Cold Case

10 Best Episodes of Cold Case - Season 3

The Philadelphia homicide squad's lone female detective finds her calling when she is assigned cases that have never been solved. Detective Lilly Rush combines her natural instincts with the updated technology available today to bring about justice for all the victims she can.

Written by Sophie and last updated on jan 30, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

Advertisement
Cold Case - S3E2

#15 - The Promise (Season 3 - Episode 2)

Lilly re-opens the case of young girl, an overweight college freshman named Laurie, who died in a fraternity house fire in 2004. The fire was deemed accidental at the time, but a cell phone photo e-mailed from the girl's phone just moments before her death prompts a closer examination.

The episode was rated 7.82 from 165 votes.

Cold Case - S3E1

#14 - Family (Season 3 - Episode 1)

Advertisement

When a young girl is contacted by a man claiming to be her father, Det. Rush and her team reopen a 1988 case of a teenaged boy, killed on the same night the girl was born.

The episode was rated 7.85 from 199 votes.

Cold Case - S3E8

#13 - Honor (Season 3 - Episode 8)

When a box filled with POW support bracelets is found in an abandoned drug den, Det. Rush re-investigates the 1972 shooting of Carl, a veteran of the Vietnam War.

The episode was rated 7.86 from 142 votes.

Cold Case - S3E13

#12 - Debut (Season 3 - Episode 13)

Advertisement

Lilly re-opens the 1968 case of an 18-year-old girl who died -- apparently accidentally -- at the night of her debutante ball. Now her mother comes forth with new evidence when a local art dealer is accused of murdering his wife in the same manner the girl died.

The episode was rated 7.88 from 127 votes.

Cold Case - S3E17

#11 - Superstar (Season 3 - Episode 17)

When a poison-soaked towel turns up at the station, Lilly re-opens the 1973 case of a murdered female college tennis star.

The episode was rated 7.91 from 129 votes.

Cold Case - S3E5

#10 - Committed (Season 3 - Episode 5)

Advertisement

In 1954, 9-year-old Otis Petrowski last saw his mother in a mental institution. Now over 50 years later, after the death of an elderly woman who had been using Otis' mother's identity, Det. Rush sets out to discover what happened to the boy's real mother.

The episode was rated 7.91 from 172 votes.

Cold Case - S3E19

#9 - Beautiful Little Fool (Season 3 - Episode 19)

Lilly re-opens the 1929 case of a woman found dead in a ravine on Christmas Day when the victim's great-granddaughter comes in asking for help. Meanwhile, Lilly's estranged mother shows up, hoping to re-connect with her daughter.

The episode was rated 7.91 from 119 votes.

Cold Case - S3E6

#8 - Saving Patrick Bubley (Season 3 - Episode 6)

Advertisement

When a mother of five loses her fourth son to gang violence, Lilly sets out to save the youngest, reopening one of her first cases on the homicide squad.

The episode was rated 7.93 from 165 votes.

Cold Case - S3E15

#7 - Sanctuary (Season 3 - Episode 15)

The 1998 case of a female drug smuggler is re-opened. The woman was involved with Scotty at the time he was working undercover on a high-profile drug case, and he has been keeping it a secret from the team for all these years.

The episode was rated 7.95 from 133 votes.

Cold Case - S3E23

#6 - Joseph (Season 3 - Episode 23)

Advertisement

When the victim's credit card is suddenly used a year after his death, Lilly re-opens the 2005 case of a counselor at a teens' rehab center who was shot to death just two weeks before he was scheduled to testify in a murder case. Lilly feels a strange connection to the victim, and her personal attachment may end up jeopardizing the case.

The episode was rated 7.98 from 128 votes.

Cold Case - S3E14

#5 - Dog Day Afternoons (Season 3 - Episode 14)

The case of a female bank teller shot to death in her work in 2000 is reopened when the same bank is robbed again by perpetrators wearing identical masks and equipped with identical weapons as six years earlier.

The episode was rated 7.98 from 130 votes.

Cold Case - S3E21

#4 - The Hen House (Season 3 - Episode 21)

Advertisement

The 1945 case of a murdered newspaper reporter is reopened when new evidence suggests that the woman was thrown in front of a passing train by someone she knew.

The episode was rated 7.99 from 121 votes.

Cold Case - S3E12

#3 - Detention (a.k.a. All Apologies) (Season 3 - Episode 12)

When a note connected to a supposed suicide is found, the team re-opens the 1994 case of a high-school kid who fell from the roof of the school building after having served detention. In 1994 the death was deemed a suicide, but the newly-found note indicates that the victim might have been fearing for his life.

The episode was rated 7.99 from 140 votes.

Cold Case - S3E9

#2 - A Perfect Day (a.k.a. The Choice) (Season 3 - Episode 9)

Advertisement

When a fisherman finds evidence of a young girl's death washed up on a shore in New Jersey, Lilly re-opens the 1965 case of 4-year-old child who had a seemingly abusive mother.

The episode was rated 8.07 from 168 votes.

Cold Case - S3E20

#1 - Death Penalty: Final Appeal (Season 3 - Episode 20)

The 1994 case of a raped and murdered 16-year-old girl is re-opened when Det. Jeffries gets a call from a prisoner on death-row -- scheduled to be executed in just three days.

The episode was rated 8.23 from 141 votes.

Latest articles

Search for TV shows...

About Series with Sophie

Welcome to our community!

We are a community of women who are passionate about our favorite series and want to share that passion with others.

Our mission is to create a space where women can discover new content, connect with like-minded individuals, and engage in meaningful discussions about the series we love.

We believe that everyone should have access to reliable and trustworthy information about their favorite shows, and we strive to be the premier destination for women seeking that information. Whether you're looking for recaps, fan theories, or just want to connect with other fans, we've got you covered.

So join us and be a part of our growing community of series enthusiasts!