Cool Runnin'

Season 1, Episode 3

Original Air Date: 10/05/1984

Songs Featured: None

Notable Guest Stars: None

Essential Viewing: Yes

The third episode of season 1 finds Crockett and Tubbs tracking a drug operation run by a gang of trigger happy Jamaicans. It starts with an exciting (yet awkwardly shot) sequence that finds Crockett and Tubbs in pursuit of a van that just fled the scene of a drug deal turned homicide. The van opens fire on them before it eventually escapes.

Later a pair of vice cops are gunned down during an initial meet. The fact that a brand new set of actors instead of Switek and Zito got this assignment should alert even the most casual viewer as to what their fate will be. From that point on the hunt for this gang of killers ramps up and leads to a thrilling (yet again awkwardly shot) shoot out between the Jamicans and Crockett and Tubbs.

In their pursuit of the gang Crockett and Tubbs use a reluctant informant, Noogie, who was snagged at Switek and Zito's stolen goods sting operation. Played by Charlie Barnett, Noogie would appear on 6 episodes between 1984 and 1987 and would provide light comic relief.

The most important, and essential, sections of the episode though relate to Sonny's personal life. Early in the episode while making plans for a romantic evening with Gina he gets a letter stating that his wife is finally filing for divorce. Later at a sit down with his wife and her lawyer Sonny learns that she plans to move to Atlanta for work and to be closer to family. Sonny is not prepared for this and vows to fight her on it.

If not for the divorce filing and the introduction of a recurring character this episode would be an easy skip.