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, Kellerman finally clears his name and Bayliss takes the job too personally …. again!

Episode 5.12 “Betrayal”

(Dir by Clark Johnson, originally aired on January 1oth, 1997)

It’s finally time for Detective Kellerman to testify in front of the Grand Jury.  At first, Kellerman is thinking of taking the Fifth so that he won’t have to testify about what any of the other members of the Aron squad may or may not have done.  However, when Kellerman realizes that another member of the squad has named him in order to try to make a deal with the prosecutor, Kellerman changes his mind.  He says that he will testify.  He will throw his career away.  He’ll do it because he’s not going to let anyone think that he’s a dirty cop.  The prosecutor (Rebecca Boyd) is so moved that she allows Kellerman to testify that he never took a bribe but then declines to ask any follow-up questions.  Kellerman is cleared.

This, of course, is something that would never happen in real life.  A prosecutor declining to ask follow-up questions because she respects the witness?  Seriously?  That said, if it means the bribery storyline is finally wrapped up and Kellerman can return to active duty, I’m happy.

Meanwhile, Pembleton and Bayliss investigate the death of a teenage girl who was found abandoned on the side of the road.  When it’s revealed that the victim was horribly abused, Bayliss — of course — takes the case personally.  For Pembleton, it’s just another case.  It’s what he does for a living and he knows better than to get personally involved.  For Bayliss, it’s a crusade.  At the end of the episode, Bayliss reveals that he was abused as a child.  He also says that he no longer wants to be Pembleton’s partner.

WHAT!?

Dammit, Bayliss, we just got Pembleton back and now you don’t want to work with him!?

Don’t get me wrong.  This was a good episode but it did leave me feeling a bit frustrated.  Hopefully, Bayliss and Pembleton will make up soon.  The Kellerman bribery subplot went on forever.  Here’s hoping the same doesn’t happen with Bayliss and Pembleton’s divorce.