Baywatch has already given us several classic episodes this season. Missing, directed by Parker Stevenson and written by David Braff is among them. It had a strong, sensitive plot that gave David Chokachi, who portrays lifeguard Cody Madison a chance to show what he could do. He delivered brilliantly! He was glorious in this episode, displaying a wide range of believable emotions, especially guilt. A young teenaged girl waited for Cody to leave his tower for the day before she went into the water before her little sister and never came out.

It resulted a full-fledged search. The actress who portrayed Roseanna's mother was also glorious. She was very believable as the tearful, heartsick, hysterical mother who feared the worst often clutching onto her little daughter. Her tears and the fact that she did as well to convince everyone that she only understood and spoke Spanish deemed her a fine actress. Most Spanish spoken on the screen sounds slow and often hesitant between each word. As if it was a second language learned in a class. Not this actress! Her Spanish was spoken quickly and the words often running close together as in someone who really does not know English.

When the press quickly arrived on the scene, Mitch Buchannon (David Hasselhoff) finally got all of the facts. The woman said through translator Manny Gutierrez (Jose Solano) that the tower was closed at 4:57 p.m. Mitch wondered how that could possibly be? Cody told Mitch that he set his watch five minutes fast so that he wouldn't run late. David Hasselhoff was also brilliant here. Caught between anger at the press for exploiting the issue, and disappointment in Cody, his words were memorable, "Never, ever leave your tower before your shift is over! You know the rules!" Mitch has screamed at his son Hobie (Jeremy Jackson) on several occasions when concerned for his safety, and has said a lot of things in anger even at the late Lt. Stephanie Holden (Alexandra Paul) when she returned to Baywatch, but never has he snapped and growled before.

Cody's girlfriend, fellow lifeguard Lani Mckenzie (Carmen Electra) quickly spoke up and said that it was her fault as much as it was his. She called him and asked him to hurry. She got tickets to a movie and didn't want to be late. Mitch couldn't believe it! A little girl's life was at stake because of a movie. Bad judgement was used here. Cody knew that his watch was fast, so he should have hung around for a few minutes longer.

A sleazy reporter, wanting a brilliant story at any cost got it on tape. When the Chief saw this, she was not amused. She wanted Cody's resignation on her desk. As the search went on, Cody couldn't leave the beach until the girl was found. So ridden with guilt, he began to have hallucinations, seeing the girl out in the water struggling to stay afloat and crying for help. Jack "J.D." Darius (Michael Bergin) didn't see her. He shrugged and kept asking, "Where?" Post-Traumatic Syndrome set in. The rescue operation was now replaced with a recovery operation. Mitch hated to have Manny tell this mom looking pretty young and vulnerable, who loved her daughter so much that since so much time has passed that there was no hope of finding Roseanna alive. Through her grief, she still wanted to stay until she was found.

Later that night, Cody walked on the beach, unable to shake the guilt. He held his head in his hands. Lani came out and offered him a blanket as it was getting cold. Later at the office, Mitch was so angry when he was talking with the Chief on the phone. He was fed up with the press, the pressure, and being pulled in too many directions. He was being told to have Cody's resignation on his desk, and out of anger, Mitch said that he quit. A phone call came a while later. Michael "Newmy" Newman (Michael Newman) picked it up. There was a smile on his face. It was a call stating that Roseanna was at home. Her mother and sister found out when she got home.

Unbelievable! This girl caused all sorts of havoc! She knew that half the county was searching for her, yet her conscience did not permit this girl to step forward to admit that she had faked the drowning. How she swam underwater to the rocks and eased her way behind them unseen. Her poor mother was worried so and I have to express this in her defense, Shame! Shame on you Roseanna! How could you put your mom through something like that! What she did was wrong, and she knew it. Roseanna needed to be grounded for life. Her sentence would be over only when her mother had passed on from old age at least fifty years from now! She had to offer a letter of apology. Mitch went out to find Cody to tell him what happened.  My Score:  5 Rescue Cans

Next Review: Hijacked