Lines of Fire (7 May 1999)

Director:

Kathryn Bigelow

Writers:

Paul Attanasio (creator), David Simon (based upon the book by),

Stars:

Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, Peter Gerety

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Richard Belzer	...	John Munch (credit only)
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Agent Mike Giardello
Peter Gerety	...	Stuart Gharty
Clark Johnson	...	Meldrick Lewis
Yaphet Kotto	...	Lt. Al Giardello (credit only)
Toni Lewis	...	Terri Stivers (credit only)
Michael Michele	...	Det. Rene Sheppard (credit only)
Kyle Secor	...	Tim Bayliss (credit only)
Callie Thorne	...	Laura Ballard (credit only)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gary D'Addario	...	Lt. Jasper
Ron Eldard	...	Emmet Carey
Jon Garcia	...	Uniformed Officer
Marianne Hagan	...	Lucy Carey
James McCauley	...	Lt. Wennington
Matthew Bernard Nuti	...	Zack Carey

Storyline

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Release Date:

7 May 1999 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company Credits

User Reviews

In the midst of a disastrous season...

Season 7 was, for many reasons, terribly disappointing. Weak and useless characters, sloppy writing, cheap tricks like romances and overwrought situations.

However, it did have, here and there, some bright points: this episode is one of the few.

Mike Giardello (Giancarlo Esposito), son of Gee and FBI agent, along with Gharty (Peter Gerety), faces a desperate man (Ron Eldard) who threatens to kill himself and his children, and who insists on having Mike as the negotiator. Gee Jr has to talk him out of the situation, which becomes increasingly tense and desperate.

There are solid writing and interesting performances by Esposito - who is much better here than in the rest of the season, in which I found him somewhat bland and nondescript - and Eldard, who convinces as the suicidal father. Although I have to say that the excuse to put Gee Jr in the spotlights feels more than a bit contrived; just like in the rest of the season, after all.

I also have to say that the Mike Giardello-Gharty duo once again works well and is intriguing (the confident, cold, self-righteous young man and the bitter bigot), like in the surprisingly good Shades of Gray.

And the dramatic, uncompromising ending is memorable.

7/10