Lindsay Monroe

CSI character
csi_serie=CSI: NY
color=#FFFF99
name=Lindsay Monroe
born=
city=New York City
job= Crime Scene Investigator
rank= 3rd Grade Detective
position= CSI 3rd Grade Dectective
family=Uncle Freddy
Unnamed Father
Unnamed Mother
seasons=, ,
portrayer=Anna Belknap
first= Zoo York
last=

Lindsay Monroe is a fictional character from the TV series "". She is portrayed by actress Anna Belknap.

Background

Lindsay is a native of Bozeman, Montana. Her Midwestern manners, such as removing her shoes before entering a suspect's home, are a novelty to her co-workers. Because of her roots, she is particularly sensitive about cases in which the victim comes from a small town. Ten years before her arrival in New York, she was the lone witness to a multiple homicide in which four of her friends were killed (episode 312, "Silent Night"). This event is what both motivates and hinders her as a CSI, as it has also left some deep scars; she finds it difficult to talk to mothers of crime victims (episode 305, "Oedipus Hex"), and is particularly rattled by the sight of deceased girls.

On The Job

Upon her appearance on the show, it was revealed that Lindsay had worked as a CSI in Bozeman for three years when she was sought out by crime lab supervisor Mac Taylor to replace the recently-dismissed Aiden Burn (episode 203, "Zoo York"). While, according to Stella Bonasera, her dedication and abilities in the lab first drew Mac's notice, she has since proven herself to be not only a good CSI in the field, but also a competent interrogator (episode 205, "Dancing With The Fishes"). Occasionally, Lindsay has put her life on the line when she believed there was no other alternative (episode 302, "Not What It Looks Like").

In the episode in which she first appeared, she was immediately put to work when she arrives in New York; Mac has her aid him in obtaining evidence from a tranquilized tiger at the zoo. She later takes down a fleeing suspect, who was much larger than her, with such ferocity that Mac asks her, "What do they feed you in Montana?" During her first few weeks, because of her newcomer status, she is given the "dirty" jobs, like sifting through tiger dung, recovering evidence from a pool full of personal lubricant, and dumpster diving to recover a discarded shotgun.

Lindsay abruptly leaves a crime scene almost as soon as she arrives in "Silent Night," forcing Stella to cover for her sudden absence. Lindsay is initially tight-lipped about her actions to Stella, but later comes clean about memories of the decade-old murder that she survived, which were triggered by her arrival at the crime scene and a trip to the morgue in which she saw the bodies of young women on the autopsy table.

Lindsay was bitten by a cobra that escaped from a victim's car at a crime scene (episode 310, "Sweet 16"). This was primarily a device used to cut back on Anna Belknap's screentime during her real-life pregnancy.

In episode 314, "The Lying Game", Lindsay takes a leave of absence to return to Bozeman; she is to testify for the state against a suspect arrested for the murder of her friends (the leave of absence coincided with Anna Belknap's real-life maternity leave from the show). She is shown on the witness stand in episode 318, "Sleight Out Of Hand", struggling with recalling the events when Danny Messer suddenly enters the courtroom. Buoyed by his presence, she regains her composure and confidently gives her testimony, positively identifying the suspect as the gunman. Thanks in part to Lindsay's testimony, the suspect is found guilty.

Relationships

Despite being the newcomer to the team, Lindsay has quickly become friends with her colleagues. It is Stella who gives the newly-arrived Lindsay straight advice on living and working in the big city.

Danny Messer

Lindsay's relationship with Danny Messer has been a tumultuous one. Danny initially expressed resentment towards Lindsay upon her arrival, since Aiden Burn, who Lindsay replaced, was his partner and best friend. When he meets Lindsay at the zoo on her very first case, he tells her to call Mac "Sir," a title which the CSI supervisor takes offense to. Soon after, Danny begins to call Lindsay "Montana," a name that begins disparagingly but quickly turns endearing.

Despite their rocky start, Danny and Lindsay become friends. In "All Access," Lindsay, troubled about Stella's hostage situation, becomes frustrated during an interrogation and walks out of the room. Danny gives chase and talks Lindsay into returning to the interrogation.

Though Danny and Lindsay work a good number of cases together, they manage to see each other on several occasions when they are not working the same case. Lindsay invites Danny to a jazz club in episode 214, "Stuck On You," so they can watch Mac playing bass in his down time. In "Cool Hunter" (episode 216), Lindsay asks for Danny's help with recreating a crime scene by having him carry her through a garden. At the end of episode 215, "Fare Game," Danny sits down with Lindsay to share an insect-based banquet that he had bought on a bet that she wouldn't eat bugs.

In episode 302, "Not What It Looks Like," Danny's true feelings for Lindsay emerge; he protests when she volunteers to go undercover and embraces her after her near-fatal situation is diffused. In the following episode, "Love Run Cold," Danny is shown to have asked Lindsay on a real date but she did not show. When confronted by Danny about their relationship, she tells him that although she "likes him a lot," she cannot be in a relationship with him at the moment. Though disappointed, he still offers his support to her. Lindsay's reason for rebuffing Danny is later revealed to be un-dealt with trauma pertaining to the senseless murder of her friends when she was a teen.

Because of Lindsay's withdrawal from Danny, their relationship for most of Season 3 is professional and strained. In "The Lying Game," Lindsay leaves for Bozeman to testify for the state against Katums. Rather than say goodbye to Danny in person, she leaves him a card and signs it "Montana." In "Sleight Out Of Hand," Danny unexpectedly shows up in Bozeman to lend her moral support during the trial. They sit with hands entwined when the verdict is read. Afterwards, Danny hugs Lindsay, and she moves to kiss him, but the moment is interrupted by reporters.

In the third season finale, "Snow Day," Danny and Lindsay awaken on the pool table in Danny's apartment, wrapped in each other's arms. Later on, Lindsay recalls how their evening of drinking and playing pool ended up with them having sex on the pool table.

Although there is little screen time devoted to the personal relationship between Danny and Lindsay during the beginning of the fourth season (they still work a number of cases together), it can be assumed that they were dating. Midway through Season 4, Danny's kid neighbour Ruben is killed while in Danny's care. Danny begins to push Lindsay away in grief and begins an affair with Ruben's mother, Rikki. Lindsay confronts him about pushing her away and is hurt when he is withdrawn and aloof. She tells him that she was foolish for allowing herself to fall in love with him so easily and that she will find a way to fall out of love with him. Danny later tries to apologize but they are called away on a case.

In a later episode (417, "Like Water for Murder") an awkward moment between Lindsay and Danny (wherein he suggests that they rent a movie and frowns, commenting "this is hard," ostensibly in reference to the tension in their friendship/relationship) causes Lindsay to leave a piece of evidence unattended. The investigator accrediting the lab notices this, and brings it to Mac's attention. Mac has words with Lindsay, and she verbalizes regret at having entered into a relationship with her coworker.

In the episode "Personal Foul" (419) Danny calls Lindsay to apologize for pushing her away. When she questions whether he knows how "hard it is to love [him] ", he suggests that she come over to his apartment and tell him. She declines his offer, but seems to accept his apology.

Family

*Uncle Freddy