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Post by -|E|- on Apr 30, 2007 13:40:42 GMT -5
Okay, I'm not administration, so I can't make a poll; so we'll just do it this way. Do you think you know who it is? If so, who and why? Or do you think it's someone we haven't "met" yet?
Me, I think it's probably someone new, which is easiest --you have a whole city of assholes to choose from-- but if it's already someone we know, what about Billings? Hear me out, now. He was responsible for taking those pics of Tina. He had an excuse, but remember the camera was in the wrong spot for catching someone actually burgling the Quick Mealer. Billings's excuse at the time was that he couldn't put the cameras in front of the Quick Mealer but instead put them in the locker room to catch people stashing stolen things in their locker afterwards. Kind of lame, but we all dismissed it because Billings is kind of lame. Next: Billings takes a perverse interest in Dutch's pursuit of Tina. True, it's mostly to make fun of Dutch, but there's also a sort of "brotherly" complicity in it. Remember, Billings "gave" Tina to Dutch at the end of S5. Next: Billings has been making a LOT of inappropriate comments lately --I mean inappropriate even for the Barn-- mainly sexual comments about underage girls. Next: Billings asking for alone time with the rape victim in the hospital really creeped me out. I wouldn't have been surprised at all if Dutch had poked his head into the room for a progress check and found Billings doing something nasty. Or coercive --telling the witness to keep her mouth shut? Hmm. . .Finally: Dutch profiled the rapist as a middle-aged divorced man with at least one young daughter. I think he said something else too, but I didn't tape this episode. Anyway, Billings quickly and decisively said that all profiling was bullshit and then shone the perv spotlight as hard as he could on Dutch, who couldn't deny anything Billings said and thus got uncomfortable and distracted.
Anyone? Any takers? Other thoughts?
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Post by eekay on Apr 30, 2007 13:48:31 GMT -5
Hey! It's now a poll! Ask, and ye shall receive. . .
Thanks, mysterious schwa lady.
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Post by -|E|- on Apr 30, 2007 13:52:26 GMT -5
Heh. Still haven't had enough sleeeeeee.e....e.e.................. zzZZzzZZzZZZzZzzz
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dutch1980
"This one will cut your hands off and then sweetly smile as she asks you to clap louder." -Vic
Posts: 30
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Post by dutch1980 on May 1, 2007 1:19:16 GMT -5
The show would have really jumped the shark if its Billings.
It was kind of funny watching the episode again looking for clues that Billings did it. I start noticing all these subtle things... or I just think I'm seeing clues because that is what I'm looking for.
There was first the odd joke "I love the smell of underage sexual assault in the morning."
Just a mood-setter.
When they go to see the victim in the hospital and Corrine shows them the "Go Home" on her stomach, she barely starts to open her eyes, and thats right when Billings turns and starts walking away.
Interesting. But I wouldn't have noticed or thought twice about that if I wasn't looking at Billings as a suspect.
While interrogating the suspected rapist, Dutch quickly determines that he isn't the one that did it and tells Billings "He didn't cut her up." Billings then replies with a disappointed "Great."
Like he was hoping it would just get pinned on him. Could just chalk it up to good old lazy Billings. Seemed to try to steer the questions, too. Wasn't letting him answer a Dutch question. Kept cutting in. Still not convinced though.
See how these subtle things start standing out when you're looking for them? Maybe its just me. Amazing what you can see when its what you want to.
The first victim was heard saying on the tape: "He was white, or Latin. Yeah he was a Latin dude." Dutch also says one of the reasons the case didn't add up was because the toxic screen came back negative.
Dutch said this case was 6 months ago. Was Billings acting captain then? Perhaps, with that access, he switched or manipulated the results. Might be stretching here. But Billings later says "...we got the files of every Latin sex offender in a 10 mile radius to go through." Completely disregarding any white suspect. Still steering this investigation?
The directing may have been another clue. When the victim in the hospital hands Dutch her sketch, they show Billings in the background.
Seemed like an odd shot, even for TS. Subtle again. Nothing big though. These subtle things are starting to add up, though.
Here may be the biggest red flag. Dutch asks the victim in the hospital if she remembers any accent. She shakes her head no. Just then Billings interrupts (yet again) and wants him to leave the room so he can ask or say who knows what. (The writers make an obvious point to say that Billings is only a father "2 weekends a month". More on that line later)
Very suspicious scene. The rapist was wearing a mask. Can't see his face. Both victims drugged up, so being sure you were hearing a Latin accent might not be possible. This girl acknowledges she doesn't remember an accent.
