Lindsay Monroe
Encyclopedia
Lindsay Monroe is a fictional character
from the CBS crime drama CSI: NY
, portrayed by actress Anna Belknap
.
. Her Western 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 and survivor to a multiple homicide in which three of her friends and a waitress were killed (episode 312, "Silent Night", episode 318, "Sleight Out of Hand"). 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 , and is particularly rattled by the sight of young deceased girls.
to replace the recently-dismissed Aiden Burn
, who was fired by Mac for tampering with evidence. 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. Danny called her country girl when she exhibited her daring, tomboyish side during her first day at a crime scene. When she takes down a fleeing suspect, who was much larger than her by shoving him on the side of a car, Mac jokingly asks her, "What do they feed you in Montana?" Occasionally, Lindsay has put her life on the line when she believed there was no other alternative, such as going undercover as a jewelry store robber to save the life of a hostage.
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 at the time.
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.
Lindsay seems to enjoy her job. She often makes enthusiastic, detailed explanations of her findings, sometimes including demonstrations. To Stella's great amusement, these demonstrations often involve Mac's typically involuntary participation.
During the Season 7 premiere of "The 34th Floor", Lindsay was honored with the Combat Cross by Taylor for fatally shooting Shane Casey, which continued from last season's finale. Lindsay was struggling from flashbacks of the shooting, causing her to storm out of her therapy session and throwing her medal in the trash, after denying having feel anything remorseful or regretful from the shooting. After walking out from a present from Stella, who transferred to New Orleans, she is then comforted by Mac and Danny, who retrieved her medal, assuring her that she deserved the medal for saving her daughter's life by taking Shane's life.
On the Vigilante episode, Lindsay was referred to as Detective Messer by one of the rape victims. In this episode, she assures herself of being a cop that will help bring the murderer of a man who was a serial rapist, which brings her into conflict with Dr. Sheldon Hawkes
. Hawkes' ex-girlfriend was raped, and has told Lindsay that he has considered killing his ex-girlfriend's attacker. Lindsay is comforted when Jo Danville
spoke about a mishandling of a rape case in which the suspect was acquitted. An emotional Lindsay eventually suggested to the rape victim to contact her if she ever needed to talk to anyone.
Despite their rocky start, Danny and Lindsay become friends. In "All Access," Lindsay, troubled about Stella's injured 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 other occasions during and outside of work. 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," Lindsay is the only team member to partake in an insect-based banquet, causing Danny to lose a bet with Mac. When everyone else leaves to have pizza with Mac, Danny stays with Lindsay to share in their feast.
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 defused. 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 unresolved trauma pertaining to the senseless murder of her friends when she was a teenager.
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 Daniel Kadence, the man accused of murdering her 3 friends and the waitress. 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 were assumed to be dating. Midway through Season 4, Danny's neighbor's son, Ruben Sandoval, is accidentally killed in the course of a bodega robbery. Blaming himself for Ruben's death, 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 episode 417, "Like Water for Murder," an awkward moment between Lindsay and Danny causes her 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 episode 419, "Personal Foul," Danny calls Lindsay to apologize for pushing her away and he suggests that she come over to his apartment. Although it is not shown, she accepts his offer and apology.
The fifth season begins with Lindsay and Danny apparently still in a relationship, though some strain is evident. In episode 509, "The Box," after being caught coming out of an ob-gyn clinic, Lindsay reluctantly admits to Danny that she is pregnant with his child; the producers had decided to work Anna Belknap's real-life pregnancy into the storyline. After struggling with how to deal with the revelation, especially after her remark that she "knows him" and does not expect anything of him, Danny stands by Lindsay and accepts his impending fatherhood. He proposes to her in the following episode, "The Triangle." Lindsay declines, later explaining that she is not refusing outright, but that she merely feels that it is the wrong time. She reminds him of the baby, and suggests taking baby steps. Agreeing, Danny tells Lindsay that he loves her, which she reciprocates. Together, they tell Mac about the pregnancy, and Mac congratulates them.
Subsequent episodes show Danny clearly wanting very much to be a part of the baby's life and Lindsay allowing him to be; on at least two occasions, he interacts with Lindsay's expanding belly. In episode 517, "Green Piece," Lindsay is planning a trip to Montana to see her family before she gives birth. Danny talks to Mac about his relationship with Lindsay and the soon-to-arrive baby. At the end of the episode, Danny takes Lindsay to city hall under the guise of meeting some friends. Outside the city clerk's office, he reiterates his feelings for her and says that he is the man she wants him to be. After Lindsay admits that he is, Danny again asks her to marry him. She agrees, and when the door to the clerk's office opens, she sees Mac and Stella, the friends that Danny was eager for her to meet. Mac and Stella then bear witness to Danny and Lindsay's wedding as a montage of scenes plays, from the couple's first meeting in season 2 episode "Zoo York" up through episode 511, "Forbidden Fruit."
