21 Jump Street: S1E13: "Mean Streets and Pastel Houses"

Written by Jonathan Lemkin

Directed by James Whitmore Jr.

Airdate: June 28, 1987

Guest Stars: Bradley Gregg (Steve Marshall); David Sherill (Lancer); Jason Priestley (Tober)

A group of gangs are wreaking havoc in a suburban neighborhood, engaging in vandalism and street racing. All the mayhem is tied to a "punk music" club frequented by alienated middle-class white kids. 

Hanson is assigned to go undercover as a punk, much to Penhall's chagrin who believes Hanson is too straightlaced for the job. But Penhall gets to act as Hanson's preppy stepbrother.

Depp himself was a figure in the L.A. music scene of the 1980s, a member of the Punk band The Kids, later Six Gun Method, so the script was art imitating life. Hanson makes connections with some guys at the club, discovering "Lancer" is the ringleader. He befriends Steve, a good kid getting caught up in criminal activity.

Penhall chides Hanson for becoming a sociologist of Punk culture, when he argues most of the kids are simply alienated and looking for an outlet. Meanwhile, Fuller gets angry with Hanson after he fails to report in, saying "I lose sleep" when he's worried about his unit. 

Lancer continues to escalate his violence, even mouthing off to cops, he pays his bail with a credit card. He's also responsible for the death of a teen who's arm he broke causing a fatal blood clot, allowing the cops to close in just before he planned to hit the local police precinct. Steve confesses he was driving the car when Lancer broke the kid's arm, forcing Hanson to arrest him.

A strong episode to end the first season, opening the way for more adventurous storytelling, Hanson's come a long way from the clean-cut rookie he was at the start of the season. Representations of Punk culture on TV were usually silly, but at least the episode made some gestures that the music did provide an outlet for 1980s teenagers, even though it connected the music with crime. 

21 Jump Street: S1E12: "16 Blown to 35"

Written by Clifton Campbell

Directed by James Whitmore Jr.

Airdate: June 21, 1987

Guest Stars: Sarah Buxton (Trina); David Paymer (Mike Ferris); David Raynr (Kip Fuller)

The Jump Street crew are assigned to investigate a teen modeling agency that might be fronting for a company that makes pornographic films. Meanwhile, Fuller's teenage song "Kip" has adopted a Rastafarian persona. 

In an early David Paymer performance, he plays the sleazy producer who recruits teens under the guise of a model agency, but who's grooming them for adult films. Hoffs is selected and manages to entrap Mike, but not after he's exploited many young girls along the way, especially Trina who is featured in the episode as being under Mike's control. Hoffs becomes an advocate for Trina and gets her freed. Mike is arrested at the end of the episode. 

We also learn Fuller once worked undercover in the adult film world for 18 months and he's still shaken by the assignment.  Scenes with his son Kip, who is undergoing an identity crisis, never really goes anywhere dramatically, except that Fuller comes to accept him after being reluctant at first. 

The subject matter was mature for network TV for 1987, and the story never sanitizes the exploitation of underage girls in the industry. It was also one of the few stories not set at a High School during the first season.  

21 Jump Street: S1E11: "Low and Away"

Written by Bill Nuss and Paul Bernbaum

Directed by Bill Corcoran

Airdate: June 14, 1987

Guest Stars: Kurtwood Smith (Spencer Phillips); Michael Fairman (Frank Hoffman); Tom O'Brien (Jake); Patrick Breen (Johnny)

Penhall and Hoffs are assigned to keep tabs on a High School student, Johnny, star pitcher of the baseball team. The directive came from the FBI, who will not specify the bureau's interest in surveilling students. Kurtwood Smith plays Agent Phillips, the same year he starred in Robocop. 

Penhall joins the baseball team and lives out his athlete fantasy, while Hoffs befriends Johnny, who instantly marks her as a cop, adding to the intrigue. As it turns out, Johnny's father Frank was a mob informant, now in the Witness Protection. The FBI fears Johnny will be kidnapped on the eve of a mob trial in New York. Jake, another player on the team, also claims to be an undercover agent. 

A plot driven episode that includes shootouts and car chases, the story seemed like it belonged in another TV series. Perhaps not coincidentally, the mobster's name is Terranova, the same last name of the lead character in Wiseguy, another Stephen J. Cannel series. As a silver lining, everyone in the cast got involved in the action, and one can sense the series stretching its ambition. 