Dutch's profile he worked up: "Single dad. Probably has a daughter that disappeared or died...". Billings shoots this profile down by saying "Profiling is over-rated." And accusing Dutch of just wanted to "make stories up in his head."
Billings once again is steering this case away from anything Dutch wants to do. Seems like his personality, yes. But really takes it to a new level in this episode.
A few more things:
Billings quickly identifies the poster was "98 Degrees".
Billings is sitting as far away as he can when they are talking to Princess. And as she looks at the sketch, and she acknowledges that "those are his eyes", they immediately cut to Billings.
I can't rule that I believe Billings is the rapist (although I did vote for him). The evidence is too circumstantial. If we find a red mask in his car, then it's a done deal. I don't think there is any way the writers would go this route. But you sure could re-cut this episode and make it really look like it was Billings all along.
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Post by eekay on May 1, 2007 1:30:34 GMT -5
I'm like you, dutch1980 --I believe it, but I don't really believe it. But it sure looks fishy --but no, they'd never go there. It is interesting to get those wheels turning, though.
(By the way, picture David Marciano with his olive-complected face wearing a mask over everything but his eyes. Might he look like a light-skinned Latino to you? )
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dutch1980
"This one will cut your hands off and then sweetly smile as she asks you to clap louder." -Vic
Posts: 30
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Post by dutch1980 on May 1, 2007 1:48:41 GMT -5
I don't think there is any way a show like The Shield would go this route. That is the kind of cheesy ending of some lame movie. But it sure was fun going back through the episode and seeing all of these subtle things. Both victims couldn't say they remembered any accent. I think it is a white guy. So Billings is still in the running. With the odd way this season has gone so far, I guess it could happen. Perhaps all of these things are leading to Dutch suspecting Billings. Which would cause a lot of drama, but in the end, it was really someone else.
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Post by eekay on May 1, 2007 1:55:39 GMT -5
Or maybe it's the Shield creators yanking our chains and having a laugh, putting in all these subtle "hints" about Billings while really, of course, it's just some random a**hole we haven't met yet --just like all the other serial rapists and murderers Dutch has been asked to catch.
I bet Dutch wishes he could pin it on Billings, sometimes, though .
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Post by Inside Man on May 1, 2007 12:23:01 GMT -5
Oh God, this is The Shield, not LOST (character connections out the wazoo, internet speculation on a global scale, and show creators yanking chains to fuel said speculation).
Dutch1980, your evidence is compelling. I have to admit, I got the feeling Billings was being creepy during this episode and the thought occured to me fleetingly that he could be the guy. But if the writers do go there, I'd be stunned.
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dutch1980
"This one will cut your hands off and then sweetly smile as she asks you to clap louder." -Vic
Posts: 30
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Post by dutch1980 on May 1, 2007 14:53:28 GMT -5
Oh God, this is The Shield, not LOST (character connections out the wazoo, internet speculation on a global scale, and show creators yanking chains to fuel said speculation). Dutch1980, your evidence is compelling. I have to admit, I got the feeling Billings was being creepy during this episode and the thought occured to me fleetingly that he could be the guy. But if the writers do go there, I'd be stunned. Yeah it can't be true. But it was fun playing detective. I think I might have enough to bring Billings in and ask him some questions. Maybe ask him if he wouldn't mind if I took a look at his place. Check for a 98 Degrees poster, look for a red mask. Ask him where he was last night.
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Post by ShootFirst on May 1, 2007 17:20:17 GMT -5
Oh God, this is The Shield, not LOST (character connections out the wazoo, internet speculation on a global scale, and show creators yanking chains to fuel said speculation). Dutch1980, your evidence is compelling. I have to admit, I got the feeling Billings was being creepy during this episode and the thought occured to me fleetingly that he could be the guy. But if the writers do go there, I'd be stunned. Yeah it can't be true. But it was fun playing detective. I think I might have enough to bring Billings in and ask him some questions. Maybe ask him if he wouldn't mind if I took a look at his place. Check for a 98 Degrees poster, look for a red mask. As him where he was last night. It was indeed a very good analysis but no way I see it panning out that way. Personally, I don't think Billings has the balls to do something of the sort. As far as he could go is having the sick thought of doing weird shit to woman but couldn't act on it.
