The fourth season of Homicide is packed with all the things that make it great television; intelligent writing, complex characters, top-flight acting and unique photography. However, the drama is ratcheted up a notch, removing it somewhat from its book-based, slower-moving roots in the first season. It is also the year of the Dynamic Duo (Pembleton and Bayliss, plus Lewis and Kellerman.) Meldrick Lewis has been without a partner since the suicide of his former partner, Crosetti, in the show's third season. Enter Mike Kellerman (Reed Diamond), a hotshot detective from the Arson Squad who impresses Giardello and is transferred into the unit. Lewis and Kellerman find that they are a good fit and their light and breezy chemistry is a breath of fresh air in an often dark atmosphere. The two bring a spark of fun into work, as evidenced by such episodes as, "Full Moon," "I've Got a Secret," and most notably, "The Hat," in which they allow a seemingly harmless suspect to escape from custody over a dish of rice pudding. But the two have their differences as shown in, "Scene of the Crime," when they clash over the role of a Muslim neighborhood patrol group in the murder of a drug-dealer. Lewis and Kellerman would also have their first encounter with ruthless drug lord, Luther Mahoney in, "The Damage Done." Mahoney would turn out to be a major villain and would start a running plot thread that would last throughout the following two seasons. Meanwhile, the more philosophical, serious pair of Frank Pembleton and Tim Bayliss would face their own difficulties throughout the year. Bayliss is haunted by the unsolved Adena Watson case from the first season in, "Requiem for Adena," when he finds himself working on another child murder. Pembleton also faces his personal demons in the Law & Order crossover, "For God and Country," when he confronts a domestic terrorist who bombed a black church several years before. Pembleton is burdened by the knowledge that he is about to become a father, but his problems only get worse when he is felled by a stroke in the season finale, "Work Related." Shift Commander Al Giardello is developed more fully in the intense episode, "Thrill of the Kill," as well as, "The Wedding." Unfortunately, while some characters get more camera time, others like Howard and Munch, are seen less. The departure of Stan Bolander and Beau Felton left them without partners. Kay Howard remedies her situation by taking the Sergeant's Exam. Her promotion restricts her to the squad room and she spends less time solving cases, which was always her strong suit. John Munch lands an unexpected partner when Megan Russert is demoted from Captain, but the two don't share the same interplay that afforded Munch so many of his verbal gems with Bolander. Luckily, one of Munch's finest episodes comes along in, "Heartbeat," when he matches wits with a poetic killer who is a fan of Edgar Allan Poe. This would be Russert's final year, as Isabella Hofmann would leave the series at the end of the season. We are also introduced to Brodie, a nerdish free-lance photographer who ends up taping crime scenes for the unit. Other notable episodes include, "A Doll's Eyes," in which two parents struggle through the grieving process after their 10-year-old son is shot at a mall and left on life support. Also, "Stake-out," a character-driven episode that is reminiscent of Homicide's first season, and the two-part, "Sniper," in which Baltimore is terrorized by a killer who plays a mysterious game with the police.
As is the case with the previous seasons, the picture quality and sound are far superior to the reruns from TV. The folks who put together the box sets for The Sopranos could take a lesson from the song listings on each disk in this package, as they are a nice touch for those who enjoy the music in each episode. I was disappointed to find that A&E again excluded the previouslies, and they again did not incorporate chapter breaks in between episodes. They made a chronological slip when placing the episode, "Scene of the Crime," as it is out of story order. The events in, "Work Related," take place directly after, "The Wedding." New viewers may be a bit confused by this error. Some viewers will inevitably complain that only the second half of the Law & Order crossover is present. It would be nice to see the first half of the story, but it is not imperative to fully appreciate the events in the Homicide conclusion. Clark Johnson seems to have a good time with his commentary on, "The Hat," and the bonus documentary was a plus. Despite some technical blunders, the fourth season of Homicide is another solid television masterpiece that belongs in anyone's collection, fan or otherwise.
Episode List:
*Fire 1
*Fire 2
*Autofocus
*A Doll's Eyes (Guest Star Marcia Gay Harden)
*Heartbeat
*Hate Crimes
*Thrill of the Kill
*Sniper 1 (Cameo by Jay Leno)
*Sniper 2
*Full Moon
*For God and Country (Law & Order crossover)
*The Hat (Guest Star Lily Tomlin)
*I've Got a Secret
*Justice 1
*Justice 2
*Stake-out
*Map of the Heart
*Requiem for Adena (Guest Star Chris Rock)
*The Damage Done
*The Wedding
*Scene of the Crime
*Work Related
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Frequently bought together
$70.68
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 30
In Stock
+
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Top reviews from other countries
mr c.roberts
homicde:life on the street
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2024
Kristen Parker
This show was way too deep for the majority
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 9, 2007
