Ep 8. Honor

The episode "Honor" from season 3 of Cold Case follows the investigation of the unsolved murder of a Vietnam War veteran named Jack Raymes. The episode's title is derived from the concept of honor that is heavily emphasized within the military community.

The case begins when Detective Lilly Rush and her team come across a memorial plaque in a park dedicated to Raymes. It is revealed that Raymes was an advocate for the military and a highly respected member of the community. He had been brutally murdered 25 years prior and the case had gone cold.

The investigation unveils the harrowing details of Raymes' life and untimely death. Raymes served his country in Vietnam and came back to the U.S. with PTSD and a heroin addiction, both of which he struggled with for years. Despite his struggles, Raymes was an active member of the local veterans' community and was a vocal advocate for their rights.

As the team retraces Raymes' steps leading up to his death, they encounter a former military guard named Tom Murphy who had befriended Raymes. Murphy comes across as friendly at first, but as the investigation progresses, the team starts to suspect that he may have had a role in Raymes' death.

The episode delves into the complicated concept of honor within the military, and the lengths some will go to protect it. The team begins to unravel a web of lies, deceit, and betrayal that ultimately led to Raymes' death. Along the way, they are surprised by some of the revelations that come to light and find themselves struggling to reconcile the man they thought they knew and the truth of what happened to him.

The episode also touches on the challenges faced by veterans returning from war and the difficulties they may encounter as they try to reintegrate into civilian life. It highlights the importance of community, both in terms of the support it can provide and the potential for insularity and harmful groupthink.

Overall, "Honor" is a gripping and thought-provoking episode that explores complex themes and delivers a satisfying conclusion to an intriguing case. Fans of Cold Case are sure to enjoy this episode, which showcases the show's ability to balance high-stakes drama with emotional depth and nuance.