Narcissus
Directed By: Jean de Segonzac
Written By: Yaphet Kotto
A murderer hides out in the headquarters of the African Revival Movement, a group led by Burundi Robinson (Roger Robinson), who happens to have a connection with Deputy Commissioner Harris. This leads to a stand-off between the movement and the Homicide Unit.
This episode contains examples of:
- Back Story: Back when Robinson was in Narcotics, he and Harris were partners, but the partnership dissolved after a bust when Harris took drugs confiscated in a bust from evidence control and Robinson ended up taking the fall.
- The Chains of Commanding: When Barnfather tries to pull rank at the African Revival Movement headquarters to prevent Pembleton from arresting Crown on suspicion of murder, Pembleton points out as primary detective, he's the one who gets to call the shots. Barnfather later admits to Giardello he's glad Pembleton pulled rank on him.
- Continuity Nod: Stivers is still shook up about Kellerman shooting Luther Mahoney.
- Downer Ending: Robinson and all the males in his movement are Driven to Suicide.
- Everyone Has Standards: Barnfather is uncomfortable with the lengths Harris is going to protect himself against Robinson, including interfering with Pembleton's investigation and arranging for QRT to kill Robinson.
- I Was Never Here: Danvers, Giardello, Munch and Pembleton bring Benin Crown, the murder suspect, into the box, but make it clear they're talking to each other, not Crown, as a Batman Gambit to get him to dump the lawyer Robinson and the center has provided him and give evidence against Robinson. It works.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Robinson is clearly based in part on Elijah Muhammad
, whom Malcolm X broke from when he found out Muhammad had fathered children with at least two other women. - Shout-Out: Before Robinson reveals his Back Story to Giardello, he talks about the Baltimore Orioles, and how much of a fan he was of the team back in the 1970's.
- That Man Is Dead: A milder version of this trope - when Robinson is being interviewed at his headquarters by a TV news reporter, and she brings up his past as a cop, he tells her that was his old self, and he's more interested in talking about what he does now.
- Villain with Good Publicity: Robinson uses the TV interview to trumpet his center's achievements (including helping homeless drug addicts kick the habit and apply for jobs), while ignoring the fact he ordered a murder.
- You Owe Me: Robinson tries to invoke this to get Harris to intervene on his behalf. It doesn't work.
