User Reviews

Politics reigns. When a mayoral candidate decides to embed himself in the ghetto, the predictable occurs, despite warnings. The primary plot line is the hostage taking crisis. Henry and Frank come to odds. Henry can get his feelings hurt so easily and at times doesn't understand where the buck stops. Moloney continues to attack the cops on the Hill. Bobby is starting to throw his money away recklessly. He is almost like a zombie. People won't leave him alone. Finally, I have to say I have used Furillo's joke about the severed hand for 38 years. Great joke.

Angry that he didn't get the Diablos leadership that Henry promised him, Hector Ruiz (Panchito Gomez) ends up taking mayoral candidate Benjamin Fisk (George Coe) hostage; he demands that Jesus be sent right back to prison, but Jesus seemingly can't be found. Assistant Chief Dennis Mahoney (Ron Parady) continues with his vendetta against the cops of Hill Street Station. Bobby, now at the risk of losing his friends on the force with his new attitude, gifts Andy with a wad of cash only for Andy to lose it during a tussle with some lowlifes. And Joyce takes on a rather sad client, an immigrant cabbie (Clinton Derricks-Carroll) who pulled a gun on a would-be assailant, and is afraid of being shipped back to his home country.

The writing is superb as always, with each subplot carrying equal weight, and the material allowing me to take appropriate sympathy on several of the characters. Henry tries his best to do his job and negotiate with Hector, but his efforts are constantly stymied by other people who keep butting in. It truly is unfortunate about Bobby, but it is true what they say, that coming into a fair amount of money can change people for the worse. Despite being on suspension, Mick just can't stop being a cop, always having a good eye for when something looks amiss. The scene where he has an intense struggle with a perp is the unqualified action highlight.

The humor works as usual, with an amusing bit of business involving a severed arm (stuntman Ernie Orsatti is credited as "the arm").

My favorite moment, however, has to involve Frank deciding to rally behind his men and let Mahoney know what he thinks of him, by telling a joke.

Eight out of 10.