Renko (Charles Haid in hilariously huffy form) gets upset after his revolver is stolen. Furillo (the always outstanding Daniel J. Travanti) risks perjury when he's subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury investigating police corruption. Captain Freedom (a wonderfully wiggy performance by Dennis Dugan) reappears to thwart a robbery. This episode offers a funny wealth of inspired humorous moments: the snappy rat-a-tat-tat banter between Coffey (a likable Ed Marinaro) and Bates (a pleasingly feisty Betty Thomas) over Coffey standing Bates up on a date is quite sharp and amusing, Renko's fuming rage about having his gun stolen is likewise sidesplitting, and Captain Freedom's wacky antics are an absolute hoot to watch, with a confrontation between Freedom and Belker (Bruce Weitz, clearly relishing the chance to show a little warmth for once) in which Belker tries to talk some sense into the sweetly deluded goofball rating as the definite highlight. Moreover, Esterhaus (Michael Conrad) and Goldblume (Joe Spano) have a charming conversation in French. And this show does manage amid all the silly shenanigans to offer some serious pointed insights into the complex and murky business of inner city politics.
Review of Pestolozzi's Revenge
