Hate Crimes (17 Nov. 1995)

Pembleton and Bayliss investigate the murder of a man outside a gay night club.

Director:

Peter Weller

Writers:

Tom Fontana, James Yoshimura,

Stars:

Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, Reed Diamond

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Belzer	...	Det. John Munch
Andre Braugher	...	Det. Frank Pembleton
Reed Diamond	...	Det. Mike Kellerman
Isabella Hofmann	...	Capt. Megan Russert
Clark Johnson	...	Det. Meldrick Lewis
Yaphet Kotto	...	Lt. Al Giardello
Melissa Leo	...	Det. Sgt. Kay Howard
Kyle Secor	...	Det. Tim Bayliss
Terry O'Quinn	...	Bailey Lafeld
Allison Smith	...	Officer Debbie Haskell
Max Perlich	...	J.H. Brodie
Dean Winters	...	Tom Marans
James Whalen	...	Jimmy Kruger
Jeff Bankert	...	Lambert
Brett Hamilton	...	Zeke

Storyline

Pembleton and Bayliss investigate the murder of a man outside a gay night club.

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Plot Keywords:

gay | skinhead | gay bar | homophobia | thanksgiving | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Release Date:

17 November 1995 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company Credits

Did You Know?

Goofs

At the end of episode #4.5, "Hate Crimes", Det. Mike Kellerman addresses Sgt. Kay Howard (Melissa Leo) as "Mel".

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Soundtracks

"What A Good Boy"
Performed by Barenaked Ladies

User Reviews

"That's the worst part: it shouldn't matter, but it does"

A young man is beaten to death by two skinheads outside a gay bar; Pembleton (Andre Braugher) and Bayliss (Kyle Secor) investigate the murder. Meanwhile, Lewis (Clark Johnson) finds a key witness of an unsolved case followed by his old partner, and he clashes with Howard (Melissa Leo), the new primary.

Hate Crimes is an excellent example of a good Homicide episode, with believable and likable but (often deeply) flawed characters, and a superb ear for dialogues. Also remarkable is the lack of cheesy-eating congratulatory epilogues typical of other cop shows which shy away from bitter, disquieting closures. Seldom banal or heavy-handed, always gritty and realistic, often unsettling, Homicide was really one of the finest series ever aired on TV.

Acting is strong throughout, as usual. Apart for the always awesome Braugher, Secor, Johnson and Leo, who have the key parts here, there is a brilliant guest star appearance by Terry O'Quinn (Lost) as the victim's father. The character could have been a cartoonish, repulsive jerk with a lesser actor, but O'Quinn makes the distraught, petty and enraged man plausible and even somewhat pitiable. Reed Diamond as Kellerman has a minor, but interesting role.

And the final musical montage, with the Barenaked Ladies "What a Good Boy", ranks among the show's bests.

8/10