planktonrules

This is the second episode of a two-parter. In the first episode you learn that back in 1969, Sergeant Kojak was investigating a serial killer known as 'the clothesline killer' and ended up shooting the guy to death when he tried to run and fired at Kojak. However, oddly, the exact same sorts of murders begin once again...with the same M. O. and including details never released to the press which were present in the first string of murders. Either Kojak got the wrong man back in 1969 or someone knows every detail and is repeating the crimes.

Part two picks up with Kojak investigating the new case. It also helps to explain HOW Kojak could kill the wrong guy but STILL did his job correctly. A fascinating couple episodes...especially part two, as unlike part one, there were no unnecessary flashbacks...just interesting police work.

Back in 1969, Sergeant Kojak was responsible for shooting and killing a serial killer dubbed 'the clothesline killer'. Everything seemed to indicate the dead man was this killer...and since 1969 these very peculiar killings stopped. However, how years later, a killer with the exact same M. O. is out killing. Is it the original killer and Kojak got the wrong guy OR is it some sort of copycat? Well, it seems doubtful it was a copycat, as details NOT given to the press are present in BOTH sets of killings. What is going on here?!

Episode one consisted of seeing a guy being released from prison...where he'd been since 1969 and he is the killer. You also see LOTS of flashback scenes from the original case...but mostly about Kojak's love life. The latter seems like padding...and I think this isn't surprising considering it's a two-parter and they are OFTEN a bit overlong.

So is it any good? Yes, aside from the pacing with the flashbacks. Very interesting and it makes you want to see how it all plays out in part two.

The episode begins with a mobster's wife killing him and then making it look as if the murder was committed by a burglar. What makes this case complicated is that Kojak has a history with the woman...they dated some time ago. So, wisely, Kojak passes the case on...but unfortunately he gave it to Crocker. I say this because Crocker seems like a rookie cop or a teenager in love...and he's totally taken in by the widow with her pretty eyes and well rehearsed lines. Can Crocker get his head out of the clouds and get to the bottom of this case?

I was not thrilled with this story simply because after more than four seasons of the show, Crocker seems ill-suited to be a detective in this and other episodes involving women. It really doesn't make a lot of sense...especially since Kojak himself thinks the lady might be the murderer. It just seemed sloppy.

Now, as for the widow, Jennifer Warren is excellent as the femme fatale. She is able to manipulate folks and she did a good job of acting. I liked her in the story...but Crocker just seemed like a dope...and that was a MAJOR problem with the story. Watchable but not particularly good simply because of the Crocker angle...and it SHOULD have been a lot better.

By the way, this episode is just one example of a poor episode from the final seasons of "Kojak". While there were some very good episodes, too many in seasons four and five had logical errors or were very farfetched and seemed like second-rate scripts. It seems obvious this is the final season and the previous episode, "Letters of Death" was simply dreadful.