21 Jump Street: S1E10: "Next Generation"

Written by Paul Bernbaum

Directed by David Nutter

Airdate: June 7, 1987

Guest Stars: David Gregory (Hoagy Deleplant); Andy Romano (Tony Delaplant); Jason Lively (Davey Miller); Jane Windsor (Julie Bradley)

Hanson is assigned to a High School where a popular senior known as "Hoagie" is running a loan shark operation, the kid orders a beatdown on a teacher who owes him gambling debts. As it turns out, Hoagy's old man Tony is a respected business owner in the community, a regular Ward Clever states Hanson, but also runs rackets on the side. The son wants to be just like Dad.

Hanson goes full All-American in his assumed identity, earning a respected spot on the academic team and quickly finds a fanboy in Davey who nominates him for class president, which turns out to be another half-baked scheme. Things get complicated when the Academic Team is poised for a TV appearance, which would blow Hanson's cover. 

Fuller decides to up the stakes by staging of scene at the school when Hanson's expensive car gets repossessed, impelling Hoagy to set up an illegal loan to buy back the car (Hanson donned makeup to make it look like he was roughed up). At the bust, Fuller takes on an Isaac Hayes persona in his undercover guise. Hoagy's father refuses to cut a deal for his son, hoping he will learn his lesson and not follow in his footsteps.

There's also a comedic subplot with Penhall babysitting his neighbor Julie's infant. Julie's an attractive flight attendant with a posh English accent. Recently separated, Penhall sees babysitting as a way to impress Julie, but alas her husband returns at the end. 

Penhall is trapped in a sitcom.

"Next Generation" is an amusing but uneven entry in the series. The High School plot is convoluted, from the ridiculous loan shark schemes to Hanson's meteoric rise to popularity as a "quiz kid," at one point he's told "you sure know a lot about the law." 

21 Jump Street: S1E9: "Blindsided"

Written by Jonathan Lemkin

Directed by David Jackson

Airdate: May 31, 1987

Guest Star: Sherilyn Fenn (Diane Nelson); Sal Jenco (Sal Banducci AKA Blowfish)

"Blindsided" introduced the "McQuaid Brothers", personas Hanson and Penhall would use throughout the series. The brothers are a couple of knuckleheads, known for raising hell and spending lots of time at Juvenile Hall. 

Hanson and Penhall have spent a few weeks undercover investigating a High School drug ring. They set up a sting operation at a Burger Joint, allowing Fuller and Ioki to make the arrest. To maintain their cover, they continue attending the High School until the drug case is closed. Meanwhile, Hanson is approached by a shy student, Diane Johnson, believing him to be a dangerous criminal, and offers payment for killing her father.

Uncertain of how to respond, Hanson confides in Penhall who says they must take it to Fuller, or they could be implicated, since Diane committed a felony by making the request. Things get more when they learn Diane's father is a high-ranking cop on the force. When Hanson goes to Fuller, he's chastised for not going to him right away and arresting Diane when she made the initial offer. The noir lighting of the scene is used to great effect. 

Captain Fuller faces a dilemma.

Fuller discovers Diane's made many complaints about her father, but nothing's been done, and he suspects sexual abuse might be involved. He believes the only way to help Diane is to arrest her and then get her off due to mitigating circumstances. But Hanson's attempt to make the arrest goes wildly wrong; he accidentally shoots her dad in the stomach during a struggle. 

Internal Affairs takes away Hanson's badge, they suspect he was actually trying to kill a police officer. But Hanson is absolved of any wrongdoing after further investigation, and Diane will be freed from her father. Another drug bust is made at the school, in the restroom, where apparently all the deals go down. Hanson makes follow-up visits with Diane, which I'll interpret as a protective older brother instinct kicking in.  

Sherilyn Fenn as Diane Nelson

"Blindsided" is a solid dramatic episode with some comic relief, showing how undercover work can get messy and lead to bad outcomes. As Fuller says after the botched arrest, "we screwed up." Hanson also made mistakes by not going to Fuller sooner - and dodged a public relations disaster for the program. Ultimately justice was achieved, but through haphazard means. The episode also marked the first appearance of precinct maintenance man Sal Balducci, AKA "Blowfish," who will make become a recurring character on the series. 

