It's the third episode of "Alcatraz" and the pattern is already set. But I guess there's not much they can do with a series that revolves around catching bad guys from the past.

But then again, they really don't seem like they are from the past.

I have to say that I wasn't terribly interested in learning about the past of this monster. I was glad to see the regular inmates of Alcatraz couldn't tolerate his crimes either. Regularly beating him to a pulp couldn't happen to a nicer guy. I guess that even bad guys have their limits.

Kit Nelson (Michael Eklund) found his way to Alcatraz by kidnapping three boys on a Friday, and returning them home on a Sunday evening, dead. His flashbacks try to explain why he does what he does. But his backstory is the least interesting thing about this episode.

Our heroes are alerted to Kit's return when Diego (Jorge Garcia) hears chatter over his police scanner about a missing boy and a chrysanthemum left behind in the boys bed. Diego know this is the signature of kidnapper Kit Nelson and rushes off to alert Madsen (Sarah Jones) and Hauser (Sam Neill).

He finds them at the hospital at Lucy's (Parminder Nagra) bedside. He alerts them to the case and drags them off to investigate.

It was a fairly simple crime story, and it follows the same pattern as the episodes that came before it. Diego's knowledge allows them to track down Nelson, and the boy is brought home safely.

I like the scenes that reveal the ongoing mystery, and the scenes that reveal background on our main cast. But it's only the third episode and I am already tired of the crime stories.

At the climax of the crime story, Madsen has her gun pointed at Nelson, while he has his hands around the boy's neck. Now, they are out in the woods, and she and Diego had gone there alone.

But then, Hauser is there to save the day, and shoots Nelson. Ummm how?

We learned that when he was 11, Diego was abducted. And that it has had an effect on him his entire life. Hauser describes it as arrested development. He tells Diego he doesn't need a child on his team, but instead needs a man.

And in the final scene, when Hauser drags Nelson's corpse into NuAlcatraz Prison(my name for it), we meet another 63 working for the good guys, prison doctor Beauregard.

WHAT WORKED
Madsen's comments to Hauser about why Diego is necessary were great. To them the things in those boxes are just things, but Diego understands them. He understands the context.

Tommy Madsen spends a lot of time in the infirmary during those flashbacks, doesn't he? I know the bleeding means something. It definitely has me wondering.

Adding the abduction back-story to Diego's character helps round him out a big. I am curious to find out how he survived, but that can wait.

We got a peek at Sylvane and Cobb in their cells in this episode. I am glad past events aren't going to be ignored.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK
A by-the-numbers crime story didn't work for me. The concept of this show has so much potential, and they are killing it with a bad cop show. I get why we need the cop show, but come on, let's make it interesting.

Hauser just showing up and shooting Nelson blew my mind. No one told him where he or she was going, but then he just shows up. Bad writing? Or is it something far stranger? I say bad writing until I learn more.

GIVING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
"Alcatraz" stars Sarah Jones, Jorge Garcia, Jonny Coyne, Jason Butler Harner, Robert Forster, Parminder Nagra and Sam Neill.

"Kit Nelson" was written by Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt and Elizabeth Sarnoff, was directed by Jack Bender and guest starred Michael Eklund, David Hoflin, Rebecca Field and Leon Rippy.

"Alcatraz" airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.