Ice Time

Det. Sgt. Dave Tackleberry (Robert Forster) is very proud of his teenage daughter and he's been coaching her in ice skating for some time. But he's taught her all she can and if there is any hope for her to be a top American skater, she's going to have to get a professional coach, better skates and more. This is tough, because on a cop's salary alone this isn't possible, so he's looking for a second job.

At the same time, the Sergeant works on cases involving sex trafficking of minors...girls who are about the same age as his daughter. While the episode doesn't explore this angle that strongly, the viewer sees the juxaposition of the two...a talented and pampered daughter and teens forced to turn tricks.

This can be a tough episode to watch. While you don't see the scumbags killing or beating the teens, it's done and you can hear the screams...which is heartbreaking. It's an episode where you should keep some kleenex handy.

My only reason for not scoring this one even higher is one small, VERY cliched scene. One of the girls is sick of the abuse and actually threatens to go to the police! Considering these are murderers and panderers, you KNOW what's coming next.

Normally a strong series with an interesting cast, this episode was depressing and didn't feel as focused as some. A vice cop hopes his teen daughter can be a pro ice skater, but much of his time is spent trying to bust a prostitution ring of underage girls. He does a good job of switching from loving father to undercover officer stripping down to pose as a customer. Normally Police Story officers are tormented. This one didn't seem as bothered as most.

James Cromwell plays a total creep, and the story of the trusting girl he lures in for abuse seemed thrown in for shock value. Had she been reported missing? Her story could have been developed more.

An unexpected pinball challenge between Cromwell and a woman who works for him seemed very out of place. Would a vice cop really take on a second job in a supermarket to earn more money for his daughter's ice skating lessons and time on the ice (hence the title)? Although he's married, his wife only appears when he's in bed, either at home or the hospital.

The underlying focus is the contrast between the vice sergeant's daughter who can devote herself to skating practice with a goal of going pro, while other teen girls are being beaten, drugged up, and pimped out. Not an episode I'd watch a second time, unlike many in this series.