Directed by Rob Bailey
Written by Anthony E. Zuiker, Ann Donahue, Carol Mendelsohn, Zachary Reiter & John Dove
"Sleight Out of Hand" is the 18th episode of Season 3, and the 65th overall. It originally aired February 28, 2007.
Synopsis:
A famous illusionist is in town for a three-night extravaganza. After each of his first two performances, one of his assistants is killed in a manner similar to the stunts. Can the team stop the copy-cat before a third innocent victim is killed? Meanwhile in Montana, Lindsay's turn to testify comes up and she breaks down on the stand. Once Danny's shift is over, he follows her out there for moral support.Tropes for the episode:
- Crime Reconstruction: Mac gets Danny to help recreate one of Blade's acts by letting Danny light his (Mac's) arm on fire to prove that he could've still gotten away with leaving the venue to commit murder during his show.
- Drowning Pit: The third stunt replicates Harry Houdini's water torture cell in which a bound person is lowered upside down into a vertical tank filled with water.
- If You Die, I Call Your Stuff: Danny calls Mac's office if he dies recreating the magician's set-yourself-on-fire stunt.
- Man on Fire: Luke Blade's second stunt is setting himself on fire for four hours, the second victim is killed by being burned to death, and to a lesser extent, Mac sets his own left arm on fire in a recreation with Danny as they try to figure out how Blade accomplishes his feat.
- Moment Killer: Immediately after the trial, Danny and Lindsay almost have their first kiss, but reporters burst into the courtroom shouting questions and ruin the moment.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Luke Blade is a pretty obvious comparison to Criss Angel, even if he hadn't been played by Angel himself.
- Pay Evil unto Evil / Spree Killer: The deranged perp takes personally things that people close to him have done, seeing them as betrayals, and becomes bent on revenge.
- Punny Title: Combination of "sleight of hand" and "out of hand."
- Saw a Woman in Half: The first victim is viciously murdered in this manner. She is literally hewn in two with your garden variety hand saw...while still alive.
- Stage Magician: The illusionist puts on shows in public for two nights, but is asked to cancel his third performance out of fear that there will be a third victim if he goes ahead with it.
