Quincy M.E. (TV Series) Images (1978) User Reviews

Lots of twin drama, not much mystery

[rayoflite24 · 6/10 · 13 September 2015]

Images begins with famous TV journalist Jessica Ross (Jessica Walter) in a motel room where she hears a knock on the door and opens it to find a woman identical to her standing there. The woman throws a package into the room and runs away, a couple of moments later the package explodes incinerating the room. Quincy (Jack Klugman) is called to the scene and later conducts the autopsy confirming that the body found was Jessica Ross, but during a press conference where he is confirming the death the identical woman emerges claiming to be Jessica Ross causing a media frenzy. Quincy cannot fathom how this woman could be Jessica Ross when the dental and x-ray records matched the body and he suspects she is an impostor leading him to investigate further while taking several risks which put his own job in jeopardy.

There really isn't much of a mystery in this episode as we see the killer in the opening scene and the rest of it is Quincy and the police trying to piece together what happened. If you appreciate a Quincy episode that is heavy on drama and light on mystery, then you should find this entertaining and enjoyable. The good twin vs. evil twin plot we see here is heavily used in soap operas, but for me it just didn't seem to work as well here in the one hour detective format. I also found it pretty unbelievable that the supposedly most famous reporter in the world would have both a secret identical twin sister and a hidden daughter that no one knew about.

I would say that the highlight of the episode for me is seeing the fabulous Jessica Walter matching wits against Quincy and giving him quite a run for his money. Even with her wonderful performance, I wouldn't say it was enough to make this a great episode of Season 4.

"Quince... sometimes your a genius." Classic Quincy episode.

[poolandrews · 6/10 · 12 February 2008]

Quincy M.E.: Images starts late on night as Los Angeles coroner & chief medical examiner Quincy (Jack Klugman) arrives at a burnt down motel room where a badly burnt body has been found, all the evidence points to the body being that of the highest paid TV reporter on the box Jessica Ross (Jessica Walter). With everyone waiting with baited breath as whether it was Ross Quincy calls a press conference where he announces that the body recovered was indeed that of Jennifer Ross but just after he confirms it a woman bursts into the room claiming to be Jessica Ross, Quincy is shocked as all the physical evidence points to the body being Jennifer Ross but a person who looks exactly like Ross is alive & well standing right in front of him. Quincy has caused the department a lot of embarrassment & puts his own job on the line to prove one way or another that Jennifer Ross is dead & that an impostor has taken her place...

Episode 5 from season 4 this Quincy story was directed by Ray Danton & continues the generally high standard of season four, well as long as you try to forget about A Test for the Living (1978) anyway. The basic premise here is very intriguing & it hooks you straight away, this woman who all the physical evidence points to being dead is apparently alive & well. It's a just a great story & again show's the wide variety of story lines Quincy as a show had & that it could come up with something a bit different from the norm to make what would otherwise be a basic murder mystery slightly more interesting. Like most episodes Quincy has to put his professional reputation on the line to prove his instincts & findings but unlike most episodes he comes under real threat here as he is suspended from his job & will be fired so there's even more at stake than usual. It's not an absolute classic though, the story is a little predictable as the whole twin thing is the only way the writers could go. Also it's a stretch to think that a twin of one of the most famous people in America wouldn't be recognised, in fact Dr. Asten brings that very point up early on & no satisfactory explanation is ever given for it. Then there's the fact that Quincy broke into Jessica's dressing room to look for evidence & was caught, OK so he turned out to be right but he still broke the law & wouldn't the acting of breaking & entering & an illegal search be just as harmful to his reputation (maybe more so) as making a mistake based on the evidence at hand?

As usual this is competently made but not much to look at. Now there's the traditional comedy moment happy ending at Danny's which is expected but where the hell did Quincy get a chimpanzee!? Did he just borrow it? Did he say to the local zoo 'I want to insult my mate Danny by comparing him to a chimpanzee so can I borrow yours?'!? I mean what the hell does a chimpanzee have to do with anything anyway? The acting is alright with veteran film & TV actor Whit Bissell who has almost 300 separate film & TV credits making a small appearance as a Beverly Hills doctor.

Images is a good solid murder mystery Quincy episode, OK it's even more far fetched than usual & one has to say it's a touch predictable since there's only one way the story can go which does hurt it a bit. Still a good episode though & worth watching.

Any program that relies on an evil twin CAN'T be that good...unless it's "The Simpsons"....and this isn't!

[planktonrules · 2/10 · 18 April 2013]

WARNING: Tons 'o spoilers!!!! Read at your own risk!!!!

Apart from the Halloween episode of "The Simpsons" where Bart finds out he has a twin, Hugo, that his parents have been keeping in the attic for many years without the rest of the family's knowledge, you CAN'T have a good TV episode that relies on this plot device. Here, the big secret at the end is the existence of such an evil twin--and it made me want to throw something at my TV!

The show begins with a famous reporter, Jessica Ross (Jessica Walter) lounging at home. The door knocks--and her exact double is at the door! Next, you see the house on fire and there is a body. Quincy's examination of the corpse reveals it's Ms. Ross. However, during a press conference, Jessica (or someone who looks EXACTLY like her) walks through the door and introduces herself. However, soon Quincy begins to have his doubts--maybe he WAS right and the body WAS Jessica. But who is this OTHER Jessica?!

I had a hard time with this show. I felt annoyed that such a dopey plot element would be employed--and the existence of an evil twin just seemed like the writer was taking the easy way out. Embarrassing.

REBUTTAL: My wife thought the plot idea was decent. The idea of an angry twin who is jealous then killing her privileged twin seemed pretty good to her. My biggest objection is that such plots have been used way too often. Which of us is right? Email me and let me know--I promise to share the results with my lovely wife!

Horrible episode

[jwhite613-1 · 1/10 · 4 February 2022]

Sorry, but the writing on this episode is pathetic at best. It's amazing how writers and tv executives think tv viewers can be so stupid. I have been laughing watching this episode.

classic example of poor unbelievable devices

[resandersarts · 1/10 · 22 May 2019]

Allowing all the soapy story elements to just slide by, let's just take the pre-Danny's ending where our 'smart' ME Quincy has figured it all out, called the police (who are on the way) then, in a show of pure masachism, taunted the mentally deranged criminal (his words) into a homicidal episode and for the heck of it throws an innocent child into her arms as a crecendo all to prove. ..he figured it out?! He was right?! Irresponsible and dangerous like many of these head scratchers.