Quincy M.E. (TV Series) Let Me Light the Way (1977) User Reviews

Have some Kleenex handy for this one.

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 24 March 2013]

Back in 1977, rape was first being mentioned--albeit relatively rarely. This is why this episode of "Quincy" is worth seeing--it being one of the first TV shows to talk about rape in any way other than a passing fashion. As such, it did a great public service and still is quite hard-hitting...and a bit sad, so have some Kleenex nearby. Also, if you have been a victim of sexual assault, you might want to either pass on this one or see it with someone you love.

A serial rapist has been attacking women recently. While the police are pretty sure they know who is doing it, proving it is another matter since every time he's accused, his brow-beaten wife (a young Kim Cattrall) provides an alibi. They'll need more physical evidence--and that is where Quincy comes into the story. I'd say more---but it's best just to see this one.

All in all, a very well made episode--one that can't help but have a strong emotional wallop. A couple things to note are that some of the questions the defense attorney asked to impeach witnesses would not be allowed today, as the rules have changed in regard to sexual assault cases. Also, the man playing this attorney is John Ireland--the excellent film noir actor from the 1950s.

Very emotional episode

[rayoflite24 · 6/10 · 12 August 2015]

Let Me Light The Way begins with a nurse being followed from the hospital parking lot back to her apartment by a man who severely beats and rapes her. Quincy (Jack Klugman) and Carol Bowen (Adrienne Barbeau), a rape counselor, are called to the hospital but the victim dies just before they arrive. Through the carelessness of the hospital staff, all of the evidence that could be used to bring the rapist to justice is either destroyed or contaminated making Quincy furious.

The police believe this is the latest crime of a serial rapist and they have a prime suspect, Carl DeReatis (Luke Askew), who they bring in for questioning but must release due to lack of evidence. Quincy has an intense confrontation with DeReatis who becomes infuriated and seeks out another victim, this time Quincy's friend Carol Bowen. Following her attack, Quincy must work diligently to collect the evidence in the proper manner to ensure that it can be used in securing a conviction against DeReatis.

This is the last episode of the second season of Quincy and it is a pretty intense one. The highlight for me was the spectacular performance by guest star Adrienne Barbeau in her portrayal of a strong, independent woman who falls victim to the serial rapist and is shattered afterward but then must pick up the pieces and move forward in making sure that her attacker is brought to justice. These scenes and when the nurse is attacked in the beginning of the episode are definitely not for the faint of heart. My main complaint for this episode is that there really is no mystery here as we see the identity of the rapist right in the beginning, and then the focus is on gathering evidence against him and the attack on Carol.

Another minor issue I have is the goof in the opening scene where the nurse is in the parking lot going to her car. The assumption here is that she is finishing work for the day and going home, but her car was clearly parked directly over the yellow hazard "No Parking" lines where we also see two large signs that say "No Parking - Patient Drop Off Only". Are we seriously to believe that her car remained in that spot for the 8+ hours she worked without being towed?? Not a big deal, but obvious and stupid mistakes like this make me wonder if anyone on the production team was paying attention to detail or doing any type of quality control review.

Let Me Light the Way

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 5 December 2020]

This is another early indication of the direction the show would take in later years. Highlighting serious social or moral issues instead of being a crime thriller.

Carl DeReatis is a serial rapist who always seems to avoid justice. His wife always gives him an alibi or a smart lawyer manages to have the evidence dismissed in court.

Quincy is concerned that police, lawyers, doctors at hospitals are not trained to deal with victims of rape in a proper way. When a nurse is raped and killed by DeReatis. Quincy is horrified that so much evidence has been destroyed by front line hospital staff. He wants to raise $20,000 that could provide essential training.

An angry DeReatis targets rape counsellor Carol Bowen (Adrienne Barbeau) when she and Quincy turned up to his house. Now Carol as a rape victim has to face the justice system which seems stacked against her especially as the evidence is unreliable. The staff at the hospital did not preserve it properly.

Klugman is a very angry Quincy in this one. Although there is some light humour as Quincy visits an old friend to raise funds. However there is a hint of preachiness which did get worse in later years.

Barbeau is very good in an early role. A young Kim Cattrall plays DeReatis's put upon wife.

Decent Quincy episode.

[poolandrews · 5/10 · 11 March 2008]

Quincy M.E.: Let Me Light the Way starts as Nurse Faye Willard (Barbara Collentine) is attacked & raped, the latest in a long line of victims of a serial rapist. Los Angeles chief medical examiner Quincy (Jack Klugman) & rape counsellor Carol Bowen (Adrienne Barbeau) are notified but once they reach the hospital Faye has died. Lt. Monahan (Garry Walberg) & Quincy are both sure the rapist is a man named Carl DeReatis (Luke Askew) but all the evidence is circumstantial & his young wife Joy (Kim Cattrall) keeps giving him an alibi. After both Quincy & Carol pester Joy they end up making Carl angry & he takes it out on Carol who becomes his latest rape victim, Quincy is now even more determined to nail DeReatis...

Episode 13 from season 2 this Quincy story was directed by David Moessinger & is a pretty good solid mix between moral & social issues & some good old fashioned detective work. Here the main emphasis is on rape as a crime & that it is almost impossible to convict in a court of law, it also show's that the rape victim is open to be humiliated again in court by her attacker since she has to take the stand & answer any questions asked. I am not sure if this is still a problem or whether the laws have been tightened up &/or changed but you can see why the production team wanted to make an episode about it & try to bring the issue to the attention of the general public. I would also point out that I think the hospital procedures, or rather the lack of them, are no longer the case & I am sure rape victims are treated differently in 2008 so in that regard Let Me Light the Way has dated rather badly & could be described as somewhat irrelevant. Unfortunately these moralistic themed Quincy episodes usually have little or no interest for me & despite a commendable central premise Let Me Light the Way just isn't that much fun to watch & it's as simple & straight forward as that really. Some of the dialogue is good, the story is worthwhile but I doubt I would want to see it again anytime in a hurry.

The main thing that stands out in Let Me Light the Way is the cast, for a start there's a great performance by horror icon Adrienne Barbeau in one of earliest screen roles & looking very nice & slim too, she would later go on to star in films such as The Darker Side of Terror (1979), The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981), The Cannonball Run (1981), Swamp Thing (1982), Creepshow (1982) & go on to voice Catwoman in the animated Batman (1992 - 1995) TV series. She puts in a very good performance here actually, she certainly holds her own against the acting machine that is Jack Klugman & gives as good as she gets & I would say Barbeau puts in maybe the finest performance of any guest star in the entire eight seasons of the show. Sticking with the cast Let Me Light the Way also sees one of the earliest screen appearances for Kim Cattrall who is probably best know these days for a leading role in the utterly awful Sex and the City (1998 - 2004).

Let Me Light the Way is alright, it's watchable thanks to a bit of humour (the 170mph futuristic police car scene is funny), a worthwhile story & some good performances but I doubt it's anything I would want to watch again in a hurry.