Miami Vice (TV Series) Theresa (1987) User Reviews

An emotional episode for Crockett

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 11 May 2012]

In the previous episode we were briefly introduced to Crockett's latest girlfriend, Dr. Theresa Lyons, here we learn that things are serious between them and he is just waiting for the right time to propose. There is a problem though; he doesn't know that she is taking illegal drugs to help her deal with her chronic back pain. After the arrest of Joey Wyatt, a major drug dealer, Theresa is leant on to steal an address from one of Crockett's files. The address is that of the warehouse where evidence against Wyatt was stored; it is soon attacked, the evidence is destroyed and three cops are killed. When a paper from one of Crockett's files is found at the scene he immediately knows that Theresa must have been involved so he confronts her and learns the truth. He still loves her though and wants to help her; the problem is that could jeopardise his career.

Once more we get another quality episode with fine performances from guest stars Helena Bonham Carter and Brad Dourif as Theresa and Wyatt respectively. There were some decent action scenes although this was primarily an emotional episode; the case is obviously important but not as important as how Crockett will deal with learning the woman he wants to marry is a drug addict. Crockett clearly loved Theresa even after he learnt what she had done; Don Johnson once again put in a great performance in the role. The ending avoided the cliché of having Theresa killed which was pleasing... from early on I was certain it would end that way, it is nice to be wrong some times!

Uneven story...

[J_Leatherwood · 7/10 · 23 January 2009]

One has to question how Sonny Crockett met the title character, played by a very youthful Helena Bonham Carter, in the first place? While I do not object to drug addiction tales involving medical professionals, Helena Bonham Carter was too young to be convincing as a full-fledged doctor. It has been pointed out that Sonny had broken off with Brenda, during the first season, for far less. And poor Brenda was closer to his own age. This was a fault of the casting agent and the producers. No matter how sincere the two actors were on-screen, this love story just did not do very much for me!

Elsewhere, the bureaucracy tended to bog down the story, where Sonny has to clear his name (yet again) and bend the rules in order to bring down his nemesis -- played well by Brad Dourif in his pre-Wormtongue days. Tubbs is the usual rock in this story, supporting his partner, and being characteristically polite -- except toward Ramos, who got dunked in the toilet for his troubles. I also enjoyed the explosions and the action sequences, but I can't help feeling it could have been so much better if the story had been more fair toward the characters.

A different take which pays off.

[mm-39 · 7/10 · 25 July 2019]

Therea is a different take for a Miami Vice episode. The usual car chases, deep cover etc is shifted into a drama about personalities and the weight of drug addiction. Crockett is on a big drug case, and the dealers are looking for a weakness in Crockett's machine. The second story is about Crockett's personal life as Crockett is in love and ask Theresa is marry him. The sub-stories collide because Theresa is addicted to drugs after a medical problem. The drug dealers blackmail Theresa to get information from Crockett! The story of a high functioning doctor who can hide her addiction is a sub-story of how assumptions can blind side people and the damage of drugs into the characters' personal lives. A gut wrenching personal Vice episode. A mix of an action show/soap opera which plays out well. A real life feel of one of season three better episodes. 7 stars.

One of the best episodes of Miami Vice

[ivo-cobra8 · 10/10 · 31 August 2007]

Theresa is one of the best episodes of Miami Vice.Best music,best drama and great cast.Here they show Sonny and his love of his life.The Miami Vice team try to bust a mayor drug dealer,they get lucky and they catch him.Sonny is in love with Thereasa played by Helena Bonham Carter,a doctor where he met her in episode Duty and Honor aka... Savage,Sonny is in love with her,but he doesn't know that she is a heroin addicted.Sonny try to propose her for her hand but he's stuck with the case Joey Wyatt a drug dealer,so he goes to a evidence warehouse but before him somebody bust in there kill two cops and blows the warehouse.Sonny comes to late to stopped the explosion,later in the Miami headquarters he is suspended,because he was the leading officer,after that Rico shows him a evidence paper where it lead's to him.But now he find's out who is the lick.The lick was his girlfriend Theresa.Later he goes to ambulance to to talk with Theresa than he find's out that she's heroin addicted,than he try to helped her by jeopardize the case and risk his own carer.He try to do everything to safe her,even when it means end of his carer.This episode is great here they show us how great Don Johnson and his character is,to bad is only that Don Johnson not directed this episode,but he directed episode By Hooker By Crook another great episode of Sonny and his love but not so great,like was this one Theresa is one of the best episodes,like the other episodes.Miami Vice is one of the best cop series,they not doing,series like this anymore.I still can believed its not in network anymore.

Horrible.

[frankenbenz · 1/10 · 3 February 2008]

This felt like an after school special on the evils of drug use. Corny, heavy handed and violin (aka vomit) inducing romantic schlep. Even Jan Hammer's work was crap.

The terrible writing reduced the talents of Helena Bonham Carter to overwrought eyebrow wrenching. Crockett being portrayed as a schoolboy in love not only damages the integrity of his character, but it makes him look like an idiot with no business being a deep undercover vice cop.

You gotta ask yourself why episodes like this ever got made or how this teleplay would have ever been greenlit by the producers. If it weren't for so many of these wasted episodes then this series could have maintained its status as one of the best shows ever. As it is, it pales in comparison to shows like the Sopranos and the Wire, both shows that rarely (if ever) drop the ball.