Quincy M.E. (TV Series) Murder by S.O.P. (1979) User Reviews

It loses a point for the 'good cop/bad cop' scene!

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 23 April 2013]

Quincy is on his way to a convention and has been driving too long--so long that a small town cop notices his driving and brings him to the local jail. Quincy is not under arrest--just advised to get a good night sleep before completing his trip. During the night, someone starts a deliberated fire and four of the prisoners are killed. Naturally, Quincy survives--after all, he IS the leading man.

After the fire, the local officials investigate the incident. However, the Sheriff and doctor doing the autopsy sure seem quick to write it off as an accident--and Quincy, after examining the body, insists that it was murder. They don't listen, so Quincy (being Quincy) begins making a fuss and insists he won't let the case drop. So, soon the investigators find the guilty party (or at least someone they could pin it on)--in an apparent attempt to shut him up and get him out of town! Only later, when Quincy is at his convention, does he learn that he's been duped. What's next? See this very good episode.

It's funny, but in one scene one of the town's officials says that the town is not like "Bad Day at Black Rock". This is a reference to a great Spencer Tracy film where a stranger enters town and begins asking questions--only to have practically everyone try to kill him! Well, this is true. While the townsfolk do try to get rid of Quincy, they don't try to kill him and they aren't all 100% evil--just in a quick rush to judgment. I would score this show an 8 except for one problem--near the end there is a good cop/bad cop scene that is pretty lame and completely unbelievable. Silly...but also kind of funny.

By the way, this show is somewhat like Season Two's "Visitors in Paradise"--where Quincy and Danny go to a VERY unfriendly little town for a vacation and almost end up getting killed. What this and MANY other "Quincy" episodes teach us that the Doctor should NEVER go on vacation or to conventions, as, inevitably, someone will die or nearly die!! Quincy....STAY HOME!!!

Note: familiar character actors Edward Andrews and John Ireland star in this one.

Great murder mystery episode

[rayoflite24 · 9/10 · 19 October 2015]

Murder by S.O.P. begins with a fatigued Quincy (Jack Klugman) driving late at night to a convention in Sacramento and being pulled over by a small town Sheriff (John Ireland) who thinks he might be intoxicated. The Sheriff insists that Quincy get some sleep and puts him in protective custody so he can rest at the jail. Later in the evening, an intruder stabs a prisoner and then sets the jail on fire to cover up the crime. Quincy manages to escape unscathed, but four prisoners die and Quincy decides to stay and assist the local coroner with the autopsies. When he uncovers that one of the victims was stabbed he insists that a murder investigation be opened, but to further complicate matters, Quincy has a reluctant sheriff and an eccentric mayor to deal with making things that much more difficult.

This is a great murder mystery episode and probably the best of Season 5 up to this point. While I'm not always a fan of the plots where Quincy goes off somewhere and a crime conveniently falls into his lap, I thought this episode was very well done and maintained credibility while telling a compelling story. I also thought that the guest stars did an excellent job as well and didn't overplay their roles as the hostile townspeople suspicious of an outsider coming in and stirring things up. Kudos to John Ireland (Sheriff Evers), Duncan Gamble (Dr. Carl Jessup) and Edward Andrews (Mayor Joyner) for great portrayals of their respective characters. Another thing I liked is that even though the story takes place outside of LA, all of the regulars were still included as Quincy meets up with Dr. Asten (John S. Ragin) and Sam (Robert Ito) at the conference and the rest of the gang at Danny's at the end.

Overall this is a very entertaining and enjoyable standout episode of Season 5 which I highly recommend viewing.

"My God Quincy you were right... it was murder." Quality classic Quincy episode.

[poolandrews · 7/10 · 22 May 2008]

Quincy M.E.: Murder by S.O.P. starts late one night as Los Angeles chief medical examiner Quincy (Jack Klugman) is driving his way through the small town of Millner to a forensic pathologist's convention in Sacremento, trying to keep himself awake he sticks his head outside his car window. Millner town Sheriff Ned Evers (John Ireland) stops Quincy & for his own benefit tells him to get some sleep in his jail, Quincy has no choice & could do with some sleep anyway. While sleeping someone stabs fellow prisoner Charlie Clements & then sets fire to the prison cell bedding to try & cover the murder up. Quincy manages to survive but in total four inmates died, working with the local doctor Carl Jessup (Duncan Gamble) Quincy realises that Charlie was killed & the fire started deliberately to cover it up. Sensing a cover up & coming up against a lot of resistance Quincy is determined to get to the truth & find a killer...

Episode 11 from season 5 this Quincy story was directed by Paul Kransy & one has to say that Murder by S.O.P. is a terrific murder mystery themed episode, my favourite kind of Quincy episode in fact. Murder by S.O.P. takes place almost entirely in Millner town & therefore there are no laboratory scenes which makes for a nice change of location. The plot here in surprisingly deep as well, there are double crosses, bluffs, murders, twists & Quincy is both used & taken for a fool which is never a good thing to do if your some sort of criminal trying to get away with a murder. Murder by S.O.P. also has a social message to go with it's whodunit plot, a fair amount of the fifty minute duration is spent on highlighting how inadequate & under staffed the facilities are in small rural areas, that many murders may go undetected purely because of inadequate training, a lack of time to do the proper tests & out of date equipment small town coroners & doctors have to work with. Of course Quincy loves a moral crusade so he's right on the case & bugging a Congressman straight away! Murder by S.O.P. is a solid whodunit with a clever ending revealing how the killer did it, I didn't see it coming anyway & thought it was quite original. I also think the 'My God Quincy you were right, it was murder' line was a little in joke at the show's reputation, or at least I like to think so.

There seems to be a recurring theme of getting Quincy out of the traditional Los Angeles laboratory setting, so far during season five Quincy has travelled to the nation of San Cristos in By the Death of a Child (1979), Las Vegas in Hot Ice (1979) & Pine Ridge County in The Money Plague (1979) while you can add Millner town to the list with Murder by S.O.P.. With no laboratory scenes at all Sam gets a week off! The episode is well made as usual, there's a neat car crash towards the end as a car is forced off the edge of a cliff. There is also the hilarious scene at the end when Quincy turns bad guy. To get some information out of someone he puts on a knuckle duster, raises his shoulders, knocks over some salt shakers, punches his own palm a few times & then threatens to beat the guy up! A great scene that's very funny & lightens the tone of the episode. The acting is good as usual with veteran actor John Ireland putting in a good performance.

Murder by S.O.P., in case you don't know & are interested I think S.O.P. stands for Standard Operating Procedure, is another top quality whodunit Quincy episode that has a nice change of scenery. Fans should love it.