A Marine recruit's death may have been the result of a drill sergeant's vendetta.A Marine recruit's death may have been the result of a drill sergeant's vendetta.A Marine recruit's death may have been the result of a drill sergeant's vendetta.
Photos
Garry Walberg
- Lt. Frank Monahan
- (credit only)
Val Bisoglio
- Danny Tovo
- (credit only)
Joseph Roman
- Sgt. Brill
- (credit only)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe helicopter used during the training sequence is a Boeing Vertol CH-46F Sea Knight, not to be confused with the larger CH-47 Chinook. Assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 (aka HMM-164), it was based out of Marine Corps Air Station Tustin in Santa Ana, California at the time of filming. The particular helicopter in question was either C/N 2526 (156458) or C/N 2528 (156456). Both entered service in 1969, were later converted to the CH-46E type, and were still operational as of the late 2000s.
- GoofsSeveral marines are shown wearing their tan uniforms without a T-shirt underneath. This would not have been allowed.
Featured review
OK murder mystery episode focused on the military
Semper-Fidelis begins at a U.S. Marine military base with a drill sergeant waking his regiment up in the middle of the night for a surprise endurance training exercise. After the group crosses through a lake, a young Marine is found drowned in the water which prompts a subsequent investigation into his death as well as Congressional speculation that the rigorous trainings young recruits are subject to are brutally extreme. After the military performs their own autopsy, Captain Harry Collier (Alan Miller) asks Quincy (Jack Klugman) to further examine the body to validate the findings due to the sensitivity of the case. Quincy's autopsy reveals additional findings which indicate that the young Marine's death was not an accident as initially believed.
I found this to be an OK episode which does feature a murder mystery along with some twists and turns, but just wasn't all that exciting to watch. I think this was partly due to there being a lot of scenes with stoic, military brass types who were pretty sedate characters. I also found some of the determinations made to be a little questionable. One of these involves algae being found in only one specific area of the lake which seemed highly unlikely, and another involves the injury sustained by the victim from a high fall onto a rock which seemed very understated as described.
One thing I did particularly enjoy about this episode is that each of the coroner lab regulars contribute and participate in the autopsy and analysis of the findings at various points which made for a good balance rather than Quincy just doing everything. It is nice to see Dr. Asten (John S. Ragin), Sam (Robert Ito) and Marc (Marc Scott Taylor) all pitching in and working right alongside Quincy as a functional team.
Overall, not a great Season 4 episode, but it certainly has enough plot to make it one worth-watching.
I found this to be an OK episode which does feature a murder mystery along with some twists and turns, but just wasn't all that exciting to watch. I think this was partly due to there being a lot of scenes with stoic, military brass types who were pretty sedate characters. I also found some of the determinations made to be a little questionable. One of these involves algae being found in only one specific area of the lake which seemed highly unlikely, and another involves the injury sustained by the victim from a high fall onto a rock which seemed very understated as described.
One thing I did particularly enjoy about this episode is that each of the coroner lab regulars contribute and participate in the autopsy and analysis of the findings at various points which made for a good balance rather than Quincy just doing everything. It is nice to see Dr. Asten (John S. Ragin), Sam (Robert Ito) and Marc (Marc Scott Taylor) all pitching in and working right alongside Quincy as a functional team.
Overall, not a great Season 4 episode, but it certainly has enough plot to make it one worth-watching.
helpful•41
- rayoflite24
- Oct 1, 2015
Details
- Runtime1 hour
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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