Ep 5 "Who's Your Daddy" is not the strongest Cold Case outing, but it isn't without redeeming moments.
The case centers on the 1989 murder of a teenage girl from Myanmar, drawing the detectives into themes of identity, migration, and belonging. The premise has emotional weight, and the flashbacks do succeed in painting the victim with dignity and sympathy. The young actress playing her gives the episode its most affecting presence.
That said, the script stumbles in its cultural details. Myanmar and Chinese backgrounds are blurred together, and the show leans on broad clichés rather than specific, lived-in authenticity. At times this distracts from the emotional impact, leaving the investigation feeling thin compared to the richer cases the series usually delivers.
The core cast remains steady - Kathryn Morris carries the empathetic side of the story, while Danny Pino adds intensity even if his beats feel underwritten. Jeremy Ratchford and Thom Barry keep the procedural rhythm, though they're not given much depth here.
Overall, Ep 5 tries to tell a meaningful story but doesn't quite have the nuance to match its ambitions. Still, it holds some poignancy thanks to the performances and the emotional weight of the central tragedy.
6/10: flawed but still watchable.
