21 Jump Street: S2E13: "A Big Disease with a Little Name"

Written by Patrick Hasburgh

Directed by Neal Fearnley

Airdate: February 7, 1988

Guest Stars: Phillip Tanzini (Harley); Gina Nemo (Dorothy)

"A Big Disease with a Little Name" is a historically important episode of 21 Jump Street. With an audience composed of mostly young people, a story dealing with the AIDS epidemic was a bold move. 

Capt. Fuller assigns Hanson to watch over High School student Harley Poolish who has AIDS and is being bullied by other students. Being a hemophiliac, a small cut could prove fatal. Hanson reluctantly accepts the assignment. I wonder if Fuller did this because of Hanson's interest in being a Big Brother a few episodes back. 

At school. Hanson's job is basically to be Harley's bodyguard and confidante. Hanson witnesses the bullying and social isolation must face at school and they start to form a connection. Harley loves to ride motorcycles and they bond over being adrenaline junkies. Hanson's also perplexed at why Harley's parents are so distant.

Harley bonds with Hanson

Later Harley confesses to Hanson he did not contract AIDS through a blood transfusion or a needle, although he never says, "I'm gay", that's the implication. Furthermore, he reveals to Hanson his plans to end his life by riding over a cliff. They have an intense talk about God and belief. Later Harley breaks down and simply asks for Hanson's emotional support. The episode ends with Hanson learning Harley died from pneumonia.

It would be easy to dismiss this episode as preachy, but I would disagree. Despite some clunky dialogue at times, and a silly subplot with Penhall getting back with his High School girlfriend Dorothy, it's important to consider the context. Clearly, Harley's story was inspired by Ryan White, a young boy who caught AIDS through a transfusion, and became a spokesman, informing and educating the public. Anyone who coming of age in the late '80s and 1990s was deluged with warnings about the epidemic. 

Depp took a humanistic turn in this episode. Hanson's willingness to accept Harley, providing emotional support and comfort with no judgement was important for young people to see. The pop culture of the 1980s was blatantly homophobic, and for TV audiences to see a heterosexual young man willing to hug and show compassion towards a young gay man was important. To its credit, the script pointed out Reagan's refusal to publicly acknowledge the existence of AIDS and the government's lackadaisical response to the crisis. 

Final Report: A