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From: sbs@valid.UUCP (Steven Brian McKechnie Sargent)
Newsgroups: net.tv
Subject: Hill street blues (2/13) <SPOILER>
Message-ID: <135@valid.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 16-Feb-86 06:38:29 EST
Article-I.D.: valid.135
Posted: Sun Feb 16 06:38:29 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 17-Feb-86 06:10:10 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Valid Logic, San Jose, CA
Lines: 48

In this episode an important character (oh, all right, you made me say
it, Cap'n Furillo) is shot.  The rest of the episode contains the reactions
of other characters, and lengthy flashbacks for Counselor Davenport.

This episode was really a let-down for me.  Maybe I have unrealistic
expectations, but when the show's emotional anchor is put in a life-
threatening situation, I expect heart-wrenching stuff.  This episode
blew some good capital by trivializing the crisis.

	- I thought the backformed flashbacks were pretty hokey.  Maybe
	  the gimmick has been used too many times in bad TV shows.
	  Also, the "7 years youthful" makeup didn't quite work for
	  Chief Daniels and Faye.

	- Howard should not have latched up.  He's a combat veteran;
	  he of all people should know what to do when his CO is shot.

	- Sgt. Bunz was quite good when attempting to console Joyce: a
	  very intriguing brew of sympathy, mysticism, and lechery.
	  And Joyce's reaction of being comforted and revulsed was also
	  good.  An excellent step in Sgt. Bunz's character development.
	  However, they blew the credibility with his "Dead-eye Dick"
	  shooting at the end of the episode.

	- And the fact that they "got their man" was very disappointing.
	  It continues the recent trend of wrapping up stories in a single
	  episode, usually with the bad guy squarely behind bars.  I can
	  watch "Dragnet" reruns if I need a dose of that old schlock.

Some other random notes:
	- The "lone nut" is the same guy who played a recurring character
	  on Barney Miller.  Basically the guy would be arrested for
	  making a public disturbance, brought down to the station house,
	  and reveal some horrible secret about himself.  One time he
	  believed he was a werewolf; another time he was possessed by Satan.
	  Anyway, the character's name was Mr. Laszlo; in the HSB episode,
	  he impersonated a harness bull named Officer Laszlo.  Cute stuff.
	
	- Some of the "old" characters are much too stylized: I think
	  Belker, LaRue, Washington, and Howard could phone in their parts.
	  Sgt. Bates is getting good stories with her kid, and Bobby Hill
	  has had some very good ones recently.  Yo, MTM!  Let's spread
	  the wealth a little!

Well, flame away at me; my shields are up.  Hope this episode is just
a let-down & not a trend.

S.