Numb3rs Episode 317 - "One Hour"

Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm Spy, your Numb3rs recapper. Previously, I recapped for a site called Fandom Talk and if you've read my recaps previously, glad to see you again! If you haven't, here's a Numb3rs recapping cheat sheet and hello! (Actually, you know what's better than a cheat sheet? A drinking game!)

This is a difficult eppesode to recap. It's much like that movie Memento. It doesn't completely make sense unless one uses the special feature to reorganize the scenes. Pretend I'm that special feature. (Uh, that sounds dirty doesn't it?) I'm going to alternate between Don at the Shrink's and the Fedcakes with the case. It's more like a psychological analysis of our favourite Fedcakes with the added bonus of Colby looking damn sexy running around Los Angeles of a nail-biting case.

Don: Don is at the Shrink's. A power struggle immediately ensues and usually, I'd be pissed at anyone challenging Don, but I put that aside for the anticipation of super-sexy angst. The Shrink thinks that all of Don's aggressive behaviour in "Take Out" was really a cry for help. No shit, sherlock. Don's uncomfortable because he's so used to being in control. Again, no shit, sherlock. Someone say that Charlie has great hair, and we've hit the trifecta of obvious statements.

Fedcakes: Apparently, paperboy is a dangerous profession, as the one we meet is followed by bodyguards. Fat lot of good they do, as they're both shot and the paperboy is kidnapped. (I totally got the license plate, if any of the Fedcakes need to interview me, personally.) This brings Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to the scene, under the watchful cell phone of Megan back at the IHOF. The paperboy is Jose Santiago, the son of *cough* upstanding businessman, former 18th Street Mexicali and Latino/Hip Hop record Mogul Che Lobo. Everybody but the Mounties have been investigating this dude. The ransom demand comes in on one of the bodyguards' phones and it's for 3.2 million and we cut to the Title Flash.

Don: The Shrink asks Don to analyze his team, starting with Megan. Don aptly describes her as "Strong, fast on her feet, not trying to prove it," but she might "take it to another level." He totally forgot to add everyone would bet on her in a bar fight. Also, Megan likes knowing how the criminal mind works, whereas Don would rather just catch the perp, have a beer and get laid. Isn't that the universal difference between men and women?

Fedcakes: Proving everything Don just said, Megan takes charge and she has help, Liz. Let me make this perfectly clear, Liz, is not a Fedcake. We may have come to an understanding, but she's not a Fedcake. Liz has news; the kidnappers are using a VOIP service. Who is Megan going to call? Ghostbusters!

Charmita is working but when Charlie's Cognitive Emergence Theory isn't going well, he tries to get something else going with Amita. "I wasn't looking over your shoulder, I was looking at your shoulder. The computer just happens to be in the way. It's a very nice shoulder." What does Charlie manage to get going? This week's NPALâ„¢. Fortunately, before anything else gets going, Megan calls. Charmita's now off to the IHOF.

Just to prove that Don's "take it to another level" comment was foreshadowing, Megan's able, with only a brief look at Che Lobo's profile, to convince him to let the Fedcakes help find his son. My admiration for Megan just reached heights I never thought possible. I want to be her when I grow up.

She assigns Colby to Che Lobo, setting off the battle of the lava-tempered rock against the stubborn hard place and sends in Liz as tactical backup. Now I understand the addition of Liz. She takes Megan's place while Diane Farr has to hide behind furniture. Next, she asks Charmita to attach a virus to the VOIP account, to help track the calls. In a hilarious moment, she also asks them to also cut the analogies. It's even funnier as it's Amita doing the Charlie-vision this week. Yes, I'm experiencing my own case of schadenfreude this week.

Che Lobo's not just the typical rap mogul thug. He's a caring father that wants his son to be a better man than he is. He wants to be Superman to his son. (This is the only paternal love we're getting this week too, as there isn't going to be even a glimpse of Alan.) Although he has enemies, he's not certain who would have taken it out on his little boy.

The kidnapper calls again, getting both Colby's name and reminding everyone that the FBI has only an 86% success rate with kidnappings. He demands that the ransom be put in a black bag and taken to Disney Hall. The Charmita virus tracks him to the library.

Don: It's now the quarter of the eppesode dedicated to David Sinclair. When David first joined the team, Don thought he'd never make it under Don's command. Now, Don realizes how trustworthy he is, even if he does play it a little too close to the rulebook. Considering the number of times David's proven his worth (a phrase which here means, every damn eppesode he's in), perhaps Don rides him a little too hard (not like that). Despite that, David's always remained professional. Of course, the Shrink has to ask if Don's capable of doing the same thing. Switching back to David, Don's afraid that, one day, David'll just wake up and realize he's become too cynical. Somehow, I don't think this is about David.

Fedcakes: David goes into the library, only to be yelled at as he's talking on his cell. The librarian who yells at David was able to provide a description of the kidnapper -- the dude I recognize from New York Undercover. David's also figured out the bodyguards might be in on it. Charmita agrees, as the kidnapper obviously knew that the bodyguard's cell used VOIP protocol. On the other hand, Che Lobo is confident of his "boys'" loyalty, at least, until Colby finds an illicit copy of the record company's books in the Rico's room.

