LaRue (Kiel Martin) and Washington (the supremely cool and engaging Taurean Blacque) are accused of entrapment. A ten-year-old girl gets accidentally shot and killed by a fourteen-year-old gang member in a drive-by shooting. Grace Gardner (the marvelously sexy and vivacious Barbara Babcock) informs Esterhaus (Michael Conrad in lovely avuncular form) that she might be pregnant. This particular episode is without a doubt one of the toughest, most potent, and upsetting shows of the second season: The scene with a despondent mother holding the corpse of her ten-year-old daughter while crying in a back alley is simply heartbreaking, the fact that the weaselly Jenkins (an excellent portrayal by Essex Smith) gets set free because of a technicality is likewise pretty infuriating, and the show concludes on an extremely powerful note with Bates (an outstanding Betty Thomas) blowing away the fourteen-year-old gang member in self-defense. This episode does a sterling job of showing how police officers are flawed human beings who make mistakes just like the rest of us, the occasional long hours cops have to put in either attending night court or working a double shift, and the harsh realities of life in a dangerous urban neighborhood. Fortunately, there's also some very funny business involving a big football game which prevents this show from becoming too unbearable in its overall grimness. Moreover, a scene with Bates, Belker (essayed with customary growly gusto by Bruce Weitz), and Coffey (Ed Marinaro) attempting to subdue a hulking strong-arm brute is quite exciting and realistic in its raw messiness. Jeffrey Tambor contributes a neat turn as smarmy lawyer Alan Watchtel. One of the second season's finest hours.
3 Reviews
Another top notch episode.
Hey_Sweden13 April 2021
The main story thread here: Washington and LaRue make what they think is a good bust, as they collar a lowlife (Essex Smith, "Halloween III: Season of the Witch") who's been stealing from people. But everything goes awry when Joyce sees their actions as simple entrapment. Fay tells Frank that their son has been caught shoplifting, and Frank promises to have a heart-to-heart talk with the kid. Grace Gardner informs Esterhaus that she might be pregnant, and he delights in the idea.
Also, there's time for a riotous action scene as it takes the combined efforts of Belker, Bates, Coffey, and Hill to take down a mountain of a man (Mickey Morton, "Fun with Dick and Jane") who acts as a debt collector. Eventually, a number of the regulars end up in night court (something that Renko went to great lengths to try to avoid), while their cases are heard by a judge (top character actor Allan Rich, "Serpico").
One thing that's well realized is that our heroes are still human beings, and sometimes mistakes *are* made, despite everybody's best efforts. As a result, people like Jenkins (Mr. Smith) get to take advantage of the system and get off almost scot-free.
'Fruits of the Poisonous Tree' is a typically endearing, compelling mixture of comedy and drama. One of the best moments has the ever-amusing Belker doing his signature growling in court, and being forced to give it a rest by the judge, who is NOT amused. One other story thread, of a young child killed by a gang member who is not much older, results in some real poignancy and ends the episode on a sober note with Officer Bates unhappy about the sometimes grim reality of police work and life on the streets.
Jeffrey Tambor lends his typically excellent comedic presence as a weaselly attorney who gets his expensive coat ripped off - right while he's trying a case, no less.
Eight out of 10.
Also, there's time for a riotous action scene as it takes the combined efforts of Belker, Bates, Coffey, and Hill to take down a mountain of a man (Mickey Morton, "Fun with Dick and Jane") who acts as a debt collector. Eventually, a number of the regulars end up in night court (something that Renko went to great lengths to try to avoid), while their cases are heard by a judge (top character actor Allan Rich, "Serpico").
One thing that's well realized is that our heroes are still human beings, and sometimes mistakes *are* made, despite everybody's best efforts. As a result, people like Jenkins (Mr. Smith) get to take advantage of the system and get off almost scot-free.
'Fruits of the Poisonous Tree' is a typically endearing, compelling mixture of comedy and drama. One of the best moments has the ever-amusing Belker doing his signature growling in court, and being forced to give it a rest by the judge, who is NOT amused. One other story thread, of a young child killed by a gang member who is not much older, results in some real poignancy and ends the episode on a sober note with Officer Bates unhappy about the sometimes grim reality of police work and life on the streets.
Jeffrey Tambor lends his typically excellent comedic presence as a weaselly attorney who gets his expensive coat ripped off - right while he's trying a case, no less.
Eight out of 10.
Entrapment
Hitchcoc10 July 2021
There's a lot going on. Washington and LaRue set a guy up who has been stealing people's government checks. The problem is that it so lacked subtlety that it became a case of entrapment, and the boys get a dose of te poisonous tree. Several are called to the scene of the killing of a ten year old girl as a bystander in a drive by. This leads to a very harsh ending, involving Lucy. A less serious but interesting even is the possibility that Phil and Grace could become parents. The best part is the name they pick out for the unborn child.
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