For Whom the Skell Rolls

NYPD Blue, Season 2, Episode 2,
For Whom the
Skell Rolls

Story by Stephen Bochco & David Milch
Teleplay by Gardner Stern
Directed by Michael M. Robin

To skip straight down to the review, click here.

PLOT ONE: THE NEVERENDING TRIAL ACTUALLY ENDS

Janice testified at her murder trial that a)she did not plan to kill Angelo Marino until she got into his car, b)John Kelly knew nothing about the murders, and c)she confessed of her own volition, not because Kelly had forced her to do so. The DA and Attorney James Sinclaire both gave eloquent closing statements, but, apparently, Attorney Sinclaire's was more moving - Janice was only found guilty on the lesser charge of manslaughter in the first degree. Sinclaire told her that she would get sentenced for no more than 2 years, and that she would probably be out on work release in six months. "Not bad for a shyster lawyer, eh?" That night, Kelly promises Janice that he'll visit her upstate all the time.

PLOT TWO: HAVERILL VS. KELLY

Everyone's favorite asshole from upstairs, Commander Haverill, showed up again, this time as part of the witch hunt to nail Our Hero (tm) for tearing the pages from the book. While Kelly and Sipowicz are in the middle of a double-murder investigation (more on that to follow), Haverill continually harrasses Kelly about giving a statement about the two dirty cops from the previous week. Internal Affairs seems convinced that Kelly only busted the two cops because he wanted a cut of their action, but when no drug dealers identify Kelly or Sipowicz as ever having hung around with the two dirty cops, that avenue of persecution is closed. When even Medavoy won't turn on Kelly (more to follow), Haverill decides to screw over Our Hero by refusing to drop the charges on one of Kelly's informants (from the double-murder case). Kelly gets extremely insubordinate with Haverill, which gives him all the ammo he needs - he even decides to let the snitch go.

PLOT THREE: THE BIG BLUE WALL, MEDAVOY STYLE

Because the Linardi murder was Medavoy's case, the fact that Kelly held onto the book for three days is more than a little suspicious, and Internal Affairs wants to talk to Medavoy about it. Greg knows that he didn't do anything wrong, but tells Donna that he's afraid that if he goes into the interview and starts stammering, they'll think he's trying to cover for John - and he doesn't want to jam up one of his friends. However, when he goes into the IAB interview, he's so relaxed, he doesn't even stammer once - he calmly claims (contrary to what actually happened) that he never got around to asking John for the book for a few days because of other aspects of the case, and that Kelly gave him the book the minute he was asked about it. The IAB sleazeballs realize Medavoy isn't going to be any help, so they let him leave, and he walks out of the room triumphantly.

PLOT FOUR: THE ROCK STAR MURDER

A black man and woman have been found brutally and bloodily murdered in her apartment, which is in a building described as a "non-stop party," because of all the drug dealing that goes on. Kelly thinks he has a lead, a crackhead who was seen coming out of the dead woman's apartment, but he has an alibi - he was watching Star Trek with his girlfriend. However, the Trekkie crackhead saw another guy going into the dead woman's apartment, and identifies him for Kelly and Sipowicz. The new suspect is an ex-con who's been hard-working and straight for two years since his last prison term, but he confesses to Kelly (after another smooth speech about the uselessness of lawyers) that he killed them both in a fit of rage after the guy started hassling him for talking to the woman (and after the guy tried to rob him).

PLOT FIVE: NORMAN, IS THAT YOU?

In the midst of Janice's trial and the Inquisition going on for Kelly, ex-Detective Roberts shows up and tells Sipowicz that he has a bit of evidence that might help Kelly. Seems that one of his new PI clients is a madame. Said madame has a regular client who likes for his hookers to dress like schoolgirls so he can spank them. Said client just happens to be Norman Gardners, who is in the midst of claiming on his show that Kelly may have been on Marino's payroll, thanks to the "expert" testimony of the bereaved girlfriend of Richie the Dead Bagman. Andy calls up our friendly Geraldo-wannabe and shows him the tape. Norman, needless to say, is a bit upset, but gets Sipowicz to give him the tape in exchange for a public retraction of the "dirty cop" accusations about Kelly.

PLOT SIX: ANDY POPS THE QUESTION

Though their dinner date is interrupted for a night while Andy works the double-homicide, Andy and Sylvia finally manage to eat at their favorite restaurant. Unfortunately, in the five months since they last dated, the restaurant stopped carrying Sylvia's favorite kind of bread, which upsets Andy, but he controls himself. He starts to tell Sylvia that he knows he needs more self-control, but that he's improved. Then he tells her that he finally has his life in order:

"I've got my work here, and I've got my...problem, which I'm making progress on, here, and I have you......Look, why don't we get married?" Sylvia's taken aback. Andy tells her to think about it, and mops his brow.