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Post by SevenZ on May 1, 2007 22:22:16 GMT -5
I believe it to be a unknown...like Dutch said in his profile, someone who lost their daughter prematurely or is missing...
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Post by Strike Team 4 Life on May 2, 2007 21:48:23 GMT -5
Billings really earned a few personal days off for his work on getting the sick prick!
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Post by eekay on May 2, 2007 21:57:00 GMT -5
Billings really earned a few personal days off for his work on getting the sick pr*ck!
Lol. . .and I'm sure he'll take them, too.
I was never actually serious in my "suspicion" of Billings for these rapes, of course --but I do maintain that something weird has been going on with him, both in his actions and in the way that the camera is treating him, for the last two episodes. I have always thought it odd that the Shield writers would go out of their way to give just about every character --cop, family member, criminal-- multiple layers, but have consistently written Billings as a caricature: lazy, cowardly, feckless, timorous, petty, whiny, self-centered and foolish. But now, over the course of 2 episodes, for them to suddenly turn him into a guy who takes initiative (volunteering to interview witnesses), respects and acts on other peoples' opinions (picking the culprit based on Dutch's profile), kicks down doors, gets in peoples' faces and genuinely acts as if he gives a shit about the victim? Who is this guy and where did he come from? And what has he done with Billings? I can't believe that the show's creators would be so blatantly inconsistent without a reason. There's a storyline brewing here, I'm sure of it.
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Post by 96belowthewave on May 4, 2007 12:56:13 GMT -5
billings a rapist?thats one of the most ridiculous things i ve ever read in here!come on, the guy s only concern in the barn is to take care of his stupid machines.i think his role in the series is important just to alleviate the dark mood which inevitably surrounds the barn this particular season.he is a very colorful character sometimes even funny who brings some light moments in episodes filled with extreme dramatic cargo.i just love billings and marciano does an excellent job performing him.
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dutch1980
"This one will cut your hands off and then sweetly smile as she asks you to clap louder." -Vic
Posts: 30
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Post by dutch1980 on May 5, 2007 23:54:43 GMT -5
billings a rapist?thats one of the most ridiculous things i ve ever read in here!come on, the guy s only concern in the barn is to take care of his stupid machines.i think his role in the series is important just to alleviate the dark mood which inevitably surrounds the barn this particular season.he is a very colorful character sometimes even funny who brings some light moments in episodes filled with extreme dramatic cargo.i just love billings and marciano does an excellent job performing him. It was made as a joke. Nobody was really thinking he was the rapist.
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Post by cuffs on May 6, 2007 0:16:04 GMT -5
billings a rapist?thats one of the most ridiculous things i ve ever read in here!come on, the guy s only concern in the barn is to take care of his stupid machines.i think his role in the series is important just to alleviate the dark mood which inevitably surrounds the barn this particular season.he is a very colorful character sometimes even funny who brings some light moments in episodes filled with extreme dramatic cargo.i just love billings and marciano does an excellent job performing him. It was made as a joke. Nobody was really thinking he was the rapist. Hmmm, I kind of had the same impression--that the person who suggested it was serious. Silly us! But then, some pretty fantastic theories get expressed around here. Hard to always know what's meant and what's just kidding.
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Post by -|E|- on May 6, 2007 0:23:11 GMT -5
No, I don't think it was done as a "joke." Maybe done in fun... ?? ? That's how I approached the poll anyway - it was fun to speculate. I watched the ep again with the Billings Theory in mind, and it WAS pretty interesting the way the camera treated him.... I have to wonder what's up. Maybe something comes up in the future concerning Billings and his daughter, or maybe an old runaway case of his.... I dunno, but the camera was on him a lot more than usual.
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Post by eekay on May 6, 2007 14:02:38 GMT -5
E's right. It was not a "joke" as in, "Let's see how many suckers I can get to latch on to this theory." Originally I just wanted to get peoples' thoughts on who they thought the rapist was. Then I found myself wondering why I thought that anyone would have any thoughts on who it was. These guys are always someone we don't know yet, right? But just for giggles, I treated it like it was a puzzle I could solve: If it HAD to be someone we already "knew", and not a stranger, who would I pin it on? After sifting the "evidence", I came up with Billings. And as dutch1980 said, while the idea was ridiculous from the start, the show's footage could be worked to make Billings look at least suspicious. Which is kind of an interesting commentary, I guess, on how just about anybody can be made to look somewhat suspicious, if you look at things the right way.
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