Miami Vice: Season 2

It is almost difficult to believe that it was only about fifteen years ago that men let their beards grow into five o’clock shadows. The staple white shirt that men sported for decades gave way to the ‘sans necktie’ pastel tee shirt. Even the rarely changing jacket was turned in for the off white linen jacket almost certainly with the sleeves partially pushed up the arms. What could have instigated some many radial changes in the way men looked, a television show known as Miami Vice. This series did something few could do, keep young couples glued to the television on Friday nights. By the second season now released on a Universal Television DVD box set we can revisit one of the most influential series in recent memory. This crime drama followed the exploits of an undercover and surveillance unit of the Miami Dade County police force. Central to the action where two detectives whose job it was to live among the criminals and ultimately bust them. Detective James Crockett (Don Johnson), better known simply as ‘Sonny’ appeared more outlaw than police officer. He has lived so long with his undercover persona that certain aspects of life have blurred for him. Crockett almost never lost sight of who the true bad guys, although his perchance for tactics that where less than by the book where a constant source of consternation for his superiors. More often than not the bosses would turn a blind eye to all the broken rules because the bottom line was Sonny Crockett delivered the top echelon villains. The almost lamentable task of partnering with Sonny fell to Detective Ricardo Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas). In the first season Tubbs was transferred from New York City after breaking most of the rules there. The oil and water mixture between the two detectives that was vital to the first season has now transformed into not only a partnership but a friendship as well.

Even the best detectives need some professional support. For Sonny and Tubbs they have Stan Switek (Michael Talbott) and Larry Zito (John Diehl) who are typically stuck in the surveillance van getting tapes and photos of the evil doers. There is also a much needed feminine presence added to the mix, Gina (Saundra Santiago) and Trudy (Olivia Brown). Gina has had some semi-romantic relationship with Sonny in season one but here in season two they are more of just friends. In command of this rag tag group is Lt. Martin Castillo (Edward James Olmos). Although he is a man of few words he is a formidable presence.

In the season opener Crockett and Tubbs travel up to New York City to hunt down a group of Colombian drug dealers who have been murdering federal agents. The little twist here is now the pair is on Tubb’s old stomping grounds and Crockett has to defer more than he would like to his partner’s expertise. The episodes in this season begin to fill in some of the back stories of the ancillary characters. In the episode ‘The Dutch Oven’ Trudy discovers that her lover’s best friend is a big time cocaine dealer. She finds herself caught between her emotional involvement and her sworn duty as a police officer. One episode that stands out is ‘Tale of the Goat’. Here Tubbs must infiltrate a voodoo cult. The guest star, Clarence Williams III, is absolutely perfectly cast here. There are some fairly standard plot lines presented in this season such as when Gina tries to help a friend of hers who was raped by the son of a rich and powerful man. Even in these episodes the trademark look and feel of this series makes the most mundane stories seem fresh.

While there is no doubt that this series made the careers of most of the leads a lot of this has to do with how perfectly the actors where matched to their characters. Don Johnson owes the roll of the often disheveled Sonny Crockett. He has the charisma needed to pull of the role while still coming across as an average guy with problems most people can identify with. He makes Crockett as at home in the lowest dive in Miami or the hottest night spot in town. Philip Michael Thomas is believable as the New York breed detective, suave and classy but able to get down to business when necessary. The only real complaint I have about him is the writers where constantly making him put on a very bad Jamaican accent. The real unsung hero of this cast is Edward James Olmos. I have never been disappointed in any performance he has given. His Lt. Castillo seems to be an extension of his role in the cult classic, ‘Blade Runner’. Here is a man who knows how to act with his craggy face and well controlled body. He conveys more in a glance than most actors can in a long speech. He comes across as a man of authority that knows that the volume of his voice does not command respect, his actions do. This role also forms the basis for his current role of Commander Adama on the revised Battlestar Galatica.

If you were to ask anyone that was a fan of this series during its run in the eighties one topic will even eclipse the fashion impact, the music. Some of the best groups and musicians around found their way to the soundtrack of each episode. In this season tracks from the Who, Phil Collins and U2 are prominently featured. While many television season box sets on DVD omit the original music, usually for licensing reasons, Universal has respected the fans enough to include all the original music by the real artists. This was one of the first television shows to incorporate music so well in the series and it just wouldn’t be Miami Vice with anything less. Thank you Universal!

Unlike the first season box set this one is plain vanilla with out any extras. Still, it is the series that is important and it should be enough not only for fans but for anyone interested in the preeminent eighties television series. The full screen video was well done. This is more important than usual since the pastel colors are part of what made this show a hit. The colors are distinctive with excellent separation of black and white. The audio has been completely re-mastered for full Dolby 5.1. Considering the music involved this is a real treat. The sound enfolds the room; explosions rip out of the sub woofer. This is definitely a must have for any serious collection of classic television. It is the grandfather of many shows that are so popular today. So, instead of watching endless re-runs get this set and enjoy.

Posted 12/16/05