Written by Jonathan Lemkin
Directed by Bill Corcoran
Airdate: May 1, 1988
Guest Star: Brad Pitt (Peter)
While investigating a theft ring at a High School the Jump Street crew is thrown into upheaval after one of the students involved takes his own life. The suicide leads to Penhall revealing a dark part of his past.
In the aftermath, Hanson investigates the culture at the High School and finds there's been a rash of students who are depressed with their lives. Penhall tries to play it all cool, but then reveals his mom took her own life when he was a kid.
The episode tries to deal with the issue of teen suicide, which was becoming a major concern during the 1980s, we hear several times it's the leading cause of death among teens. Depp's performance is eccentric here; he seemed to be going for a Christlike demeanor as he tries to tell kids it will all be ok.
Brad Pitt appears in one of his early professional jobs as one of the students, even sharing some screen time with Depp.
This was definitely a case of Jump Street getting heavy handed - with mixed results.
Final Report: B-
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