Directed by Jan Eliasberg
Airdate: January 15, 1990
Guest Star: Katy Boyer (Megan)
Fuller and Hoffs go undercover at a High School to investigate the murder of a popular teacher who was a lesbian. 21 Jump Street rarely explored sexuality, so this episode is a rare exception.
Hoffs befriends Megan, who she suspects of having a crush on the teacher who was murdered. In one scene, Megan kisses Hoffs, who reacts with guarded compassion. Megan's struggling with her sexuality, but the investigation leads to her mom.
TV would evolve a lot in the 90s and beyond in its handling of gay themes and characters. While the episode treats Megan's character with sympathy it does lean to its lesbian coded crime as taboo. To Fuller's credit he does express a progressive view for its time and avoids the obvious homophobic jokes that was common for TV of that era.
A subplot involves Fuller considering a relationship with a younger teacher he meets at the school - even shaving off his beard for a mustache. When Fuller awkwardly asks Hoffs if she would date a guy like him, she's like "why is everyone trying to date me."
"A Change of Heart" is more of a drama than a crime story, indicative of the series searching for new avenues in what would be its final season as a network show.
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