Kojak (TV Series) Lady in the Squadroom (1977) User Reviews

A woman on the squad

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 18 March 2013]

When a brutal assault that later turns into a homicide happens, Captain McNeill notices a pattern that is similar to some rapes that have occurred in the area. Thinking that something might have scared the perpetrator off before he could even start his deed, Dan Frazer borrows Joan Van Ark from the sex crimes division and assigns her to Manhattan South. Van Ark's arrival is not greeted with enthusiasm by the squad least of all by Theo Kojak.

But she is a cop and she's got the right stuff. It's not a sex crime after all, it was part of the drug culture of the times. Van Ark blows one collar, but acquits herself well in a final shootout with the bad guy.

Also note the performance of George Maharis as quick tempered and murderous drug pusher. That proves to be his undoing.

This is a nicely written episode for the Kojak series.

MOST ANNOYING KOJAK EVER.

[Diosprometheus · 2/10 · 11 April 2022]

Okay, we get it. When this episode was made the Woman's Lib movement was in full swing with bra burnings, marches and yells of Male Chauvinist Pigs. Gloria Steinem was writing manifestos for the new movement, harridan Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique, women everywhere were demanding equal rights and equal opportunities. They were breaking into professions that had been restricted to them, such as police work, medicine, law. This episode jams all that into itself voicing the concerns of the bygone movement. At time, it was made no doubt it was voicing legitimate concerns and introducing new ideas. It may have even been seen as novel and fresh, but today it is just the most annoying episode every to hear all the gripping and battle between the sexes, which comes off as contrived an phony.