Pamela admits she could have killed Gunnar for the way he abused her, then remembers he's dead and says she didn't mean it.
- Unholy Matrimony: Mr. and Mrs. McMasters given the reveal about the couple being assassins together.
- Villainous Breakdown: Syliva McMasters gets pretty panicky during Jessica's summation.
- Who Murdered the Asshole: Gunnar is a philandering, smug jerk who selfishly abandons his Olympic plans despite all the time and money Pamela and Karl have invested while viciously shoving Karl across the room and insulting him when he refuses. Completely averted with Larry (one of the most sympathetic victims of the show) and Downplayed with Karl Anderson, whose portrayed sympathetically at first but was pretty unpleasant towards Pamela after the murder.
- Workout Fanservice: Pamela Leeds gets a scene on the exercise bike wearing a tight tank top (the outline of her bra can be seen through the back of it a couple times) and spandex pants.
