That poor Gilliam woman. They have the killers but there is so much red tape and so many protections (which we want mostly) that they laugh at the authorities. Then we have a huge reward offered (50 K) and out come all the bottom feeders, including a cabbie who knows way too much. Bobby has had enough of his political situation. Belker is feeling old and Phil and Grace have a heart to heart about mortality. Oh, and Fay tries activism.
Hill Street Blues (TV Series)
The Young, the Beautiful and the Degraded (1982)
User Reviews
Review this title3 Reviews
Worthwhile episode
Woodyanders7 September 2010
Warning: Spoilers
A disgusted Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti, splendidly calm and commanding) demotes LaRue (extraordinary work by Kiel Martin) to the motor pool. Belker (a bang-up turn by Bruce Weitz) loses a suspect in a foot chase. Bogus witnesses try to collect reward money for information pertaining to the arrest of Pam Gillian's killer. This episode offers a spot-on message about how justice isn't always justly served: Pam Gillian's cocky and unrepentant killer Wilbur Harmon (a chilling performance by Eric Lanueville) gets away with shooting Gillian and winds up receiving a slight three year sentence for a lesser murder charge. Veronica Hamel as Davenport has a strong scene expressing her dismay over the botched investigation. Martin as LaRue likewise has a powerful moment in which he confesses to his psychiatrist that he's afraid of how his ever worsening alcoholism is destroying his life and career. Moreover, Esterhaus (the always affable Michael Conrad) has a lovely conversation with Grace Gardner (Barbara Babcock, radiant as ever) about having a longterm relationship with her. Hill (Michael Warren) and Renko (Charles Haid) have a touching reconciliation after Hill steps down as Vice President of the Black Officer's Coalition. This episode further benefits from sound guest contributions by Dennis Lipscomb as bogus witness cab driver Mr. Vosca and George Wyner as shrewd Assistnt District Attorney Irwin Bernstein.
The "justice" system strikes again.
Hey_Sweden9 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Lots of sleazy, greedy jerks crawl out of the woodwork when a $50,000 cash reward is offered for any information into the Pam Gilliam murder case investigation. Among them is a cabbie (guest star Dennis Lipscomb) who seems way too good to be true, what with his intimate knowledge of details. Fed up with his political situation as V. P. of the Black Officers' Coalition, Bobby quits the position. After a little heart to heart with Renko, they work at patching up their working relationship. Frank *knows* that J. D. showed up drunk for that big drug bust, and starts the process of relieving J. D. of his job with the force. Poor Belker feels over the hill when a dealer / suspect (guest star Jed Mills) is able to get away from him. And Coffey and Bates go on a domestic violence call in which the women turns out to be a former lover of his.
This is another good example of the sound writing on this series, which so successfully walks the line between serious drama and more light-hearted moments. (Just when we think Fay won't be in this episode, she turns up at the end, actually agitated that she was shown preferential treatment when arrested for a sit-in at Chief Daniels' office. This leads to an awkward, priceless sequence with her, Frank, and Joyce.) Joyce herself is considering a career change, having no stomach at the moment for the work of a public defender. One major theme of the episode is the fact that time stands still for no man or woman, and that we all have to face the consequences of ageing. Esterhaus and Hunter are very funny as they don't do a particularly good job of cheering up Belker.
Excellent acting all around, as usual, with especially praiseworthy turns from Michael Warren, Charles Haid, Kiel Martin (J. D. does evoke sympathy as he realizes how low he's fallen), Veronica Hamel, Barbara Babcock (the ever-enticing Grace Gardner), Mr. Lipscomb, and Eric Laneuville as lowlife criminal Wilbur Harmon, who has one big speech wherein he knows full well that he's not likely to endure much punishment.
Eight out of 10.
This is another good example of the sound writing on this series, which so successfully walks the line between serious drama and more light-hearted moments. (Just when we think Fay won't be in this episode, she turns up at the end, actually agitated that she was shown preferential treatment when arrested for a sit-in at Chief Daniels' office. This leads to an awkward, priceless sequence with her, Frank, and Joyce.) Joyce herself is considering a career change, having no stomach at the moment for the work of a public defender. One major theme of the episode is the fact that time stands still for no man or woman, and that we all have to face the consequences of ageing. Esterhaus and Hunter are very funny as they don't do a particularly good job of cheering up Belker.
Excellent acting all around, as usual, with especially praiseworthy turns from Michael Warren, Charles Haid, Kiel Martin (J. D. does evoke sympathy as he realizes how low he's fallen), Veronica Hamel, Barbara Babcock (the ever-enticing Grace Gardner), Mr. Lipscomb, and Eric Laneuville as lowlife criminal Wilbur Harmon, who has one big speech wherein he knows full well that he's not likely to endure much punishment.
Eight out of 10.
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