Controversy surrounded NYPD Blue even before it debuted in 1993. It would seem a bit tame by today’s standards, but the amount of profanity and nudity on the show was far more than had ever been allowed on network television before. Various protests sprung up around the country, and as these things often do, likely helped to attract more viewers than would have otherwise tuned into the first couple of episodes. What viewers quickly discovered was that nudity or not, NYPD Blue was simply one of the best dramas on television.
By the fifth season, the series had won several Emmy and Golden Globe Awards, and established itself as a permanent fixture in the top twenty of the Nielsen ratings. One thing NYPD Blue was known for was its multi-episode arcs, at a time when cop shows still generally focused on “crime of the week” plots. In the fifth season opener, “This Bud’s for You” Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) and Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) are forced to deal with the implications of the season four cliffhanger. Simone finds himself suspended, and Sipowicz a potential murder suspect. However, as NYPD Blue occasionally had a tendency to do, the season four issues are wrapped up quickly, only to be presented with fresh set of problems for the new season.
The usually tough-as-nails Sipowicz finds himself dealing with real fear as he faces surgery for prostate cancer. In one of the season’s most powerful episodes, “Weaver of Hate,” Bobby and Diane’s (Kim Delaney) relationship faces a whole new set of challenges as she suffers a miscarriage. Also a teenager is thrown to his death, but Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel) is so distracted by the victim’s father’s use of racial slurs, he can’t concentrate on the investigation. James McDaniel delivers a powerful scene that will stay with viewers for awhile; he reveals a side of Lt. Fancy’s personality I hadn’t thought was there until I saw that episode.
Fifteen years after season five aired, there are still several moments throughout the twenty-two episodes that created anxiety and sent shivers down my spine. It’s been a few years since I’d sat down and watched an episode of NYPD Blue, but it took watching just a few minutes of the season opener for me to remember what a groundbreaking show it truly was.
This 6-disc set includes all 22 episodes from the fifth season, including two longer episodes which originally ran 90 minutes when they premiered:
- This Bud’s For You
- All’s Wells that Ends Well
- Three Girls and a Baby
- The Truth is out There
- It Takes a Village
- Dead Man Talking
- Sheedy Dealings
- Lost Israel – Part 1
- Lost Israel – Part 2
- Remembrance of Humps Past
- You’re Under a Rasta
- A Box of Wendy
- Twin Petes
- Weaver of Hate
- Don’t Kill the Messenger
- The One that Got Away
- Speak for Yourself, Bruce Clayton
- I Don’t Wanna Dye
- Prostrate Before the Law
- Hammer Time
- Seminal Thinking
- Honeymoon at Viagra Falls
Presented in full screen, Shout Factory’s presentation is on par with the previous releases from 20th Century Fox. There are still a few specks of dust to be found here and there, but they don’t affect the viewing experience. The colors accurately represent the series—rather muted and gritty—quite well. Shout Factory has placed a chapter after the “previously on,” and opening credits of the episode, as well as a “PLAY ALL” function to each disc.
The Dolby Surround track is fairly solid for a standard DVD release. Dialogue is clean and clear throughout, while ambient effects are always discernible. No subtitles are included, though the set is closed captioned for the hearing impaired.
No extras are included.
