So what show did writers Jim Henshaw and Ray Sallows see most recently? Why, 'Miami Vice', of course. And that show's style is all over this episode, as 'Friday the 13th: the Series' goes into the seedy side of crime complete with flashing pastels and sax music of Chicago or wherever the heck they are? They did do syndicated 'Miami Vice'-type shows, so maybe that's what they "borrowed" from.
Even Ryan gets into the act, slicking back his hair and wearing a Don Johnson-style suit.
Kudos to Fred Mollin, who effectively apes 'Miami Vice''s musical stylings.
There's people dancing spastically in Haas' club: was that the dance style back in '88? It looks more like an epileptic convention than anything.
As to the plot itself, the cursed badge makes no sense. Okay, it kills people. And... that's it. There's some lip service to how it does untraceable murders, but that seems a waste of the cursed antique concept. The killing effect does look cool, in a spastic camera kind of way.
The background of the badge sounds interesting. I would have rather seen a nutjob dressed up likely Jesse James go on a killing spree, than the sordid little counterfeiting ring we got here. But the badge is probably the most unimaginative antique on the show. It kills people and that's it. Can't Sharko just shoot the people he kills with the badge? He's a detective: he knows how to get rid of/hide a murder weapon.
The episode does establish that Ryan has a romantic interest in Micki. He gets all jealous over Tim, when Tim puts the moves on Micki. Yes, Ryan and Micki are only distant cousins, but still ewwww. The production staff seemed to sense the ickiness, which is probably part of why they dropped Ryan and brought in Johnny. Had to have that smoldering romantic chemistry.
And maybe that's why Ryan dresses up as Don Johnson, because he feels romantically challenged by Tim.
And Robey gets to sing the background song at Haas' club. She's a better singer than a romantic interest (although check out the video of "One Night in Bangkok" on Youtube, that she did), so at least she has that going for her.
And why is Gwen's mummified corpse thrown in? Just for the shock value, I guess. The skeleton in "Cupid's Quiver" was more shocking.
Overall, "Badge of Honor" plods along with a 'Miami Vice' rehash. It's only enlightened by the cool antique. But the antique is surrounded by an episode that was already tropish back in the late 80s when the episode premiered. Unless you're a completest, a fan of 'Miami Vice', or like saxophone music, give it a pass.
Even Ryan gets into the act, slicking back his hair and wearing a Don Johnson-style suit.
Kudos to Fred Mollin, who effectively apes 'Miami Vice''s musical stylings.
There's people dancing spastically in Haas' club: was that the dance style back in '88? It looks more like an epileptic convention than anything.
As to the plot itself, the cursed badge makes no sense. Okay, it kills people. And... that's it. There's some lip service to how it does untraceable murders, but that seems a waste of the cursed antique concept. The killing effect does look cool, in a spastic camera kind of way.
The background of the badge sounds interesting. I would have rather seen a nutjob dressed up likely Jesse James go on a killing spree, than the sordid little counterfeiting ring we got here. But the badge is probably the most unimaginative antique on the show. It kills people and that's it. Can't Sharko just shoot the people he kills with the badge? He's a detective: he knows how to get rid of/hide a murder weapon.
The episode does establish that Ryan has a romantic interest in Micki. He gets all jealous over Tim, when Tim puts the moves on Micki. Yes, Ryan and Micki are only distant cousins, but still ewwww. The production staff seemed to sense the ickiness, which is probably part of why they dropped Ryan and brought in Johnny. Had to have that smoldering romantic chemistry.
And maybe that's why Ryan dresses up as Don Johnson, because he feels romantically challenged by Tim.
And Robey gets to sing the background song at Haas' club. She's a better singer than a romantic interest (although check out the video of "One Night in Bangkok" on Youtube, that she did), so at least she has that going for her.
And why is Gwen's mummified corpse thrown in? Just for the shock value, I guess. The skeleton in "Cupid's Quiver" was more shocking.
Overall, "Badge of Honor" plods along with a 'Miami Vice' rehash. It's only enlightened by the cool antique. But the antique is surrounded by an episode that was already tropish back in the late 80s when the episode premiered. Unless you're a completest, a fan of 'Miami Vice', or like saxophone music, give it a pass.