At the end of episode 519, "Communication Breakdown," Lindsay, who is still in Montana, texts Danny that their baby is a girl. By episode 523, "Greater Good," she has returned to the lab and goes into labor in the hallway. Adam takes her to the hospital, where, with Danny at her side, she gives birth to a girl. Though they initially disagree on the baby's name (Lindsay wants to name the baby "Lydia," but Danny prefers "Lucy"), they do agree that they want Mac to be the baby's godfather, to which he agrees without hesitation. In the following episode, "Grounds For Deception," Lindsay and Danny have apparently agreed that their daughter's name is Lucy, and have brought her to the lab, where their co-workers, including a male co-worker that a jealous Danny is annoyed that Lucy has responded positively to, coo endlessly over her.
In the season 6 premiere, Danny is using a wheelchair, having been shot while protecting Lindsay during a drive-by shooting at a bar at the end of season 5. Lindsay encourages him to not give up on recovery and assures him that she'll stay with him no matter what. Lindsay's faith that Danny will recover despite the odds and his own desire to be a loving and attentive father to Lucy and devoted husband to Lindsay bolster his efforts, and at the end in episode 604, "Dead Reckoning," Lindsay is overjoyed to find Danny in Lucy's nursery, holding Lucy and standing on his own.
Beginning in episode 612, "Criminal Justice," Lindsay answers her phone, using her married name when Caller ID shows it is Danny phoning. Her married name is mentioned while being honored in "The 34th Floor".
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the CBS crime drama CSI: NY
CSI: NY
CSI: NY is an American police procedural television series that premiered on September 22, 2004, on CBS. The show follows the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths as well as other crimes...
, portrayed by actress Anna Belknap
Anna Belknap
Anna Belknap is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Detective Lindsay Monroe on CSI: NY.-Personal life:...
.
Background
Lindsay is a native of Bozeman, MontanaBozeman, Montana
Bozeman is a city in and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. The 2010 census put Bozeman's population at 37,280 making it the fourth largest city in the state. It is the principal city of the Bozeman micropolitan area, which consists...
. Her Western 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 and survivor to a multiple homicide in which three of her friends and a waitress were killed (episode 312, "Silent Night", episode 318, "Sleight Out of Hand"). 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 , and is particularly rattled by the sight of young 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 TaylorMac Taylor
Mckenna "Mac" Boyd Taylor II is a fictional character and the protagonist on the CBS crime drama CSI: NY, portrayed by Gary Sinise. Andy García was originally offered the lead role, a character who would have been named Detective Rick Calucci...
to replace the recently-dismissed Aiden Burn
Aiden Burn
Aiden Burn is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: NY portrayed by Vanessa Ferlito.-Overview:Aiden is a Brooklyn native who has the ability to adapt to new situations very quickly and has a love and drive for her job similar to that of Sara Sidle on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.She...
, who was fired by Mac for tampering with evidence. While, according to Stella Bonasera
Stella Bonasera
Stella Bonasera is a fictional character and protagonist on the CBS crime drama CSI: NY, portrayed by actress Melina Kanakaredes prior to season 7, at which point the character was written out of the show due to Kanakaredes not renewing her contract...
, 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. Danny called her country girl when she exhibited her daring, tomboyish side during her first day at a crime scene. When she takes down a fleeing suspect, who was much larger than her by shoving him on the side of a car, Mac jokingly asks her, "What do they feed you in Montana?" Occasionally, Lindsay has put her life on the line when she believed there was no other alternative, such as going undercover as a jewelry store robber to save the life of a hostage.
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 at the time.
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
Danny Messer
Danny Messer is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: NY, portrayed by actor Carmine Giovinazzo.-Background:It has been implied that Danny Messer grew up on Staten Island , in a family of law enforcers and law breakers...
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.
Lindsay seems to enjoy her job. She often makes enthusiastic, detailed explanations of her findings, sometimes including demonstrations. To Stella's great amusement, these demonstrations often involve Mac's typically involuntary participation.
During the Season 7 premiere of "The 34th Floor", Lindsay was honored with the Combat Cross by Taylor for fatally shooting Shane Casey, which continued from last season's finale. Lindsay was struggling from flashbacks of the shooting, causing her to storm out of her therapy session and throwing her medal in the trash, after denying having feel anything remorseful or regretful from the shooting. After walking out from a present from Stella, who transferred to New Orleans, she is then comforted by Mac and Danny, who retrieved her medal, assuring her that she deserved the medal for saving her daughter's life by taking Shane's life.
On the Vigilante episode, Lindsay was referred to as Detective Messer by one of the rape victims. In this episode, she assures herself of being a cop that will help bring the murderer of a man who was a serial rapist, which brings her into conflict with Dr. Sheldon Hawkes
Sheldon Hawkes
Dr. Sheldon Hawkes is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: NY, portrayed by Hill Harper. He was originally the sultry voiced Medical Examiner during the first season, but moves into the field in the start of the second season, much to the initial surprise of head CSI Mac...
