Television Review: The Old and the Dead (Homicide: Life on the Street, S3X16, 1995)

The Old and the Dead (S03E16)

Airdate: 3 March 1995

Written by: Randall Anderson
Directed by: Michael Fields

Running Time: 48 minutes

Following a string of episodes that explored a traumatic event for the Homicide Unit and its aftermath, The Old and the Dead was designed to restore a sense of normalcy to the series. For the most part, the episode achieves this aim, refocusing on the routine, often unglamorous aspects of police work that define the daily lives of the detectives. However, while the episode strives to ground itself in the ordinary, it is not without its moments of incongruity and narrative ambition, which both enhance and detract from its overall impact.

The episode’s intention to present a return to routine is slightly compromised by its cold open, which features a cameo by Tim Russert, the influential host of NBC’s Meet the Press. Russert appears as a fictionalised version of himself, receiving a courtesy tour of the Homicide Unit from his namesake, Detective Russert. While this gimmick may have been a ratings draw in 1995, its relevance to contemporary audiences is limited. For viewers unfamiliar with Russert’s prominence in 1990s American political journalism, the cameo may feel like an odd distraction. Russert’s casual references to prominent political figures of the era, such as Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich, serve as a time capsule of early-to-mid-1990s America but add little to the narrative. More significantly, the inclusion of such a larger-than-life celebrity slightly detracts from the show’s otherwise gritty, realistic tone, creating a momentary disconnect from the grounded storytelling that Homicide: Life on the Street is known for.

Once the episode moves past this opening, it firmly re-establishes its commitment to realism. The cases investigated by the detectives are deliberately mundane, reflecting the often unglamorous nature of police work. Detectives Bayliss and Felton are dispatched to Billytown, an impoverished white neighbourhood in South Boston, where a skeleton is discovered buried in a yard. The case, initially seeming like a potential homicide, is quickly resolved when it is revealed that the dead man’s sons, unable to afford a proper burial, chose to bury him at home and continued collecting his Social Security checks after his death from natural causes. The banality of the case serves as a reminder that not all police work involves high-stakes drama, and it is this attention to the ordinary that sets Homicide: Life on the Street apart from other crime dramas.

The Homicide Unit’s professional challenges are further complicated by the malfunctioning toilets in their office, a subplot that provides both comic relief and a pointed critique of bureaucratic inefficiency. The plumbers hired by the City of Baltimore perform a shoddy job, prompting Lieutenant Giardello to investigate. He discovers that the plumbing firm is connected to the relatives of Colonel Granger, one of his superiors, and indirectly accuses Granger of corruption. The subsequent leak of this information to the media leads to Granger’s downfall and the promotion of Barnfather to his position. Barnfather, likely aware that Giardello was behind the leak, promotes Russert to Captain instead of Giardello, leaving the latter frustrated and feeling overlooked.

The episode also marks the return of Detectives Howard and Bolander to active duty. Howard, seemingly fully recovered, solves a case without even leaving the office, demonstrating her sharp investigative skills. Bolander, however, struggles with the physical and emotional scars of his recent trauma. Forced to wear a hat to conceal a large scar on his head, he also grapples with memory issues that threaten his ability to perform his duties. Despite these challenges, Bolander gradually regains his confidence, particularly during the investigation into the murder of an elderly wealthy couple, the Warners. In a compelling interrogation scene, Bolander skillfully elicits a confession from their grandson, Lyle, played by Shawn Hatosy.

The episode should also be commended for its high-quality acting, particularly in the case of Ned Beatty, whose portrayal of Bolander is especially moving. Beatty captures the character’s vulnerability and determination as he grapples with his own mortality and the fear that his injuries may end his career. His performance is nuanced and heartfelt, making Bolander’s journey one of the most compelling aspects of the episode.

The Old and the Dead largely succeeds in its goal of restoring a sense of normalcy to Homicide: Life on the Street after a series of emotionally charged episodes. While the inclusion of Tim Russert’s cameo feels somewhat out of place, the episode’s focus on routine cases, workplace politics, and the personal struggles of its characters ensures that it remains grounded in the show’s signature realism. By balancing the mundane with moments of tension and character development, the episode reaffirms the series’ ability to find depth in the everyday lives of its detectives.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com
Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/
InLeo blog https://inleo.io/@drax.leo

Hiveonboard: https://hiveonboard.com?ref=drax
Rising Star game: https://www.risingstargame.com?referrer=drax
1Inch: https://1inch.exchange/#/r/0x83823d8CCB74F828148258BB4457642124b1328e

BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG
ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7
BCH donations: qpvxw0jax79lhmvlgcldkzpqanf03r9cjv8y6gtmk9