Are there any episodes you DON'T like?

[egregiousgirl]

This is tough for me to admit, since I really love Barney Miller but there is an episode I didn't care for, "Rape." It's the one where a woman comes into the squadroom saying that her husband has raped her, and everyone seems to think this is ridiculous. Now I realize that this show took place 25 years ago and that things were different then, but it still bothered me. Just the way that everyone dismissed this woman and refused to take her complaint very seriously, except for the female district attorney, who they also thought was taking things too far. She was the only one who said hey, rape is rape, it doesn't matter who does it.

Again, I realize that this type of thing was treated differently back then, and I accept that. This episode didn't make me rant and rave. It just took away my enjoyment enough that I couldn't like the episode.

Also, it's episodes like this one when Barney's understanding and reasonableness start to annoy me. He worked very hard to try to get the woman to drop the rape charges against her husband and get her to reconcile. He told the district attorney that since it was a married couple that it was "gray area." I know, I know, things were different then, but this was still the most disappointed in Barney I've been.

On the whole, however, I don't think Barney Miller has really had a poor show. It's very consistently funny. I guess where it gets into trouble with me is when it deals with issues that don't age very well, like with the "Rape" episode.

[sara]

I really hated Wojo's Girl II. We watch Barney Miller to see all the men of the "old one-two", and it bugged me that they only had Wojo.
I also hated Dorsey, I just don't like them trying to shove a new guy down our throats. They let us get used to Dietrich.
I do agree with you egregiousgirl the rape episode makes me mad also. Thank God times are different.

[Janice]

I agree. The rape episode worked my last nerve. Even for those times, it appeared callous.
I didn't care for the episode at Fish's home, even though Dietrich was great.
I don't like any episode with Barney at home. Sorry to say, his wife got on my nerves. She was too much of a wiseguy.
I can't name any episodes offhand, but as I'm watching them, I'll think that it's not as good as usual.
All in all, a not-up-to-par episode of Barney Miller beats the best episode of most other sitcoms.

[Janice]

Originally posted by Janice
Sorry to say, his wife got on my nerves. She was too much of a wiseguy.

I just read this and it sounded so crass. I like Barbara Barrie the actress. I wasn't wild over her character on Barney Miller. Her banter with Barney came off to me as too quick and almost theatrical. Hard to explain, but I liked the Squad Room scenes better.

[DetectiveGriffin]

The situation between Barney and his wife only bothered me on the level that it seemed so manufactured. It was actors reading lines with little believability, really forced. I know their issues are issues face by people all the time, but something just seemed really off about it. I dont know, I guess they are both just too "pleasant" of personality to believe she's want to leave him after so many years, because of his dangerous job; although I know in reality that it happens all the time.

[egregiousgirl]

I liked Liz until she separated from Barney. I mean, what was she thinking?!? He's BARNEY.

As for Wojo's Girl, I wasn't crazy about that one either. But in its defense, I think it was originally a one hour episode and not a two-parter so we wouldn't have had to endure just an episode with only Wojo. But I thought Wojo's girlfriend in this was annoying. Come to think of it, so was that other hooker that he dated in that two-part episode where the head of that department store was kidnapped. I guess I just don't like Wojo's taste in prostitutes. :p

[maclen]

Yes! I didn't like "Possession".

Ken Tigar is great, but this was such an uncharacteristic episode... I don't know... to me, it just didn't click with the more true-to-life writing that set this show apart from others.

maclen

[Janice]

Originally posted by maclen
Yes! I didn't like "Possession".
Ken Tigar is great, but this was such an uncharacteristic episode... I don't know... to me, it just didn't click with the more true-to-life writing that set this show apart from others.
maclen
I agree, especially the part when he was in the cage and his hair was wild and he was upside down or something. It seemed silly to me...a departure from the usual episodes.

[egregiousgirl]

Originally posted by Janice

I agree, especially the part when he was in the cage and his hair was wild and he was upside down or something. It seemed silly to me...a departure from the usual episodes.

I just watched this episode, and I completely agree that when the guy was in the cage and upside down--it was just bizarre! And how his voice was all weird like in The Exorcist--it was just too much.