Vice detectives Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo Tubbs (Philip Micheal Thomas) find themselves caught up in an assassination attempt when they stumble across a plan to kill a Cuban diplomat who has arrived in Miami.

Written by Eric Estrin and Micheal Berlin, the episode first debuted on 23 January, 1987.

Their initial investigation into a drug dealer, Rojas (Willie Colon) they’ve been trying to bring down is disrupted by a paramilitary group that could spell trouble and cause bloodshed on the streets of Miami.

As the pair of cops continue their investigation they find themselves steeped in trouble as they discovery the identity of some of the members of the hit group. But the Feds are causing them problems as well, when they start protecting the group.

Trust, double crosses, betrayals, and anti-Castro groups fill the episode, as our heroes find themselves in the crosshairs.

This is a solid episode, that keeps the weaving thread of connections, lies, cover-ups and mistrust balanced and entertaining.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the episode comes to its conclusion with a firefight, a jungle chase, and a race to stop the assassination at the last moment. Every member of the team seems to get a moment in this episode, and Castillo (Edward James Olmos) leads the SWAT unit that stops the attack, in a wicked looking helicopter.

Music for the episode includes Bob Seger’s Miami, I Feel Like Holding On by Gwen Majors, and Gun Law by Kane Gang.

This is the first episode since Zito’s death, and though it isn’t mentioned, Switek (Micheal Talbott) seems a little subdued, Zito’s desk is cleared, and John Diehl’s name has been removed from the opening titles.

Duty and Honor is a Castillo story written by Martin Kupfer and first aired on 5 February, 1987.

The episode opens in Vietnam, in 1972, when Castillo (with a ponytail) was working with the US Government and investigating a series of murders of prostitutes with a Vietnamese police officer, Nguyen Van Trahn (Haing S. Ngor). We then flash forward to the present (1987) where Castillo is at the site of a homicide that has exactly the same type of m.o.

On top of that, Trahn is in town.

Castillo calls in the entire team to help the investigation, but it is Castillo’s story. And I tend to love his episodes. His intense, tough, and you know he’s not going to stop.

Helena Bonham Carter appears as Crockett’s current love interest, Dr. Theresa Lyons. And Micheal Wright who played Elias on V, shows up as well!

The episode examines the continued conflict between Vietnam vets, and the homes they came back to.

There’s also a twist to the killing, as the real killer is revealed early on, but not all his connections. And Castillo’s old partner isn’t who he thinks he is.

Music for this episode includes Jefferson Airplane’s classic White Rabbit,  Blood and Roses by The Smithereens, and Anything by The Damned.

Case work continues next week as I take to the streets of Miami Vice.