S08.E10: The Heights

[Danielg342]

From The Futon Critic:

Quote

20-Squad contends with a hostage crisis. Also, Hondo receives a family visit

 

[Danielg342]

I have to say that this episode held my attention more than the show usually does.

Plus I thoroughly enjoyed the subplot of Miko and Nicole (Deacon's sister in law) acting like a bunch of teenage lovers running around trying to hide things from everyone, even though everyone already knew what they were doing.

Gotta love Jay Harrington's picture-perfect portrayal of Deacon in the role of the "knowing and understanding" father figure within this storyline, especially with Deacon saving Miko's behind by recovering Miko's badge from his house.

I also thought seeing the frustration of Hondo trying to fix his cousin's life only to see it metaphorically blow up in his face to be interesting. The show doesn't usually allow Hondo to fail, so this was an interesting call- and I might say, about time too.

Another positive with this episode involved the prostitute and her portrayal by Megan Leathers. As much as I thoroughly dislike Hollywood's one-dimensional portrayal of sex work, Leathers did a great job humanizing her struggle and at least the prostitute's story humanized the prostitute greatly.

Still, this was a case that plodded and meandered, being yet another episode where there seemed to be two or three different episodes in one. So we got something that was not very well developed or explained enough and the narratives never really got past surface level activity, which is a recurring problem with this show.

Also a recurring problem? The absences of supposed members of the main cast.

Tan was nowhere, and the show didn't even acknowledge that at all.

I'll never understand why the show likes to make every main character that's not named Hondo into essentially recurring characters but at least make some mention about why a regular isn't there instead of ignoring it completely.

[Snazzy Daisy]

No Tan. No Gamble. No explanation. Did I miss anything?

What’s the point of mentioning Streets’ name other than fan service? It still hurts that they discarded his character like it’s nothing. 😣

Hondo/Andre storyline is boring AF. I don’t like seeing angry Hondo. Please don’t bring Andre back.

I guess we’ll be seeing Martha the prostitute again.

I seriously hope Deacon has made some arrangements to look for a professional nanny. The Kays can afford it. He cannot expect impulsive Nicole to look after his 4 kids on a long term basis. Annoying Annie will force him into retirement again since her career is more important. 🙄

[Msample]

A lot of ensemble shows seem to give main cast members occasional episodes off; in the case of SWAT I can see it as a cost cutting measure.

[sweetandsour]

It is 100% a cost-cutting measure that is part of renewal decisions.  The Chicago shows do it and FBI and FBI: Most Wanted also do it.  The only reason FBI: International doesn't do it (this year) is because the lower cost of production oversees doesn't require it.  Who knows - in order to get renewed next year, the producers may be told they need to drop costs even lower and now FBI: International has to make their series regulars fractional, too.  Ghosts started out doing it in season 1, then stopped, and is now back to it, though not as much as season 1.

Since it's norm now, as opposed to actors contracted for all episodes and then one spontaneously can't be in the episode because of illness or family emergency, I think they don't explain the absences on-air because they know they'd be explaining in numerous episodes.  They probably think it's like "normal work" where employees take a PTO day and the people who are working that day don't talk to each other about why so-and-so isn't there.

[Quark]

I noticed that Gamble was not in this episode, but didn't realise Tan wasn't either.

He's such a nothing character to me (good-looking though).

[Danielg342]

I'm not sure why I didn't realize that Devin Gamble wasn't in the episode...I guess I'm not yet used to her being a main cast member even though she's been elevated to that position for quite some time.

Look, I understand that it's pretty common across TV series these days to have main cast members skip episodes. That still doesn't make it any less annoying. I get attached to these characters and some may only watch the show for certain characters, so it's no fun when they don't appear.

It's even more infuriating when, as typically happens, you don't find out that your favourite character isn't in the episode until it actually airs. Most of the time the show is good enough to acknowledge the absence, but tonight there was no mention that Tan and Gamble were not in the episode.

For fans of those characters (I'm sure they have them), they're probably not happy they had to waste their time though an episode where their favourites are not present. Had they known beforehand, they could have made other plans and skipped out on an episode they wouldn't like.

[mojoween]

Stealing cocaine for studio time is a really stupid reason to steal cocaine.

Tan wasn’t in the ep, but that old guy was?  Cheaper salary or what?