A very young Don Cheadle makes an appearance in Days of Swine and Roses. Written by David Black from a story by Black and John Litvack, this episode was first broadcast on 31 March, 1987.

While the city rallies around a contest that promotes outrageous incidents, the precinct prepares for a full day. Renko (Charles Haid) and Hill (Micheal Warren) are assigned to test a new car with some automated functions – not quite a smart car, but supposed to be in the same vein – and Renko is struggling to make things right with his estranged wife.

Washington (Taurean Blacque) and LaRue (Kiel Martin) find themselves involved in a domestic disturbance that centers around Darius (Cheadle) acting violently toward his mother and sister because he’s not taking his medication. This one plays out tragically as Darius, and his family, are failed by the system, and themselves, every step of the way. Something that Davenport (Veronica Hamel), Washington and LaRue have front seats for.

Belker (Bruce Weitz) returns to the precinct following his shooting, and Hunter (James Sikking) back as a lieutenant and running his tactical squad has a full and troubling day, ending with a disappearance.

I do like that most of the characters get a chance to shine. Sure there’s melodrama, and I get that at the time it played fine, it just seems a little overboard now. Still, there are some nice character moments, some great emotions, and I think everyone is preparing for the end.

And it’s not that far away.

The Runner Falls on His Kisser was written by Jody Worth and first debuted on 7 April, 1987, and features Keenen Ivory Wayans as a NFL star who gets busted by Russo (Megan Gallagher) for soliciting.

Belker is off desk duty and is working undercover in a pastry shop that is being harassed for protection money, Hunter is missing, and hasn’t checked in.

And the annual shooting competition is coming up at the Academy. Marshall Bell shows up as the odds-on favourite, his character, Mike, has won the last four years running, but there may be a couple of other possibilities, including Buntz (Dennis Franz) who LaRue decides to back.

Flaherty (Robert Clohessy) is still giving Russo static for ending their relationship, and Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti) has a troubling visit from his brother.

It’s all about to finish up, there are two episodes left in the series. How will it all play out? And will it play out smartly, or melodramatically? I’ve enjoyed the series, but wish it had been played a little straighter through all of it, and tackled some heavier issues. Still, it was a defining police drama and has had a long-lasting effect on the genre.

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