And the Rockets' Dead Glare
Story By: Tom Fontana
Teleplay By: Jorge Zamacona
Directed By: Peter Markle
Lewis and Crosetti head to the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. to investigate the murder of a Chinese college student who participated in the Tiananmen Square protest. Pembleton is offered a promotion by Granger and Barnfather, but at the cost of replacing Giardello. Howard testifies at Pony Johnson's trial.
Tropes applying to this episode:
- Affably Evil: Gruszynski (Ed Lauter) is clearly trying to cover up the Chinese government's involvement in the college student's murder, but he's polite with Lewis and Crosetti, takes them on a tour of Washington, and even offers to let them eat at the White House.
- Amoral Attorney: Russom.
- Chewbacca Defense: Russom mainly relies on ad hominem arguments and Insane Troll Logic to argue for Pony's innocence.
- Disappointed in You: Giardello is clearly disappointed that Pembleton didn't come to him immediately after being offered a promotion, even if he ultimately chose not to take it.
- Everyone Can See It: Felton can see the Belligerent Sexual Tension between Danvers and Howard, and tells Howard it's obvious they have feelings for each other.
- Evil All Along: Lin Chang, the witness who told Lewis and Crosetti that the college student had been killed by the Chinese government, may have been the government agent who pulled the trigger. Though considering they were informed of this by Gruszynski, it should likely be taken with a grain of salt.
- For the Evulz: Barnfather and Granger told Giardello that they offered Pembleton the opportunity to take over as shift commander after explicitly telling Pembleton they wouldn't, apparently just to play games with them.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Willis had apparently been able to keep Danvers from mentioning another murder Pony Johnson allegedly committed in the courtroom. When Howard gets called to testify for the second time in the trial, Willis expresses disbelief that someone could be both shot and stabbed to death, and asks Howard if she can think of any other case like that. After glancing at Danvers, Howard brings up the other murder Pony allegedly committed. Willis immediately approaches the bench and asks for a mistrial, but the judge points out since Willis was the one who brought up the other murder, it's now fair game.
- Hypercompetent Sidekick: Downplayed. Crosetti and Lewis are equals in their partnership, but it's demonstrated here that Lewis is by far the most competent and on-the-ball of the two. While Crosetti spends most of the trip geeking out over the Lincoln assassination and is easily won over by Gruszynski's razzle dazzle, Lewis quickly puts together that there's a conspiracy in the works and that the Chinese government arranged the student's death.
- It Amused Me: Felton admits this is the reason why he told Danvers he didn't know where two of his witnesses were when he already knew they were in the courtroom.
- Obstructive Bureaucrat: Secret Service agent Gruszynski forces Lewis and Crosetti to halt their investigation. It's obvious he's covering up the Chinese government's involvement in the student's murder, but they can't do anything about it.
- Shipper on Deck: After the case is over, when Danvers asks Howard if she wants to go out to dinner, Howard initially demurs, saying she's going out with Felton, but Felton immediately says he's visiting his wife's family and seems eager to pair off Danvers and Howard.
- What You Are in the Dark: Pembleton is offered a promotion, but at the cost of replacing Giardello. After considering it, he decides to not take the promotion and confess to Giardello. However, Gee had already gotten wind of it, and is disappointed it took Pembleton this long to make up his mind.
