The episode balances the show's signature high-stakes drama with quirky, humorous subplots (like the swizzle stick collectors).
While professional critics' scores are often sparse for individual early-2000s episodic television, viewers generally regard the episode as a standard but entertaining installment of the series. [S1E10] Decks and Violence
Danny is tasked with a bizarre security request from Monty McClure, the president of the Society for American Swizzle Stick Collectors. McClure is paranoid about the theft of a George W. Bush swizzle stick valued at approximately $80. The episode balances the show's signature high-stakes drama
Mike Cannon encounters an old friend from MIT, Ben Pearce, who has qualified for the World Poker Championship being hosted at the Montecito. The reunion takes a dark turn when Mike witnesses Ben being forcibly thrown from a car after a meeting at the Mystique restaurant. Review Consensus McClure is paranoid about the theft of a George W
A magician's wife and partner, Vera, disappears during a magic show at the casino. Ed Deline and Danny McCoy must investigate whether the disappearance is part of the act or a genuine crime.