21 Jump Street: S4E25: "Everyday is Christmas"

Written by Glen Morgan and James Wong

Directed by Ken Wiederhorn

Airdate: May 21, 1990

Guest Star: David Barry Gray (Officer Dean Garrett)

Penhall flees a stakeout after learning Clavo's been injured, leaving Ioki without backup. As a reprimand, Penhall is removed from Jump Street and sent to the 43rd precinct as a beat cop. 

The 43rd precinct is full of corrupt cops taking kickbacks, considering themselves "lone wolves." Penhall is partnered with a rookie Dean Garrett, who some suspect is from internal affairs. Meanwhile, Jump Street is running its own investigation of the crooked precinct. 

The episode resembles Serpico, and there's cinematic flare later episodes lacked. It's a bit of a downer to see Penhall diminished, but he returns to Jump Street by the end. Officer Garrett was clearly being set up a new series regular, probably to replace Depp, but it never worked out. This was also final appearance of Dustin Nguyen as Ioki, a steady presence through four seasons. 

21 Jump Street: S4E24: "Rounding Third"

Written by Gary Rosen

Directed by Jefferson Kibbee

Airdate: May 14, 1990

Guest Star: Sam Bottoms (Robert Johnson)

Sal drafts Penhall to coach his son's struggling Little League team, which opens up a kidnapping case. In a ready for TV coincidence, Penhall recognizes one of the kids on the team is on a milk carton. Back in the '80s during the "stranger danger" it was a common practice. Penhall also struggles to find care for Clavio. 

Most of the episode consists of baseball action, so it plays like a kid friendly TV movie. At least Sal gets a few weighty scenes. He tells his kid he works at a rocket lab because he's embarrassed being a janitor, he and Fuller have a heart to heart, but what a bummer. 

21 Jump Street: S4E23: "How I Saved the Senator"

Written by Gary Rosen

Directed by James Whitmore Jr.

Airdate: May 7, 1990

Guest Star: Ray Parker Jr. (as himself)

"How I Saved the Senator" opens with a news crew barging in on the chapel - sending everyone for cover. Earlier that day, the Jump Street Unit was working security for a senator and foiled a plot. The reporter confesses she's actually a screenwriter and wants to get everyone's account of what happened. It's a fun take on Rashomon and a showcase for the entire cast. Appropriately, it would the final time all the principals appeared together. 

Ioki's fantasy imagines himself in a Bruce Lee film with elements of the 1970s TV show Kung Fu. Hanson pictures himself in a silent film with Depp doing a dead-on Chaplin imitation. Hoffs is a 1930s nightclub singer, evocative of the Billie Holiday biopic Lady Sings the Blues. Even Sal gets into the act, I guess he's in a slasher film? Penhall spins a 007 yarn, and Fuller reveals himself a fan of Westerns. 

It's hard not to get a little sentimental about this episode. One thinks back to the Pilot when Hanson reluctantly joined the unit, Penhall and the rest believed him too square to make it as an undercover cop. Jenko was the still the captain, lecturing Hanson on the genius of Jimi Hendrix. Seeing them all together one last time four years later, laughing and joking after they've been through the ringer together makes this the closest the series ever came to a farewell episode. 

21 Jump Street: S4E22: "Shirts and Skins"

Written by Larry Barber and Paul Barber

Directed by Jorge Montesi

Airdate: April 30, 1990

Guest Star: Steven Eckholdt (Lance)

Previous episodes of 21 Jump Street dealt with racism; "Shirts and Skins" might one of the more introspective takes. Penhall has infiltrated a white nationalist organization, while Hoffs and Ioki monitor anti-fascists. During a protest confrontation, Hoffs takes some minor injuries. Ioki also gets in a scuffle with some skinheads. He also hears one of the so-called anti-racists make derogatory comments. 

Penhall discovers tension between the skinheads and nazis. The nazis want educated white people in their group who will take power through the democratic process. Lance is being groomed by his grandfather for such a role.

The idea of white nationalist politics going from fringe to mainstream politics is a theme reveals the prescience of the script. Nothing is resolved by the end, but Penhall does expose a murder plot. Hoffs, Penhall, and Ioki all face moments when they reckon with their own attitudes on race. The episode for the most part avoids being heavy handed. 

21 Jump Street: S4E21: "Unfinished Business"

Written by Julie Friedgen

Directed by Daniel Attias

Airdate: April 9, 1990

Guest Star: Geri Jewell (Officer Rebecca Scanlon)

Hoffs is assigned to go undercover at a college where people with disabilities are being assaulted. Fuller is reluctant to assign Hoffs after her recent traumatic experience. Officer Rebecca Scanlon is also introduced; Fuller was her Captain at one time but is reluctant to send her out after she was wounded in the line of duty. Ioki is assigned to back up Hoffs, while Penhall works with Scanlon.

"Unfinished Business" has its poignant moments. Scanlon schools Penhall on working with a person with disabilities, while Hoffs panics and blows her cover. 

The execution is a bit clunky. Penhall makes an uncharacteristic mistake late in the investigation, while the culprit is telegraphed early in the episode. A major theme in the episode is the way people with disabilities are treated with society, reactions ranging from patronizing to contempt. Geri Jewell appeared in recurring roles on Facts of Life and Deadwood; she did not make a return appearance on 21 Jump Street. 

21 Jump Street: S4E20: "Last Chance High"

Written by Michelle Ashford

Directed by Kim Manners

Airdate: March 19, 1990

Guest Star: Diedrich Bader (Paul); Sarah Trigger (Frances)

Hanson and Penhall take on their McQuaid Brothers persona for the final time for "Last Chance High." Both realize they are getting too old to be working High Schools but decide to anyway. They're undercover at a school for kids struggling to socialize. Future Drew Carey Show star Diedrich Bader appears as a gifted, but maladjusted student.

The main plotline follows Frances, an art student, and we learn she kidnapped her baby sister because of abusive parents. Hanson takes a personal interest in the case to Fuller's chagrin, but everything works out ok. 

The episode is mostly a middling melodrama but tempered by some comedic moments. Penhall adjusts to being Clavo's adopted father. Hanson seems fine after being held captive by a death squad in the previous episode! One major difference between the network and streaming eras of television - emotional stakes are taken more seriously these days. 

21 Jump Street: S4E19: "La Bizca"

Written by Lary Barber & Paul Barber

Directed by David Nutter

Airdate: February 26, 1990

Guest Star: Richard Roundtree (Ben Halley)

El Salvadore was going through a bitter civil war (1980-1992), with the Reagan-Bush administration supporting the anti-communist forces often through illegal means - look up the Iran-Contra Scandal.

The civil war was a plot point in an earlier episode from season 4 "Come from the Shadows" when Penhall married Marta to prevent her deportment, which failed to work. Penhall decided to travel with Hanson to El Salvadore to find her. 

They arrive and immediately witness atrocities and eventually get captured by government forces who believe they are communists from America. Freed by the rebels, Penhall learns that Marta was recently killed. In grief, Penhall decides to bring her young son Clavo back to the states.

A downer episode for sure, it feels like another TV show at times. A war themed travelogue and action oriented, "La Bizca" is a tough one to place in the series canon.