User Reviews

The only real problem with this episode is that it takes a complete 180 degree turn about 40 minutes in going from one story to a completely different story. Crockett and Tubbs are investigating a string of crimes perpetrated by two cops. Castillo is personal in wanting these officers badges. In one attempt gone wrong Crocket and Tubbs shift tactics and manage to make an arrest with a hooker "Candi", working for the two corrupt cops. During their investigation they manage to gain the attention of an Albert Szarbo who wants to rob a secure safety deposit safe that Crocket and Tubbs are using as their cover as hotel security.

Szarbo enlists the help of Crocket and Tubbs but are only using them to gain access to the bank which they rob earlier. Szarbo learns that in his heist he only took "papers" which he doesn't understand their meaning. Immediately in learning this they are assassinated. When Castillo learns "how" they were assasinated his interest peaks and he learns there is a connection to old enemy of his back when we was working undercover in Thailand.

Suddenly the story is now about opium, slaves, and Castillo's wife.

The episode is solid enough but the whole first 35 minutes seems like a completely different episode, something that could have been it's own show, but it turns into a prologue for what this is episode is really about.

We never learn anything new about Szarbo. We never even really learn how the first 35 minutes are connected other than the papers in the safe connect the two parts of this show. It's a very weak thread and quite jarring when it makes the switch.

Be that as it may you get a very well done climax as Castillo is seem kicking some a** against an assassin. This is a side we have not seen and definitely adds more of edge that was already there. All in all the episode is good, but it could have been great if the first 35 minutes had a better connection to the last 10 minutes. It would be like watching the episode Cool Running only to have the last 10 minutes of the episode be Milk Run. Odd way to write an episode.

This two part story opens in fairly light hearted fashion with Crockett sitting by the pool wearing big dorky glasses and apparently working on the accounts; he certainly doesn't look like a cop and fools prostitute Candy. He isn't there to catch her though he is trying to catch a couple of corrupt cops who have been shaking down the girls. She agrees to help them and Crockett and Tubbs go undercover as hotel security with a sideline in prostitution. It isn't long before they are approached... by somebody who wants to clear out the hotel vault. It might not be why they went undercover but it seems too good an opportunity to miss; especially if they let the thieves get as far as opening the safety deposit boxes... who knows what little secrets will be hidden away in those?! Things don't go according to plan though and the boxes are cleared out while they are away. Not long afterwards the thieves are found; one mumbling something about 'papers' before he died. The bodies were mutilated in a way Lt. Castillo had seen before when he worked undercover in Thailand... they have stumbled on a much bigger and more dangerous case; one that will require a second episode to conclude.

This episode was classic Miami Vice; a bit of humour, some action and a lot of cool... it would be worth watching just to see Tubbs reaction when he sees Castillo beating a Thai assassin in a martial arts fight! Edward James Olmos is great as Castillo; here he shows he can do the action scenes as well as anyone on the show and we learn quite a bit more about his character. Guest star Robin Johnson does a good job as Candy; making her character more than a cliché TV prostitute. The final scene ends with quite a bombshell but I won't spoil that here; you'll just have to watch the episode to see it!