Directed by David Platt
Written by Lynn Mamet
An explosion on a helicopter kills six people. The investigation leads to a couple who provides self-actualization seminars for their wealthy clients.
This episode contains examples of:
- A Deadly Affair: Invoked twice. One victim possibly having an affair turns out to be unimportant. Another one having an affair is important, but turns out to be a trick pulled on both Elias Grace and the DA’s office.Carmichael: So, we're back to a crime of passion?
- The Bad Guy Wins: Though she wasn't the murderer, Valerie manipulated the events of the episode so that her husband would commit and go to jail for murder, while she inherits all of the money they acquired through their schemes. Unfortunately, McCoy and Carmichael can't prove she meant for anyone to die, so she gets away with everything.
- Batman Gambit: Valerie tricked Elias into thinking she was having an affair with Joseph Callister. She knew Elias would kill him. Exactly why she picked Callister is unrevealed.
- Church of Happyology: The Graces' self-actualization group seems to be this, but only for wealthy people.
- Cruel Mercy: Valerie Grace is doing this when asking McCoy not to give Elias the death penalty. We don't know if Elias realized Valerie tricked him.
- Death of a Child: One of the people killed in the crash was only 5 years old.
- Domestic Abuse: There was this going on between the Graces.
- Gossipy Hens: The Callisters' neighbor tells Briscoe and Green how they were fighting a lot.
- Insurance Fraud: Briscoe and Green investigate if the helicopter pilot committed suicide so he wife would get the money for a kidney transplant. That turns out not to be the case.
- Ironic Echo: Maggie Callister tells McCoy and Carmichael they are "Neanderthals" compared to the Graces. Later in the episode, Adam Schiff comments "Neanderthals" about the Graces.
- Jurisdiction Friction: Avoided between the FBI and the NYPD for the most part. The Feds are examining the evidence while Briscoe and Green question people. In real life, the destruction of an aircraft by a bomb would be in the FBI's jurisdiction.
- Meaningless Meaningful Words: Some of the Graces' self-actualization talk and "path to success" advice can seem like this.
- Money Is Not Power: The members of the Graces' group are already wealthy, but are looking for a path to true power. Whatever that means.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Carmichael talks to Harley Ellison, who has a similar name to Harlan Ellison. Harley helped the Graces come up with their self-actualization group idea. Harlan Ellison was supposedly present when L. Ron Hubbard came up with Scientology.
- Nouveau Riche: The Graces, as well as most of the members of their self-actualization group. People who become successful very quickly seem to be the Graces' preferred "students."
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Real-Life Relative: Michael McKean and Annette O'Toole, who play the Graces, are married in Real Life. Their roles were written for them by their friend Lynn Mamet. - Scam Religion: The Graces considered doing this when they were younger. Creating a self-actualization group was easier and more profitable.
- Shout-Out: Elias Grace formerly working in a quarry, where he learned about explosives, might be a Shout-Out to The Fountainhead.
- Smug Snake: Valerie Grace acts like this at the end of the episode. Given there's no proof she knew Elias would kill anyone, there's nothing McCoy and Carmichael can do.
