Welcome to Retro Television Reviews, a feature where we review some of our favorite and least favorite shows of the past! On Sundays, I will be reviewing Homicide: Life On The Street, which aired from 1993 to 1999, on NBC! It can be viewed on Peacock.
This week, both Munch and Pembleton go on an inner journey.
Episode 5.17 “Kaddish”
(Dir by Jean de Segonzac, originally aired on February 21st, 1997)
When Munch and Kellerman investigate a crime scene in which a woman has been found murdered, Munch is stunned when the woman is revealed to be Helen Rosenthal, his high school crush. In between flashbacks to Munch’s awkward teen years, Munch and Kellerman investigate the crime. At first, it seems like the murderer might be one of two former classmates, one of whom was Helen’s ex-husband. Ultimately, the truth turns to be much simpler. As if so often the case, Helen was the victim of stranger. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
During the investigation, Munch bonds with Helen’s daughter, Sarah (Jean Louisa Kelly). Per Jewish law, Helen is buried within 24 hours and Munch and Kellerman later attend her shiva, where Munch begs out of being a part of the minyan. Because Kellerman has apparently never met a Jewish person in his life, Munch has to explain to him the concept of sitting shiva and reciting the Kaddish. On the one hand, I wish this episode didn’t resort to making Kellerman into a total doofus. (At one point, he even asks what a “shiksa” is,) but, on the other hand, I did appreciate that it dealt with a side of Munch that we really haven’t seen before. As a viewer, I’m so used to seeing Munch as just being the squad’s resident cynic that it was interesting to see him dealing with issues of faith.
Speaking of faith, Pembleton is continually to struggle with his. He even goes to Mass in this episode and remember a debate he once had with a nun about whether or not any signs of God can be found while working as a homicide detective. Pembleton does find a sign towards the end of the episode. Called in when a woman dies in home hospice care, Bayliss and Pembleton discover that no murder occurred. Instead, the woman has passed with a look of peace on her face and a crucifix on her nightstand. Having lost his family and nearly his life, Pembleton finally seems to have found his faith. And I’m glad about that because Pembleton the Heretic was getting to be a bit of a slog.
This was a good episode, one that used death as a way to shine a light on life. Richard Belzer gave one of his better performances in the role of John Munch and, as always, Andre Braugher was outstanding as Pembleton. I’m also happy to say that Pembleton and Bayliss are once again partners. That’s the way it should be.
