Directed by Jerry Lavine & Allison Liddi Brown
Written by Anthony E. Zuiker, Ann Donahue, Carol Mendelsohn, Pam Veasey & Tim Dragga
"Flash Pop" is the 14th episode of Season 8 and the 176th overall. It originally aired March 30, 2012.
One of the lab techs is murdered in much the same manner as the victim in a cold case from 1957, and the perp sends photos of the scene to Mac and Jo's personal phones. Christine invites Mac to her parents' 50th wedding anniversary party and the two begin to show a romantic interest in each other.
Tropes for the episode:
- Awkward Kiss: Downplayed. Mac kisses Christine on the cheek at the party and she responds by kissing him on the lips. She's a little embarrassed at herself, but it's still romantic.Christine: I didn't mean to do that... I mean, I didn't mind doing that... Lemme just get our coats...
- Due to the Dead: The lab techs hold a simple, quiet vigil for their co-worker who was killed. Jo is particularly moved by this.
- It's Personal:
- Mac has always taken personal losing one of "his" own, be it a fellow Marine, an NYPD officer or anyone from the lab. He tells Jo the difference between the current case and the 1957 one is that, this time, they're going to find the killer. After he narrows the group working the case to the main team and sternly instructs them to walk each piece of evidence from lab to lab themselves, Jo tells Adam not to take his boss's attitude to heart because of that.
- Adam tells the team that the case is personal for him because he worked more closely with Jessica and all the other techs than the rest of them, and that he considers the techs not just co-workers but friends as well.
- The Lab Rat: The victim is a lab tech. The most prominent suspects are two other techs: the three of them were vying for two newly posted positions. Adam refers to all of the techs as not just co-workers, but friends.
- Monochrome Past: Scenes from 1957 are shown in muted colors with a Film Noir-ish feel.
- Platonic Declaration of Love: After seeing the techs' vigil, Jo goes to Mac's office and declares, "Mac Taylor, I adore you... and don't feel like you have to join in any mushiness; your smile is enough." She then sits down and tears up while talking about how people should let others know they love and appreciate them before it's too late.
- Shipper on Deck: Jo. When Mac is getting ready to meet his friend Christine at her parents' 50th anniversary party, with no romantic notions whatsoever, Jo tells him not to wear a suit and that he needs to loosen up. He looks at her questioningly and she says, "I'm just trying to help you with your love life."
- What Beautiful Eyes!: The victims in both cases are young women with heterochromia. Sid says the present-day victim had the most striking case he's ever seen... one blue eye and one brown. While being questioned later, her killer lashes out due to jealousy that other people were enamored with her because of it, saying to Mac, "Those eyes! Everyone was fascinated by those eyes! Even YOU!" (Cue flashback of Mac smiling at the victim as she handed him some lab results and introduced herself.)
