Don’t Look Back – The episode begins in the past when after closing a case Tess Avery (Dolly Lewis) hears a robbery call come over the radio.
Three years later in the present day, Superintendent Bennett (Roger Cross) tells Tess that the arrestee, Josh Baker’s lawyer, is looking to overturn the case. Apparently, aspects of the original investigation are being called into question and Tess is already set to appear at the pre-hearing. She doesn’t like it when he adds that he’s brought in Detective Owen Cooper (Matty Finochi) from the 14th to help out.
Seconds later, Owen and Tess are discussing the case and Tommy Linneman. Tess becomes so upset with Owen that she has to excuse herself. When she does Sunny Patel (Agam Darshi) tells her that the Baker case was with Jake Campbell (Daniel Gillies) and it’s okay to be upset. Tess then becomes so upset with Sunny that she ends up going home for the day.
Later that night Sunny briefly speaks with her new therapist.
The next morning, Linneman tries to discredit Tess on the stand by saying that Mrs. Tuner, the victim, couldn’t positively identify Baker so there is no way that she could have that faithful night. He also makes her say on the stand that she doesn’t know when her vision started going back.
After the trial, Tess tries to claim that Linneman is personally coming after her but Owen breaks them up.
Back at the station Detective Leo Li (Tony Giroux) tells Tess that Baker received a bunch of fan mail in prison and checked out a book called The Number Artist 28 times. When Tess suggests that they talk to the witnesses again, she ends up in Bennett’s office learning that he wants her to take a backseat. He tells her that he needs her to stay away from the case because she is a liability.
When Owen goes back over Emily Turner’s (Christin Park) original statement, she has a hard time recanting it and says that it’s a bit of a blur.
Tess and Sunny privately discuss the case. Sunny practically tells her there is nothing they can do without the eyewitness testimony. Tess is still adamant that she saw Baker bolt from the house. This also leads to Tess doubting herself a bit.
Later that night, Sunny speaks to her new therapist about Tess’s predicament, although she explains it a bit differently. When her therapist tries steering the topic of conversation back to Sunny and her condition she gets mad and ends the session.
Tess speaks with Matt Alleyne (Jarod Joseph) and his girlfriend about her predicament. He tells her that she has always been arrogant and that’s what makes her so good at her job. When Tess returns home, Owen is waiting for her in her building. He tells her that he wants to work on the case with her and promises that he won’t treat her any differently. She tells him that she can’t see so he is going to have to treat her differently sometimes.
While going over the case, Tess realizes that the autopsy said that the victim had bruises on the back of his neck but the actual cause of death was listed as acute subdural hematoma by an object with three points. This leads them to suspect that the victim might have been strangled from behind and hit in the front of the head by an accomplice. Owen suspects that Baker might be covering for someone.
The following morning, Tess calls to apologize to Tess for shutting her out. She also tells her that the truth is that she is scared because she could lose her job.
Later that day, Tess and Owen meet with Leo to discuss the case and re-question Emily’s neighbor. Leo gets so upset that he makes Tess leave. While Leo and Owen question the neighbor, Tess and Sunny go through Baker’s prison letters. Some read like a child wrote them, but most sound like bad poetry. Owen notices that the neighbor has a glass ashtray with three points. The neighbor claims he found it in the bushes the night Sam Turner was killed. Just before Owen tells Tess about the possible murder weapon, Bennett calls Tess and tells her that Baker wants to speak with her.
Baker practically tells Tess and Owen that he is guilty and being a man of faith he, couldn’t live with himself if he went free on a lie.
Minutes later Sunny tells Tess that it felt like Baker was lying. Tess agrees. Owen also tells Tess that the neighbor’s DNA was not found in the Turner’s house and they should take the win. Before things get any further, Linneman bursts into the station and accuses the force of coercing his client. He also tells them that Baker hasn’t spoken to his prison pastor one time.
While discussing the case, Bennett tells Tess that they might have to make some adjustments to their arrangement going forward. He tells her to take some time and they will discuss things further when she comes back.
Later that evening, while discussing the case with Sunny Tess has an idea and tells her driver to change destinations. Seconds later Tess is questioning Emily. As Tess is discussing the case with Emily, she receives a call from Owen. He tells her that he’s got the same feeling that they were wrong about something. He also tells her that he went back to speak with Baker but he wouldn’t talk with him. While speaking with Owen, Sunny notices a book on Emily’s shelf. It turns out to be a very used copy of the Number Artist. This leads the team to realize that Emily has been talking to Baker by code, using The Number Artist as a cipher of sorts. One of the notes says, I love you and the second says stay strong. Before Tess knows what’s going on, she is attacked by Emily.
Sunny tells Tess to keep Emily talking until backup arrives. This only distracts Emily for a minute or so and before Tess knows it, Emily is choking her. Tess manages to keep moving and gets out of the hold right as Owen shows up. Emily is arrested.
Sunny apologizes to her therapist for running away. She also gives her a brief run of her condition, how it developed, and how she began working with Tess.
Linneman and Baker withdrew their appeal in light of the new evidence. After court, Tess offers Linneman a truce and shakes his hand. He accepts but tells her that he still doesn’t trust her. This is how the episode ends.
Sight Unseen Recap
I really enjoyed this episode. Owen isn’t my favorite character but I was glad to see him back in light of the missing Jake. I also like how this case switched back and forth between the blind Tess and the seeing Tess, which is something that I am also not a huge fan of. Something about it worked here. I’d have to give the episode a 6 out of 10.
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