Directed by Kevin Dowling
Written by Anthony E. Zuiker, Ann Donahue, Carol Mendelsohn, Zachary Reiter & Peter M. Lenkov
"Fare Game" is the 15th episode of Season 2, and the 38th one overall. It originally aired March 1, 2006.
Synopsis:
A man is found shot to death in a cemetery. His case leads to a city-wide game. A blindfolded woman is found dead in bed. Her case leads to an unusual restaurant.Tropes for the episode:
- Actor Allusion: One of the game participants is a struggling actor auditioning for the role of George Milton in Of Mice and Men. That character is played by Gary Sinise in the 1994 film version...his first big film role, immediately before playing Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump. In order to trip the participant up here, Mac pretends to be trying out for the same play.
- Accidental Murder: The game involves "assassinating" people with toy water weapons. The killer, using a prop gun he thinks is harmless, doesn't mean for the victim to die for real.
- Frivolous Lawsuit: The female victim makes her living by suing restaurants and other businesses over minor, or even fake, issues.
- I Just Shot Marvin in the Face: The first killer is absolutely stunned when he realizes he actually killed someone with a fake gun.
- Masochist's Meal: The restaurant serves such things as roaches, centipedes and live baby octopi.
- Not-So-Fake Prop Weapon: The killer didn't realize that prop guns can be fatal at close range.
- Player Elimination: The object of the assassination game is to be the last man standing; winner gets a large cash prize.
- Pun-Based Title: "Fare" for "Fair."
- Side Bet: Danny bets Mac $5 that Lindsay won't eat the bug cuisine he brings back from the restaurant. He loses and joins Lindsay in snacking on the other items while Mac invites the rest of the squicked-out team to his office for pizza.
- Starting a New Life: The chef is trying to start over after having been sued in another state.
- Tastes Like Chicken: Subverted. The chef offers Danny a centipede, which he eats.Chef: Tastes like chicken, right?Danny: [flatly] Nah, not really.
- Water Guns and Balloons: Featured here are adults playing "Water Gun Wars," based on the real life Streetwars game. Players try to 'kill' each other with water guns or balloons to become the last one standing in the game and win a cash prize of $50,000.00