At the hospital, Liz wants to play good cop / bad cop but that's not the way honest David Sinclair plays. He just wants Rico to realize he's royally screwed. Within 30 seconds, the bodyguard sings like a canary. The kidnappers never intended to let the bodyguards in on the cut and probably intend to kill the kid too. The bodyguard sounds put out that he was double-crossed. Yo, pot, kettle left you a message.

Don: It's Colby's turn and Don's ability to know his team fails him. Yes, it's impressive Colby made it through Afghanistan, but if Don seriously thinks it isn't eating at him, he must've repressed "Rampage" and "The Mole." Come to think of it, I've repressed "The Mole." The Shrink even tries to hold up Colby as an example for Don to emulate. Considering the Shrink's ability to know things, his intelligence clearly failed with "Scorched."

Fedcakes: "Dudley Do-Right" Che Lobo calls Colby for being able to resist the 3.2 million sitting between them. Hey, quit picking on the Mounties. Meanwhile, back at the IHOF, Charlie's figured there's more significance to the ransom demand and after some discussion of cake mmmm, cake and a whole bunch of mathematical terms only Charmita understands

the discovery is made that the kidnapper wants $1650000. The same amount as the start up costs for Che Lobo's record company. Duh duh dun!

After a few minutes of posturing, Che Lobo admits that his 1.65 million came from robbing a gang's stash house. Except, he didn't plan the robbery, a man named Nacio Duque did. Duque blew through his half of the money, and came to Che Lobo looking for more. Trying to set a good example for his kid, he didn't kill him. I bet he regrets that decision now. Although, wouldn't it have been nice for him to mention this 25 minutes ago? I may have to take back his father of the year award.

Duque calls, not knowing Megan and Charmita are listening, and demands the money be moved to yet another location. He's been watching Colby and Che Lobo. What surprises Che Lobo, and totally enthralls all female viewers, is that Colby takes the money and runs. The audience just settles back to enjoy the view. So does Liz.

After a long recapper's dream (a montage of Colby running), Colby makes it to the new destination just in time to be told to run to yet another place, after he gives his gun to Liz. Duque is still watching.

Don: It's now onto the part everyone was waiting for, and now, it's not, as Don hopes, talking about his sex life with Liz. It's time to deal with all the pent-up issues of living with Charlie!

At first, Don denies that Charlie's even a Fedcake, but the Shrink counters by asking how many cases Charlie's worked on. *Spy raises her hand.* I know! Pick me! The answer is 53. ("Spree" and "Two Daughters" only count as one case.) He gets offended when the Shrink suggests he sees Charlie as a "necessary evil," but it's been difficult living in his shadow. There it is, the comment that makes the hat trick of obvious statements. As much as Don also tries to deny it, he's never told Charlie how he feels and unless someone says something in the bluntest way possible, if it's not about math, Charlie doesn't get it. Don also doesn't take kindly to the idea that he likes Charlie working for him as he enjoys the control. Yay! Somebody said exactly what the fandom has been saying for three seasons!

At each new stop, Duque is getting rid of an obstacle and Colby keeps running. He has Colby short out the GPS system by throwing the bag in a fountain and Colby keeps running. Eventually, Duque gets rid of David at the subway. Impressed with Duque's planning and logic, Charlie pays him the highest compliment, Duque would make an excellent mathematician.

Through all this, Colby keeps running. I'm glad they finally found a way to use Colby's true strengths and not his brain. Once Colby is alone on the subway, Megan has to believe that Charlie's theory, that the race through LA will end back at Disney Hall, is correct. "I would never gamble with Colby's life," Charlie insists, passionately. Fanfic writers everywhere warm up there keyboards at that comment. Once Colby is back at Disney Hall, David is waiting and Liz has cordoned off the escape vehicle.

Also waiting is one of the kidnappers and Joe. Once Colby shows him the money, the kidnapper is unceremoniously shot through the chest. I totally didn't see that one coming. That is, if I hadn't seen the big marker on the stage showing where he was to fall.

Charlie realizes that killing the partner was the last obstacle and that now they're playing Duque's endgame.

Don: Finally, it's all about Don. The Shrink confronts him with trust issues -- Megan's too compassionate, David too straight-laced and Colby's seen to much. As for Charlie, Don will only trust him when he's under his control. Even with Edgerton, Don couldn't trust one of the world's best snipers and this show's coolest recurring character. "I'm their boss," Don yells, "I don't have to trust them! They have to trust me!" We all realize the Shrink is right.

His real fear is being irrelevant and his team can function without him. Geez, I hope the team doesn't tell him about their hour while he was in therapy. The Shrink tells him that he should feel good about the team. He should revel in their successes.

Fedcakes: David captures Duque. Colby and the kid get out safely. Father and son are happily reunited.

As most Eppesodes end with a family moment, so does this one, but a different type of family. Don watches as his Fedcake family share in the morning's successes and he smiles.