This episode- told from the persepctive of Steve, rather than Mark Sloan as is typical- gives an important insight into Steve's relationship with his father. Throughout the episode, Steve is trying to figure out who is murdering some people, with little luck. Then at the end, we see Mark show up and suddenly solve the case through some convoluted means that don't really make sense, at least to me, and I suspect also to Steve. But his deduction is correct, since the woman confesses. I think this is how Steve feels throughout the whole series, always a step behind his father, always in his shadow. He feels inadequate because his father who isn't even a police officer is a better homicide detective than him. This I think explains why every line he speaks sounds so apathetic. This also explains why he develops feelings for the reporter in this episode: she is also bumbling around trying to figure things out but somehow worse at it than Steve, so Steve feels competent and respectable around her. And interesting look into his psyche. 9/10, but -2 because of Barry Van Dyke's acting.
2 Reviews
Adult themes
safenoe8 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Steve Sloan (Barry Van Dyke) is forced to team up with investigative reporter Shelby Turner (Shawn Huff), and they really steam up the screen, especially as this is prime time television and wow, Shawn Huff is incredibly beautiful and no wonder Steve Sloan was getting weak in the knees and feeling an attraction to her while investing several murders at a luxury gated community. Anyway, I very much enjoy watching Diagnosis Murder (much better than Murder, She Wrote) and this episode had that adult theme aspect to it, and it's a shame Shawn Huff didn't make any more appearances in this fine series.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews