Homicide Episode Guide: The Hat

Written by Anya Epstein; story by Henry Bromell, Tom Fontana and Trish Soodik

Directed by Peter Medak

     The team of Meldrick Lewis and Mike Kellerman would investigate some of the more eccentric murders with some of the quirkier criminals, leading to an unusual mix of comedy and drama. Perhaps the quintessential episode of their work together would be ‘The Hat’ which is essentially a ‘Road To Baltimore’ story featuring Lewis, Kellerman and Rose Halligan, one of the most harmless looking criminals that the series would produce. The comedy aspect is played up even more considering that Rose is played by comedy legend Lily Tomlin.

     Rose Halligan seems like such an innocuous woman (we first see here crashing into a fire hydrant)  Meldrick and Mike drive all the way out to Pennsylvania to escort this very proper middle-aged woman and she seems like a chatty, convivial and cultured woman--- certainly not the kind of person who would bludgeon her husband to death. She seems more concerned that she won’t have another tuna melt rather than the fact she’s going to prison. When we finally learn the reason that she killed her husband, it is hard not to feel a certain degree of sympathy for her as Meldrick does. Unfortunately, none of this doesn’t mean that she’s less dangerous--- as she manages to escape in order to commit a second murder.

     But Lewis and Kellerman have been playing sloppy for the entire episode. They go through improper procedure in picking Halligan up, take a side trip to the Enchanted Forest to see the world’s largest swordfish and then almost lose her there. (The funniest moment of the episode comes when Lewis and Kellerman frantically return to the car to find Rose patiently waiting for them there) Then they take the old lady out to dinner and let her go to the bathroom by herself. Considering how badly they bungle this, it’s amazing that Howard or Giardello doesn’t bounce them from the squad.

     Then again, maybe they’re distracted by what’s going on back in Baltimore. Megan Russert’s demotion has left and opening in the captains position. The squad becomes convinced that Gee has finally won the promotion  that his leadership and seniority have entitled him to. Which is why it becomes an incredible shock that the job goes to the small-minded and bullying Roger Gaffney. Gaffney, as you recall, was bounced by Russert from Homicide to Missing Persons. Somehow he has managed to earn a promotion to Lieutenant and now for reason wish pass understanding he earns the promotion.(As it turns out this was done on purpose, though we will not learn why until nearly a year later) Gaffney is probably the most loathsome and unlikable character on the show but, unlike Gee or Russert he does not make waves and he follows the chain of command. That is how real life politics work, not only in the Baltimore police department but just about everywhere and it is a credit to the show that the creators are loyal to that idea.

     Giardello is respectful enough not to make a public scene. In private, he is royally pissed and hammers the crap out of a locker. The other detectives (particularly Pembleton) are openly disdainful of this. They will tolerate Gaffney but they will not serve him.

     And in real life, killers walk on technicalities too. Munch is scheduled to testify on the trial of an attorney who has killed his partner. However, footage of the crime scene reveals that there was a mistake in the handling of evidence. Munch is more than willing to destroy the evidence. Unfortunately Brodie shot the footage and his ultra-sensitivity to being honest makes him turn the tape over to the defense—a result that leads to the murderer’s acquittal.

     ‘Despite all this comedy, the most shocking moment comes when Kellerman makes a personal revelation.--- when he learned that his wife was cheating on him he seriously considered shooting her. This does more than indicate how fidelity and hostile action can happen in an instant. It also illustrates how emotional a personality Mike Kellerman really is, an attitude that will  lead to his eventual fate in the department.

‘The Hat’ is not quite a classic but in it’s mixture of comedy, drama, and real life politics, headed up with Lily Tomlin’s Emmy-nominated work, it is one of the better episodes of the fourth season and possibly the best work that Diamond and Johnson will do in the fourth season. (There are better moments ahead for both of them in the future.)

          My score: