Cold Case (TV Series) The Boy in the Box (2004) User Reviews

Good intentions; horrible results

[badlandscowboy · 8/10 · 2 January 2013]

Beware of explanations that begin, "Well, he (or she) had good intentions, but..." This episode is very disturbing. It reminds us of a time when caretakers were free to discipline however they saw fit, when authority figures were so overly respected that their word and actions were sacrosanct, when experimenting on humans was done "with good intentions."

The beginning of the unraveling of this cold case began with a suitcase sent to the PD with the boy's picture and first name. Among the clues Rush's squad pursued: 3 men in the picture who are sterile, DNA proving the boy (Arnold) was NOT related to the girl who thought he was her brother, a mysterious woman visitor to the site where the body in the box was found, and a hospital where the "Science Club" was subject to experimentation.

An adult therapy for behavior disorders applied to a child brought about a death that was totally unintended. Today we hope it could not happen. We have tried to put in safeguards that would prevent it. Will our "good intentions" have unintended consequences?

desolate and unforgettable

[j_eyon · 10/10 · 25 October 2020]

A gloomy episode - like a bout of existential depression - where the church & medical researchers & the govt - all - couldn't be trusted

philadelphia's real life "boy in the box" case of 1957 provided the premise - but so little is known of the actual case that the writers had exceptional latitude - and came up with a corker of a plot - where all the threads pull together - inexorably - towards its conclusion

while the Cold Case stories have necessarily been set in the past - this may have been the only one to extensively use black and white photography - evoking the noir movies and television of the 50s - along with the usual use of contemporary music - somehow this episode ends with a romantic ballad by Ricky Nelson turned into something haunting

this series was known for giving some very good character actors some choice scenes - this is no exception - one of the bigger guest roles was given to english actress Samanatha Eggar (a favorite of mine) playing an irish nun with something to hide

i don't know if the production aimed for the soulless eerie tone - but that's what they achieved - it's a powerful & utterly memorable episode - my favorite in the entire series - - luckily i recorded it and i watch it occasionally - and i did again a few nites ago - i intended to watch only a bit of it - but i got caught up and watched it in its entirety - it was as potent as the first time i saw it

Dec 2022 -- the boy has long last been identified via DNA - the police say there are plausible suspects - but aren't willing to commit to any one - the one story that strikes me is told by a woman who was the daughter of an abusive woman who "acquired" the boy & who she killed in a rage - the daughter accompanied her mother when she hid the body in the woods.

One of the best episodes of the series

[christie-ensley · 10/10 · 10 April 2020]

This is one of the best and saddest episodes in the series, it was one of the first episodes that I ever watched but I was hooked after that.

Hearthbreaking

[denlevendehistorie · 10/10 · 6 October 2021]

This chapter of the fantastic "Cold Case" goes straight to my heart. The story of the little boy, his tragic fate and the horrific circumstances surrounding his death. A gloomy and unpleasant part of the 1950s and still - the boy had a surplus to smile and be happy. This episode of the series has made a deep impression on me.

So heartbreaking.

[ackizer18 · 10/10 · 18 June 2021]

So many heartbreaking episodes one after the other! I have watched a lot of procedural cop shows, but few are able to evoke such strong feelings as this one. Even in its first season, this show was so well crafted.

Maybe the best episode of a great series

[RonSinMichigan · 10/10 · 21 December 2018]

This was a very moving episode . Based on a sad true unsolved case in Philadelphia.

Box

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 21 June 2020]

I like the bit about the orphanage. They were a bit mean back then

lipstick nuns

[fab_max · 6/10 · 7 December 2008]

I like this series a lot. Most episodes have a good feel for period and many of the stories have genuine feelings and an underlying sense of sorrow and regret. Sometimes I've even found myself quite moved by some of the stories. This particular episode had one of those quite touching stories, excellent B&W photography and the ever reliable Samantha Eggar going for it. Yet I just couldn't get over the sight of young nuns wearing full make up, lipstick gloss and mascara - supposedly back in the '50s!!! Even Samantha Eggar, as the older Sister Vivian, back in the present, was wearing an admittedly more discreet make up for her final scenes. Do nuns really wear make up in the States? What on earth was the make up department thinking about?????