My friend havers refreshed my memory today. She had just noticed that Manny Beltran, the man who had murdered Eames' husband was the doctor who attended Kevin Quinn when he was brought into Emergency at the beginning of the show.
It's hard to catch these details when you've only seen this episode once or twice. We're so caught up in an Eames-focused emotionally-charged episode, that we forget to watch for those juicy gifts given by good writers.
I got to thinking about the episode aside from the Eames factor and realized that Joe Dutton's murder was the "gift" that kept on giving. Manny Beltran murdered Joe Dutton nine years before this episode takes place and in this episode Manny Beltran, now a doctor, attempts to save the life of Joe's then-partner, Kevin Quinn. A nice twist.
At the end when finally cornered, Beltran explains to Goren and Eames he's tried to make amends by becoming a doctor, by saving hundreds of lives. Eames replies "It doesn't make up for the one you took away."
Although Manny Beltran may have only pulled the trigger and killed one man, he is ultimately responsible for Kevin Quinn's death and the death of his own cousin, Alfred Minaya.
If Beltran had turned himself in at the time, they would not have imprisioned the wrong man for Joe Dutton's murder (Ray Delgado is also a victim here), thus sending Ray's son on killing spree to avenge his father's imprisonment.
Victor Delgado may also be a victim. Except now he's a murderer, too. And his father will be set free.
This episode was written by Warren Leight and Siobhan Byrne O'Connor.
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I like that these really personnel episodes are the favorites of the actors.
ReplyDeleteYes Manny Beltran took Joe's life and changed so much other lives with that shoot.
How would Alex be today? Still married, with children? A detective or a mom or both?
Ah, yes. One of Leight's gems. No more writings like that the last couple years. The beginning of the end.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great episode. In a way you could herald the fact that Manny wanted to avenge himself by becoming a doctor...yet the price it took to get to that place is inexcusable. Fascinating look into the mind of someone who could rationalize his thinking that all he would need to do is "good works" in order to "erase" a murder. Too bad that he was too clouded in his thinking to realize the domino effect he created. More senseless murders in the name of what he thought was "good." Kudos for a great post!
ReplyDeleteNice post. I was never happy with that doctor twist they pulled on us, but I like your take on it...
ReplyDeleteGreat analysis, Suzanne!
ReplyDeleteMany convicted murderers don't ever take responsibility for their crimes. But I have a feeling that Manny Beltran will someday realize why becoming a doctor and saving lives wasn't enough to make up for the life he took, and the other deaths he was responsible for. How sad for him.
And what a thought, havers! How would Alex's life be different? Gave me a chill.
Great post! And what tangled webs we weave...Manny thought he'd made "amends", but in reality he set in motion the deaths of two more people.
ReplyDeleteGreat example of how the choices you make can have long reaching consequences.
I think I caught that on my second viewing... I just adore the subtly of this show. They never feed us the answers... Sadly that might be one of the reasons why CI didn't get the fame it truly deserves...
ReplyDeleteAnyways,
"Amends" is one of those eps that helped bring out the shipper in me *happy sigh*
It's real amazing, definitely a favorite :)
Thank you for this analysis! I agree with everything, except I think of Manny Beltran as a victim, too, of the bad influence of his cousin Alfred Minaya. Manny was a teen -- likely even younger than Victor Delgado is here -- and was only visiting for a summer, so that he was already allowed to be armed and exposed to the gang world is on Alfred. The cover-up is also on Alfred, since he immediately put Manny on a plane back to Puerto Rico before the kid could even process what had happened or considered turning himself in.
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt that Manny has felt remorse, but yeah, his attempt at rationalization was of course not enough. I'm sure he knows that, what with his ongoing nightmares, but self-preservation was also at play once he came of age.
It's a shame, the tangled web we weave not just for ourselves, but the next generation. This episode made me so sad for the kids/relatives...