Barney Miller (TV Series) Quo Vadis? (1978) User Reviews

Barbara Barrie returns as Barney's wife Liz

[kevinolzak · 8/10 · 7 May 2014]

"Quo Vadis?" marks the long awaited return of Barbara Barrie as Barney's wife Liz, last seen in the second season's "Happy New Year," with only one further appearance in "Toys." All is quiet in the squad room, apart from Miss Jacobs (Ivy Bethune) complaining about 'filthy' paintings in the window of a reputable art gallery. Taking the matter into her own hands, she desecrates one nude portrait, the owner (John O'Leary, first of three) willing to prosecute, until Barney ferrets out the truth about why this one painting so offended her (she herself was the model, 40 years earlier). The main focus is the precinct's reaction to Barney's getting shot while out on a call, but since he returns with only a bandaged index finger, it's hardly serious. Liz Miller shows up, understandably worried about her husband, and still suggesting better, safer places to live. John Dullaghan (fourth of ten) appears as holdup man Milton L. Loftus, who offers Barney some unwarranted advice about his own marital problems (he told HIS wife about the late hours too, and she still left him). Jack Soo's Yemana misses the season's last five episodes, beginning here.

A Masterpiece

[frankjosephsaraceno · 10/10 · 13 June 2020]

Quo Vadis? is one of the ten best episodes in the history of this great show. One of the reasons why Barney Miller holds up so well is that it's grounded in realism. The dialogue, especially in this installment, is always natural. Barney was never a joke and punchline show. The performances from Barbara Barrie, in her penultimate appearance, and Hal Linden are spectacular. You can feel the pain of what it means to be a cop's wife. You can feel how hard it is for a cop to maintain being a good police while juggling family life. The strains in their relationship are authentic. The love they feel for one another, equally pure. The B plot involves an older woman (Ivy Bethune) who's appalled by what she considers smut at a local art museum. The payoff comes in the final scene when it's revealed who the woman in the portrait really is. Great writing, great performances all around, with the typical dry humor. Notable too, this was the first of the remaining 5 Season 4 episodes where Jack Soo was absent. Soo had begun to look sickly as the season wore on. Ron Carey's role began to increase and he does not disappoint in this one.

Prisoner mysteriously shows up in the 'cage'?

[jamesldowdy · 19 September 2016]

John Dullaghan is not in the holding cell until about 5 minutes into this episode. He was not brought in and booked by one of the detectives. He just shows up after the call comes in that Barney has been shot. My guess is that because of 'rerun' editing someone cut the scene out so that there could be a couple more commercials run in the second section of the show. This was still a very interesting episode that shows the sensitivity of the detectives and of the crime victim. (The gallery owner.) As with most all of the Barney Miller episodes this was a very enjoyable to watch. Even after almost 40 years the program is entertaining.