This was the episode that raised the series from a good police procedural with a strong believable female lead, solid ensemble cast, and gifted writers to an exceptional audience experience. Dubbed by hardcore fans "The Skybox episode," it revealed a team of writers who dared to release their inner comic without degrading the concerned characters to do it. Hard to pick a favorite scene from among so many contenders start to finish, but I will anyway: when Brenda asks Sanchez & Daniels why Robbery Homicide is using Priority Homicide's interrogation room. Sanchez mentions "technical problems" and Daniels produces a wad of PC cables, flashing a grin, " Bless me, Reverend Mother, for I have sinned." Brenda grins back saying "Oooh, we're all going to Hell." I still can't get enough of that scene! All done with easy sophistication and conisitency. In some ways it foreshadows the 2-part 2nd season ender, one the best series episodes ever written.
Review of To Protect & to Serve
