#9 "Blindsided"

#9 "Blindsided" (Season 1 #9)

Photo Gallery 1 (scroll to find correct episode once you get there)

Original Air Date: May 31, 1987

Writer: Jonathan Lemkin

Director: David Jackson

Production Code: 16107

Things To Note: Sherilyn Fenn (Diane Nelson, the girl who tries to hire Hanson to kill her father) was engaged to Johnny Depp in real life at this time.

Opening Theme:

Closing Theme:

LOD:

Regulars:

Friends, Family & Guests: Sherilyn Fenn [ Diane Nelson ], Jim McKrell [ Unknown ], Robert Hallak [ Unknown ], Harold P. Pruett [ Unknown ], Courtney Gains [ Unknown ], Tom O'Rourke [ Unknown ], Ric Reid [ Mr. Warren ], Don S. Davis [ Principal Harris ], Bob Metcalfe [ Officer Raskin ], Charlie Higgins [ Steve ], Karin Konoval [ Waitress ], Penn Clark [ Mark ], Sean Berner [ Max ], Drum Garrett [ Freshman ], Lalainia Lindbjerg [ Leslie ], Lorraine Forman [ Mrs. McKee ]

Episode Summary from The 21 Jump Street Episode Guide:

NOTE: Stop with this one if you don’t want spoilers.

The daughter of a policeman who claims her father is sexually abusing her tries to hire Hanson-- undercover with Penhall as one of the drug dealing McQuaid brothers-- to kill her father.

Detailed Episode Review (contains spoilers!):

(NOTE: I am doing these from the FX repeats. Email me with missing scenes & I’ll add them).

Commentary:

Cyndi Glass: I enjoy this one mainly for the deepening of the Hanson/Penhall relationship - I love it that when Hanson has a problem, Penhall is the first one he turns to. And I love it that they can trust Fuller, yet they don’t really know that at first and he has to prove himself to his new subordinates.

John DeCarli: This episode and #7 "Gotta Finish.." are my season one favorites. I think this is the first episode that really confronts a controversial social issue head on (Parental molestation of children). Its also the first time we are introduced to the "McQuaid Bros.", the longest running Hanson/Penhall alias.

This is basically a Hanson episode. I love the look of panic in his face when he tells Fuller "I shot him..." when he shoots Diane's father. And let's face it, he really should have shown his badge when he was asked to by the father. Chaulk it up to inexperience. Later, he seems to get out of trouble just a little too easily. The IAD guy says "you're going to get tried in the press, and you're going to lose"- but nothing seems to come of that. There's an obvious edit when Fuller talks to Hanson in his office later about what will happen to Diane and I wonder if a lot of explanation got lost on the cutting room floor. So I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt.

There's also a great strengthening of the Hanson/Penhall friendship seen here. Hanson says "you're my friend, right?" when he goes to Penhall's apartment. Just as significantly, we see here for the first time that Fuller will go to great lengths to protect his officers ("No cuffs, that's my procedure"). Oh yeah, it looks like Fuller has turned his desk to face the door starting in this episode.

Finally, this must have been a significant episode for Depp since his childhood friend Sal Jenco made his first appearance as Sal "Blowfish" Banducci and his girlfriend at the time played Diane. At the end of this episode is it Hanson and Diane or is it Depp and Fenn that say "Thank You" to each other?

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