21 Jump Street: S1E8: "Bad Influence"

Written by Paul Bernbaum

Directed by Kim Manners

Airdate: May 24, 1987

Guest Stars: Liane Curtis (Lauren Carlson); Scott Schwartz (Jordan); Byron Thames (Dylan)

"Bad Influence" splits the difference between a hard-edged storyline about a High School student engaged in sex work, while the other story follows two teens who steal $12,000 from a broken ATM and go on a spending spree. 

Hoffs and Ioki are assigned to the High School with the suspected prostitution ring. Boys at the school are gossiping about one Lauren Carlson, a girl who will allegedly provide sex for money. Hoffs befriends Lauren who seems focused on her studies. Meanwhile, Ioki revisits the humiliations of gym class and hears more rumors about Lauren in the locker room.

Hanson and Penhall are assigned to track down two missing teens Jordan and Dylan. Both latchkey kids, their negligent parents fear the worse. The episode follows them as they run up hotel bills, buy motorcycles, and attempt to enter a strip club. Eventually, they are located at an arcade impressing girls and are arrested for grand larceny (making them to even cooler to the girls). Back at home, a Hollywood screenwriter wants to tell their story. 

Busted at the arcade

Ioki confirms Lauren is involved in prostitution when he sets her up for a sting, while Hoffs connects her activities as a front for a burglary ring, she provides security codes to her stepfather who rob the houses, while enabling her mom's drug habit. Hoffs reveals to Lauren she's a cop and wants to help her out of her situation. They break up the burglary ring, but Lauren has left town. Hoffs reflects how Lauren was used by everyone, including her. 

Fuller and Hoffs discuss undercover ethics

The parallel story approach made for a fast-paced episode. Few of the stories so far have explored the ethics of undercover work. While the operation stopped the crimes, it also failed to help Lauren, an innocent teen forced into an awful situation. As Fuller tells Hoffs, "we're police officers, not social workers." Depp and DeLuise have comedic chemistry by this point, which would become one of the endearing hallmarks of the series. 

21 Jump Street: S1E7: "Gotta Finish the Riff"

Written by Patrick Harsburgh & Bill Nuss

Directed by Kim Manners

Airdate: May 17, 1987

New Main Cast Member: Steven Williams (Captain Adam Fuller)

Guest Star: Blair Underwood (Reginald Brooks)

"Gotta Finish the Riff" begins with the tragic news that Captain Jenko was killed by a drunk driver. The Jump Street Unit is heartbroken as they gather to pay their final respects. For the following month the unit was temporarily disbanded and assigned to other departments. Called back to the chapel, they're informed the mayor wants to keep the program going. Captain Adam Fuller is assigned to take over the unit, a transfer from New York with 11 years of undercover experience.

Captain Fuller makes it known he'll be running a tighter ship, expecting professionalism from everyone. Everyone's taken aback at Fuller's stern demeanor. The chapel will also become a fully staffed precinct, no longer a private clubhouse. Hobbs and Hanson are assigned to a High School where the new principal is receiving death threats. 

Audition for Revenge of the Nerds

Hanson amusingly acts like a computer nerd, while Hoffs assumes an identity as a student with major attitude. Just hours into their first day, "bloods" gang leader Reginald Brooks and his crew are taking over the school. They have locked all the entrances and are making demands, an eerie foreshadowing of school shootings. Hanson blows his cover in an attempt to stop the hostage takers, while Hoffs attempts to charm Reginald to lower his defenses.

Hoffs maintains composure

Fuller leads the hostage negotiations, while sending in Ioki and Penhall (playing a clueless pizza delivery guy). Reginald holds a mock assembly to antagonize the school administration, but his motives are unclear. He eventually demands a Trans Am (very 1987) to make his escape while leaving his buddies out to dry. With Reginald heading off with Hoffs, a brawl breaks out, and the Jump Street Crew subdue the gang. Meanwhile, Reginald discovers he was duped into driving a car with a bad engine, Hoffs, cool as a cucumber, makes the arrest. Fuller invites everyone out for pizza.

Like in the pilot, the villains are stereotypical young black men. Blair Underwood would go on to have a great career in film and television; he even befriended a young Barack Obama at Harvard to research playing a young lawyer on L.A. Law. Neither did Reginald have objectives at all, except to, in his words, escape to Indiana. The idea of students taking a school felt a bit overblown, playing into cultural anxieties about violent High Schools. 

An episode of shifting tones, from the loss of Jenko, the introduction of Fuller, and a hostage situation that went from super intense to ridiculous, "Gotta Finish the Riff" was at its best entertaining.