The gun that shot Renko (Charles Haid) and Hill (Michael Warren) is uncovered by LaRue (Kiel Martin) and Washington (Taurean Blacque). Belker (Bruce Weitz in excellent gruff'n'growly form) confronts Kevin Herman Dracula (a hilarious performance by Tony Plana), an unhinged kook who thinks he's a vampire. Meanwhile, Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti playing it cool with his trademark unflappable ease) has to deal with a TV news crew filming a typical day at the station. This episode offers several inspired humorous moments, with the definite sidesplitting highlight being when Belker subdues Dracula with an impromptu cross made out of two cigars. Moreover, the character of Dracula and his ultimate grim fate (he hangs himself in his cell) is a prime example of one of the show's key strengths: the comic relief characters are handled in an admirably serious and realistic way instead of being depicted as silly caricatures that are used strictly for cheap laughs. It's also interesting to see the radical contrast of the cold and no-nonsense professional relationship between Furillo and Joyce Davenport (the always terrific Veronica Hamel) and their more warm and playful romantic one. And this particular show makes a fine point about how the police are responsible for the well being of everyone in the station.
3 Reviews
A top-notch episode.
Hey_Sweden2 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Among the story threads here: Washington and LaRue bring in a woman who has possession of the gun that was used to shoot Hill and Renko. Furillo has allowed a TV personality (guest star Andrea Marcovicci) and her crew to film the stations' day to day activities. And Belker collars a pathetic character (guest star Tony Plana) who genuinely believes himself to be a vampire.
Excellent writing is once again a hallmark of this series, with this episode illustrating how well it would always walk the line between humour and pathos. There are genuinely upsetting and emotional moments, and the various characters are obliged to admit that they can make mistakes from time to time.
The guest stars are solid: Marcovicci, Plana, Mark Metcalf in another appearance as Officer Harris, Rob Berger as lowlife criminal Eddie Hoban, etc. Best of all is the eternally reliable Daniel J. Travanti as Furillo, the station boss who manages to keep a clear head when things go awry. We also see more of the sensitive side of Belker, as he realizes that he didn't take "Dracula" seriously enough. We also get a funny moment when he improvises a "cross" with two of his cigars.
The investigation into the firearms' progress from hand to hand is particularly compelling, culminating in a fever pitch when Renko recognizes Hoban, and yet Goldblume believes the youngster to not be the genuinely homicidal type.
Eight out of 10.
Excellent writing is once again a hallmark of this series, with this episode illustrating how well it would always walk the line between humour and pathos. There are genuinely upsetting and emotional moments, and the various characters are obliged to admit that they can make mistakes from time to time.
The guest stars are solid: Marcovicci, Plana, Mark Metcalf in another appearance as Officer Harris, Rob Berger as lowlife criminal Eddie Hoban, etc. Best of all is the eternally reliable Daniel J. Travanti as Furillo, the station boss who manages to keep a clear head when things go awry. We also see more of the sensitive side of Belker, as he realizes that he didn't take "Dracula" seriously enough. We also get a funny moment when he improvises a "cross" with two of his cigars.
The investigation into the firearms' progress from hand to hand is particularly compelling, culminating in a fever pitch when Renko recognizes Hoban, and yet Goldblume believes the youngster to not be the genuinely homicidal type.
Eight out of 10.
Good Set of Events
Hitchcoc6 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
There are several good moments here. First of all, we have Belker subduing a "vampire" with a cross made of cigars. The man who changed his name to Dracula is a sad figure who does away with himself in a silent basement cell. The weapon used to wound Renko and Hill is found in the hands of a woman and traced to a troubled kid. He is charged but there seems to be some doubt. Furillo manages to keep his cool in the craziest of situations, including an invasive film crew with a careless agenda.
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