The Magnificent Seven (2016) – Antoine Fuqua

I’ve enjoyed most interpretations of The Seven Samurai I’ve come across, but there’s a special place in my heart for the 1960 film with it’s iconic score by Elmer Bernstein. So, when I heard back in 2016 that there was yet another iteration coming I wasn’t quite ready to jump in and see how this…

Hill Street Blues (1987) – The Cookie Crumbles, and Dogsbreath Afternoon

Lucy (Betty Thomas) discovers the affair going on between Russo (Megan Gallagher) and Flaherty (Robert Clohessy) and that’s just the beginning of the melodrama this time out in The Cookie Crumbles. Written by Robert Ward, this episode debuted on 10 March, 1987. While Renko (Charles Haid) worries over the fact that his wife may be…

Hill Street Blues (1987) – City of Refuse, and Der Roachenkavalier

City of Refuse may be my favourite episode of the season so far. Written by Peter Silverman, it first debuted on 20 January, 1987. Hunter (James Sikking) gets to put on his tactical uniform for the first time since his demotion when he joins Goldblume (Joe Spano) in dealing with a hostage situation. Why was…

Hill Street Blues (1987) – She’s So Fein, and A Wasted Weekend

Joyce (Veronica Hamel) is showing a new Public Defender, Sharon Fein (Gela Nash) the ropes around the precinct, and J.D. (Kiel Martin) has his eye on her, but she seems to have her eye on Washington (Taurean Blacque). She’s So Fein was written by Marjorie David and was first broadcast on 6 January, 1987. While…

Hill Street Blues (1986) – I Come on My Knees, and Say Uncle

I Come on My Knees first aired on 6 November, 1986 and was written by David Milch. There’s a lot going on in this episode, and once again the silly melodrama has been pushed aside. Sure there are fun character moments, but as a whole the series seems to be determined to finish incredibly strong….

Hill Street Blues (1986) – The Best Defense, and Bald Ambition

With the public defenders going on strike, the precinct has to exercise caution in pursuing arrests, as the courts are going to be jammed until the strike is over, and the holding cells will be full. The Best Defense was written by Steve Bello and Robert Ward from a story by Bello, Ward and Jonathan…

Hill Street Blues (1986) – Suitcase, and A Case of Klapp

The seventh and final season of Hill Street Blues began on 2 October, 1986 with the episode Suitcase. It was written by David Milch and John Romano from a story by Milch, Romano and Darrell Vienna. A small cub plane comes down near the precinct and someone gets away from it on foot with a…