In the latest episode of CBS’ Stalker, a suicidal mental patient is suspected of stalking a psychiatrist. The TAU unravels a startling mystery involving the stalker. Also, Beth (Maggie Q) discovers an alarming revelation, during the investigation into her own stalking.

When the show opens, Jay Karnes (Adam Lewis) sits down with one of his patients, Philip (Jeff Williams). After his patient leaves, Jay is startled, as someone seems to be preying on him. He discovers a small gift sitting in his seat. When he opens it, he is left distraught. Meanwhile, Tracy Wright (Tara Summers) and Beth Davis attempts to figure out who is stalking her. Tracy suggests she investigate it. Tracy receives a call from Perry Whitley (Erik Stocklin), who pretends to be ignorant to the situation.

When Beth arrives at work, Janice Lawrence (Mariana Klaveno) informs her about the stalking of Adam. Ben Caldwell (Victor Rasuk) pulls a pair of women’s underwear from the gift box, while Adam suggests the stalking started as a simple crush that transformed into repetitive gifts, unexpected visits and an encounter with his wife. Adam admits to continue seeing the patient, despite the stalking. He says he is afraid to break it off with her in fear of retaliation. He receives the patient as Claudia Burke (Madeline Brewer, Orange is the New Black) and says she has hallucinations. Ben and Janice watch Claudia’s video message for Adam, in which she chats to herself insanely.

Jack Larsen (Dylan McDermott) arrives and questions the team about Claudia. Janice and Jack head to Claudia’s residence to find the door unlocked. When the pair enter, they discover a mannequin setup in front of the computer, which resembles Claudia. During their search of the house, they find more mannequins. Looks a little like Elijah Wood’s Maniac.

Janice discovers that Claudia has attempted to commit suicide in the garage. Afterwards, Beth discusses her stalker with Diane Kindrick (Lee Garlington). Diane suggests she will contact Seattle, but the pair are dumbfounded. Diane orders Beth to run forensics on the evidence. Claudia wake up in the hospital, with Janice immediately interrogating her. Claudia suggests the mannequins are real people and denies going into the garage and making contact with Adam. She insists she stopped, after Adam demanded she stop. She reveals she likes to feel the words and writes everything by hand. She suggests someone attacked her from behind in her kitchen and has the bruises to prove it.

Jack re-interviews Adam and tells him that Claudia isn’t the stalker. Adam provides Jack with a psychological profile of the potential stalker, which Janice and Ben use to track down the stalker.  They discover an online critic of Adam, Shelly Walker (Vedette Lim). He says he saw her a few times over a drinking problem and Shelly quit therapy to enter rehab, before Claudia started.

When Jack and Ben attempt to make contact with Shelly, they encounter her husband, Jason Walker (Wes Ramsy), who admits Shelly never went to rehab. He also suggests Shelly hated Adam. Meanwhile, Adam and his wife, Vanessa Lewis (Kate Norby) are startled from bed by a strange noise. Adam grabs a gun and attempts to find the stalker. Instead, he nearly kills his wife.

While Beth’s evidence is picked up by an SID Tech (Kathryn Taylor), Jack confronts her about her absence from the investigation. Janice discovers that Shelly was a witness to an assault as a sober living house. When they interview her, she says she has been sober for a year and that Jason is a liar. Next, the team search Jason’s house and discover lots of pictures of Dr. Lewis. They also discover Jason posted the negative comments online from Shelly’s account.

Jason breaks in on Vanessa, who is in the shower. Instead of being scared, Vanessa kisses him. When the show returns, Lawrence and Larsen visit Vanessa, who refuses to let them in, after they tell her that the stalker is Jason. Finally, she lets them in and Larsen knows a second person has been in the room. When shown a picture of Jason, Vanessa says it is Bill.

Adam is attacked at his office, while Vanessa discusses how she met Bill. It seems their relationship gave Jason all the access he needed to Adam, which causes Vanessa to blame herself. Adam is tied up in a chair, as Jason brutally makes him swallow a handful of sleeping pills he stole from Vanessa. Jason setups a scheme to make it look as though Adam has committed suicide. Jason antagonizes Adam, as he begins to choke, with the belt around his neck.

Janice tries to enter Lewis’ office, by pretending she has an appointment with him. When Jason exits, Larson holds him at gunpoint. The pair discover Adam is still breathing. As the epic ending music begins, the team finds Adam is safe, as Jack invites everyone out for drinks. Jack checks on Beth and offers his support. The pair agree to a future drink. As Beth walks home, she discovers Tracy having a drink and making out with Perry. She visits Perry’s apartment and breaks in. She discovers his treasure trove of pictures and drawings of her.

Review

The criticism that Stalker is overly violent is quickly beginning to fade, as the last few episodes have been equally, if not more, violent to men. This is a violent show that holds no punches, regardless of gender and this episode was little different. First, it was nice to see Orange is the New Black’s Madeline Brewer receive a small role. At the same time, Wes Ramsey was frightening as the evil stalker, Jason.

Still, the Perry/Beth storyline is still the best part of the show, with the ending opening the door to madness. What happens now that Beth knows who her stalker is? On the other hand, things seem to be going a little too well for Jack. Surely this won’t last? A good episode that deserves an 8 out of 10.