Season two comes to conclusion this week when Angelina (Phanie Napoli), last seen in Calderone’s Return from season one, shows up in Sons and Lovers. Written by Dennis Cooper this episode first aired on 9 May, 1986.

Angelina shows up in Miami to warn Tubbs (Philip Micheal Thomas) about the arrival of Calderone’s son, Orlando (John Leguizamo, in his television debut) who is gunning for him and Crockett (Don Johnson) over the death of the their father. She also has a bit more of a personal surprise (more personal than murder?) for Tubbs.

It’s a strong story to end the season on, and it gives both Crockett a number of great character moments, in a very strongly written episode.

With Tubbs in the cross hairs, and dealing with the reviews that Angelina brought him this is very much a Tubbs-centric episode, and well-deserved – Thomas’ portrayal remains likable, and as much as Crockett is his partner, the series wouldn’t exist without the character through line of Tubbs that began in Brother’s Keeper.

And of course, with this being Miami Vice, the episode has a dark ending for our characters, especially Tubbs, but by introducing and then taking the things away that are revealed in the episode, the character is physically burdened with what he learns, just emotionally.

The songs used in this episode, along side Jan Hammer’s score of course (including bringing in the track Flashback from the first season), is Roger Daltrey’s After the Fire, and Phil Collins’ Long, Long Way to Go.

Season three launches with When Irish Eyes are Crying and we get a lot of new things right off the bat, haircuts for Crockett and Tubbs, darker colors in Crockett’s wardrobe, as well as a change of weaponry and sunglasses.

Written by Dick Wolf and John Leekley, from a story by Leekly, the season opened on 26 September, 1986, and gave us a Gina-centric story which let Saundra Santiago shine as she is paired opposite Liam Neeson, who is portraying Sean Carroon, a former IRA fighter who has gone straight.

The pair have an immediate connection, and a romance kindles, but how honest is Sean being with her?

This episode boasts the use of John Lennon’s Imagine, used for a look at the work of the IRA during Sean’s presentation. Also featured is The Last Unbroken Heart by Patti LaBelle and Bill Champlin, and The Pogues’ Wild Cats of Kilkenny.

The episode was not to be the season opener, but problems with Johnson’s contract caused delays, and one of the biggest goofs in the series, the Daytona Spyder gets blown up, but then reappears in the next few episodes even after being replaced with the white Ferrari Testarossa in the next episode.

The episode also features appearances by Paul Gleason, Walter Gotell, Jeff Fahey (as an arms dealer that causes Crockett some grief) and Martin Ferrero as Izzy.

There are more cases next week, and the new car for Crockett as I continue to take to the the streets with Miami Vice.