Worth watching, if nothing else, for some hilarious banter courtesy of the unusual Pembleton (Braugher) / Lewis (Johnson) partnership, Diener is interesting for a couple of reasons.
First, it's one of the few episodes where the character of Dr. Cox (played by pretty, talented Michelle Forbes) is used well. A subplot about a member of her staff stealing valuable items from the morgue and involuntarily tampering with the investigation feels fresh and realistic.
Second, Diener highlights how, in spite of Homicide's high-quality writing (not considering the last seasons), one of its flaws was the scarce attention to the ongoing continuity. Here, the character of Jeff (Glenn Fitzgerald) appears out of nowhere, pretty much carrying a big "I am the thief!" sign over his head. Think how more compelling the subplot would have been if Jeff had been introduced a few episodes ago, giving viewers time to know him better. This was a constant issue with the series: possibly because it was often on the edge of cancellation and long-term plans felt impractical, characters' introductions and send-offs were abrupt and perfunctory (with a few exceptions, like Kellerman's).
7/10
First, it's one of the few episodes where the character of Dr. Cox (played by pretty, talented Michelle Forbes) is used well. A subplot about a member of her staff stealing valuable items from the morgue and involuntarily tampering with the investigation feels fresh and realistic.
Second, Diener highlights how, in spite of Homicide's high-quality writing (not considering the last seasons), one of its flaws was the scarce attention to the ongoing continuity. Here, the character of Jeff (Glenn Fitzgerald) appears out of nowhere, pretty much carrying a big "I am the thief!" sign over his head. Think how more compelling the subplot would have been if Jeff had been introduced a few episodes ago, giving viewers time to know him better. This was a constant issue with the series: possibly because it was often on the edge of cancellation and long-term plans felt impractical, characters' introductions and send-offs were abrupt and perfunctory (with a few exceptions, like Kellerman's).
7/10