I want to say this, first and foremost: I was prepared to write a lot about the wrap-up of Janice's trial, about Norman's naughty videotape, about Greg's triumph with the IAB guys, about John's blow-up with Commander Haverill, but all I'm really interested in at the moment is that last bit of conversation I just typed.

ANDY ASKED SYLVIA TO MARRY HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, but that has to be the most shocking, surprising, enjoyable moments I have ever seen in the history of TV. Most of the time, when a big thing like this is about to happen, there's a ton of hype about it - and there's also a huge build-up to it in the episode. This one was totally out of the blue, and I was as stunned as Sylvia was. And the shot of Andy mopping his brow immediately after was priceless.

All I have to say is, GO ANDY! I just hope the stress created by this sudden little bit of question-popping doesn't screw up his sobriety again, after he's fought this hard to get himself straight and to get Sylvia back.

With regards to the rest of the stuff in the show, some comments:

While I know the show films mostly in LA, I just wish that they'd have some sort of "New York Advisor" on staff. There were two screw-ups last night. First, you cannot watch Star Trek at ten o'clock on any night in NY (unless Channel 11 has changed their schedule in the two weeks since I was last home). Second, there is no Channel 3, the sight of Norman's little chat-fest. There's a Channel 2, a Channel 4, a Channel 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13, but no Channel 3. That bugged me a bit.
I'm starting to come up with a favorite director for the show. Mike Robin, who's also the Supervising Producer, directed tonight. He also directed my personal favorite, "Guns'N'Rosaries" (where Janice confessed), as well as several other good shows. He's definitely got a distinct style - every one of his shows has at least one long, quiet conversation scene with little or no background music and no jumpy camerawork. In "Guns'N'Rosaries," it was the scene between Janice and the priest. In "Up on the Roof," it was the scene where Fancy and his wife talked about having another child. Tonight it was Greg and Donna's conversation before his IAB interview. I consider those to be three of the most powerful moments in the show so far.
Speaking of Donna, I'm just wondering when she's gonna appear in her own storyline, or at least a story totally unrelated to Medavoy. I mean, she does get more screen-time than Martinez, but that's not saying much.
At last, the damn trial is over! Thank you, Lord, for ending this neverending saga! I know it only ran for two episodes, but we've been hearing about the Marino murder virtually since day one, and it's time to finally give it a rest. I did like Attorney James Sinclaire's closing, however. And I liked the fact that the writers were smart enough to realize that they should have Janice's goal be manslaughter rather than acquittal, which a lot of other shows would have done.
God, but I loved the look on Norman's face as he watched the videotape of his little spank-athon. I wonder if Roberts had any more copies, in case Norman starts hassling guys in the 15 again. Nahh, Andy gave Norman his word, and without trust, where are we? :)
We have a new word to add to the Andy Sipowicz lexicon. Drum roll, please..............DICKFIST!!!!!!!!! Yes, no longer will we have to listen solely to the sound of "asshole," as he now has this spectacular new bit of vulgarity to pepper his conversations with. And did you notice the look of pride on Sylvia's face when he used it? They really are in love................
Speaking of "asshole," Kelly used it tonight. Yeah, I know he's said it before, but this particular instance seemed a bit odd. It was the scene where they were cornering the murder suspect on the street. Kelly started by yelling, "Citizen in white!" before quickly changing to, "Asshole in white!" Seemed a bit excessive and not something John would ordinarily say (he saves his cussin' for the important moments).
BTW, I think Caruso was much improved this week over last week. A friend I was watching with asked why he kept smiling all the time when IAB was hounding him, but I liked that - Kelly can't believe the ridiculous lengths to which IAB will go to crucify him. He knows they'll get him eventually on something, so he might as well enjoy himself. And the scene where he convinced the murderer to confess was classic John Kelly.
Last year, it seemed that there were a bunch of detectives in the 15th squad, but that the show just focused on Kelly, Sipowicz Medavoy, and Martinez. However, in the middle of his IAB interview, Medavoy described the four of them as "the day shift of the 15th squad," suggesting that they're the only four detectives on shift. Isn't that a bit minimal?

Story by Stephen Bochco & David Milch Teleplay by Gardner Stern Directed by Michael M. Robin