. Hawkes' ex-girlfriend was raped, and has told Lindsay that he has considered killing his ex-girlfriend's attacker. Lindsay is comforted when Jo Danville
Jo Danville
Josephine "Jo" Danville is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: NY, portrayed by Sela Ward.-Background:Jo Danville joins the team as the new Assistant Supervisor, replacing Stella Bonasera. She comes from Virginia, where she worked for the FBI...
spoke about a mishandling of a rape case in which the suspect was acquitted. An emotional Lindsay eventually suggested to the rape victim to contact her if she ever needed to talk to anyone.
Relationships
Since joining the team, Lindsay has quickly become friends with her colleagues. It is Stella who gave the then-newly arrived Lindsay straight advice on living and working in the big city. She also, along with Danny, seems to look up to Mac as a mentor and father figure.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 injured 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 other occasions during and outside of work. 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," Lindsay is the only team member to partake in an insect-based banquet, causing Danny to lose a bet with Mac. When everyone else leaves to have pizza with Mac, Danny stays with Lindsay to share in their feast.
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 defused. 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 unresolved trauma pertaining to the senseless murder of her friends when she was a teenager.
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 Daniel Kadence, the man accused of murdering her 3 friends and the waitress. 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 were assumed to be dating. Midway through Season 4, Danny's neighbor's son, Ruben Sandoval, is accidentally killed in the course of a bodega robbery. Blaming himself for Ruben's death, 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 episode 417, "Like Water for Murder," an awkward moment between Lindsay and Danny causes her 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 episode 419, "Personal Foul," Danny calls Lindsay to apologize for pushing her away and he suggests that she come over to his apartment. Although it is not shown, she accepts his offer and apology.
The fifth season begins with Lindsay and Danny apparently still in a relationship, though some strain is evident. In episode 509, "The Box," after being caught coming out of an ob-gyn clinic, Lindsay reluctantly admits to Danny that she is pregnant with his child; the producers had decided to work Anna Belknap's real-life pregnancy into the storyline. After struggling with how to deal with the revelation, especially after her remark that she "knows him" and does not expect anything of him, Danny stands by Lindsay and accepts his impending fatherhood. He proposes to her in the following episode, "The Triangle." Lindsay declines, later explaining that she is not refusing outright, but that she merely feels that it is the wrong time. She reminds him of the baby, and suggests taking baby steps. Agreeing, Danny tells Lindsay that he loves her, which she reciprocates. Together, they tell Mac about the pregnancy, and Mac congratulates them.
Subsequent episodes show Danny clearly wanting very much to be a part of the baby's life and Lindsay allowing him to be; on at least two occasions, he interacts with Lindsay's expanding belly. In episode 517, "Green Piece," Lindsay is planning a trip to Montana to see her family before she gives birth. Danny talks to Mac about his relationship with Lindsay and the soon-to-arrive baby. At the end of the episode, Danny takes Lindsay to city hall under the guise of meeting some friends. Outside the city clerk's office, he reiterates his feelings for her and says that he is the man she wants him to be. After Lindsay admits that he is, Danny again asks her to marry him. She agrees, and when the door to the clerk's office opens, she sees Mac and Stella, the friends that Danny was eager for her to meet. Mac and Stella then bear witness to Danny and Lindsay's wedding as a montage of scenes plays, from the couple's first meeting in season 2 episode "Zoo York" up through episode 511, "Forbidden Fruit."
At the end of episode 519, "Communication Breakdown," Lindsay, who is still in Montana, texts Danny that their baby is a girl. By episode 523, "Greater Good," she has returned to the lab and goes into labor in the hallway. Adam takes her to the hospital, where, with Danny at her side, she gives birth to a girl. Though they initially disagree on the baby's name (Lindsay wants to name the baby "Lydia," but Danny prefers "Lucy"), they do agree that they want Mac to be the baby's godfather, to which he agrees without hesitation. In the following episode, "Grounds For Deception," Lindsay and Danny have apparently agreed that their daughter's name is Lucy, and have brought her to the lab, where their co-workers, including a male co-worker that a jealous Danny is annoyed that Lucy has responded positively to, coo endlessly over her.
In the season 6 premiere, Danny is using a wheelchair, having been shot while protecting Lindsay during a drive-by shooting at a bar at the end of season 5. Lindsay encourages him to not give up on recovery and assures him that she'll stay with him no matter what. Lindsay's faith that Danny will recover despite the odds and his own desire to be a loving and attentive father to Lucy and devoted husband to Lindsay bolster his efforts, and at the end in episode 604, "Dead Reckoning," Lindsay is overjoyed to find Danny in Lucy's nursery, holding Lucy and standing on his own.
Beginning in episode 612, "Criminal Justice," Lindsay answers her phone, using her married name when Caller ID shows it is Danny phoning. Her married name is mentioned while being honored in "The 34th Floor".
Family
- Husband: Danny MesserDanny MesserDanny Messer is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama CSI: NY, portrayed by actor Carmine Giovinazzo.-Background:It has been implied that Danny Messer grew up on Staten Island , in a family of law enforcers and law breakers...
- Daughter: Lucy Messer (born on-screen May 6, 2009 in episode 523 "Greater Good")
- Brother In-Law: Louie Messer