Stakeout
Directed By: John McNaughton
Story By: Noel Behn and Tom Fontana
Teleplay By: Noel Behn
Exactly What It Says on the Tin - while waiting for a Serial Killer to come back to Baltimore, the entire squad, in rotating shifts, watches his house while in the house of Cathy (Kate Walsh) and George Buxton (Jim True-Frost), while Bayliss and Pembleton recover and try to identify the bodies of the killer's victims. Giardello is caught between the investigation and flying out for his daughter's wedding.
This episode contains examples of:
- All for Nothing: For the Giardello subplot - after delaying his flight because of the investigation (and his ambivalence about going), he makes it to the airport on time, only to find out his flight has been delayed indefinitely because of fog.
- Awful Wedded Life: Downplayed - Cathy and George have the realistic problems of a couple where (a) one of them (George) has lost their job and hasn't had luck finding another one, and (b) the other one is nervous about the possibility of having to testify against a Serial Killer who happens to be their neighbor.
- Bait-and-Switch: When Kellerman and Russert see lights go on in the Serial Killer's house, they think he's back and rush to the house. Turns out it's the killer's accomplice, though they arrest him just the same.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Played for Laughs when Bayliss gets tired of Pembleton ordering him around, leading to this memorable exchange:Bayliss: You never say "please". You never say "thank you."
Pembleton: Please don't be an idiot. Thank you. - Call-Back: A number of them.
- Giardello and Munch talk about whether either of them have kept in touch with Bolander.
- Bayliss again brings up Adena Watson, this time as one of the reasons why he's considering quitting Homicide.
- Lewis, wondering why Bayliss never told him he was thinking of quitting, brings up not knowing Crosetti was feeling suicidal.
- Giardello is hesitant about going to his daughter Charisse's wedding because she's marrying someone he's never met.
- Giardello and Pembleton talk about the fact Pembleton about to be a father.
- Cathy asks Russert if she's related to Tim Russert.
- Drowning My Sorrows: After having an argument with his wife, and feeling bad about not getting another job, George goes out drinking.
- Inspired by…: The serial killer and his two younger accomplices are loosely inspired by the real 1970s Houston-based serial murderer Dean Corll
. - Ironic Echo Cut: After Bayliss complains about Pembleton always ordering him around (see Be Careful What You Wish For above), Pembleton tells him to Get Out! or help him, saying, "You just keep repeating the same thing over and over." Cut to George storming out of his house while he tells Cathy, "You just keep repeating the same thing over and over."
- Karma Houdini: Discussed - Bayliss brings up the fact Risley Tucker died in his sleep instead of being punished for killing Adena as one of the reasons why he's thinking of quitting.
- Let Me Get This Straight...: When Bayliss states the fact he doesn't feel close to anyone in Homicide outside of work, an astonished Pembleton asks, "Let me get this straight - you want to leave Homicide because you don't get enough dinner invitations?"
- Nice to the Waiter: No matter which detective is on duty at the Buxton house, they're unfailingly polite to both Cathy and George, and when Bayliss and Pembleton catch the Serial Killer at the end, as they're leaving, Bayliss tells George, "Good luck with the job interview."
- Off on a Technicality: Cathy worries the Serial Killer might escape trial because of this, and then she and George will have to deal with the consequences if they agree to testify against him.
- Right Through the Wall: The detectives hear George and Cathy making love in the bedroom above them, after George comes home.
- Series Continuity Error: Giardello complains about Pembleton's chain-smoking while they are in the house together and says that he never smoked, whereas in the early episodes he frequently smoked cigars, and at one point said that a cigar was all that could calm him down at the end of the day.
- Speak in Unison: When Pembleton reminds Bayliss of the higher calling of the Homicide unit, he says, "We speak for those who can no longer speak for themselves." Bayliss joins him at the end.
