21 JumpstreetDon’t Pet The Teacher
DVD Season 1
Valeria – TwoCents Reviewer
valeria@twocentscorp.com
This episode is perhaps one of my early favorites of the show. Officer Tom is sent on assignment to investigate burglaries and a possible stalker at South Central High – and that’s really where the episode stays for the rest of the hour.
This is a show that is still clearly trying to find it’s footing. Officer Tom (aka Johnny Depp) is essentially the breakout star of the show. In my experience usually when there’s one really big star, the other fall back – which is why Judy and Doug are completely MIA the entire episode, except for the beginning when everyone is given their assignments. Harry has a small storyline in this episode where he commits a faux paux that threatens good marks on his Sergeant’s exam.
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21 Jumpstreet
ReplyDeleteDon’t Pet The Teacher
DVD Season 1
Valeria – TwoCents Reviewer
valeria@twocentscorp.com
This episode is perhaps one of my early favorites of the show. Officer Tom is sent on assignment to investigate burglaries and a possible stalker at South Central High – and that’s really where the episode stays for the rest of the hour.
This is a show that is still clearly trying to find it’s footing. Officer Tom (aka Johnny Depp) is essentially the breakout star of the show. In my experience usually when there’s one really big star, the other fall back – which is why Judy and Doug are completely MIA the entire episode, except for the beginning when everyone is given their assignments. Harry has a small storyline in this episode where he commits a faux paux that threatens good marks on his Sergeant’s exam.
On his way to the first day of school, Tom gets a flat tire, and gets some help from a spunky, attractive young woman. There is some incredibly adorable flirting occurring between the two of them. Along with a promise to perhaps meet up sometime in the future for some more flat tires.
Tom encounters the main suspect, a troubled kid named Jeffrey Stone. This is a kid with an enormous chip on his shoulder. Little by little it’s revealed that he’s the younger brother of a former star athlete at the high school, who mysteriously disappeared while backpacking through Cambodia. Jeffrey comes from a wealthy family – his father likes to spend cash and date girls that look as old as his son. To pass the time, Jeffrey likes to hawk tickets to music concerts, sell fake IDs, and engage in various forms of illegal reselling – oh, and he’s also following around the hottie English teacher Ms. Susan Chadwick. So of course, he’s the prime suspect for when school equipment goes missing en masse and roses and gifts are left at places that Ms. Chadwick frequents. Oh, did I mention that it turns out that Ms. Chadwick is the woman who helped Tom out with the flat? Looks like Tom’s undercover work has put a slight hamper on that possible relationship.
Even though Tom’s investigating, the burglaries aren’t letting up, so he has to kick his work into high gear. When he’s alerted that Jeffrey’s locker is about to be illegally searched by the school – Tom is forced to reveal his identity and tell the school authorities that they can’t interfere with his investigation. Jeffrey shows up, and the locker is opened anyways, revealing tons of stolen school equipment. Tom is forced to take Jeffrey into custody.
But Jeffrey won’t be in jail for long; his father will bail him out. Giving Jeffrey the opportunity to frequent the halls of the high school during the evening hours. Meanwhile, Tom goes to Ms. Chadwick’s house – and she’s absolutely livid; Tom’s tactics to investigate crimes emotionally scar young teenagers. Besides – she’s not impressed by his attempts to get on her good side, by sending her letters filled with Byronic poetry and high-tech CD players. But wait, Tom didn’t send her that. And Jeffrey couldn’t have either; he’s been in custody all day long. This means that the resident school clepto/stalker is still at large. He rushes back to the high school.
But Jeffrey’s already there, confronting the actual criminal – Albert Janowitz – the school custodian. It turns out that Albert is a bitter old man, channeling his rage at Jeffrey’s dead brother, onto the one that still alive. You see, thanks to Kyle, the dead brother, Albert finished high school a disgraced athlete who had no luck with the ladies, and ended up working at the most underappreciated job at his alma mater. He lunges to attack Jeffrey – and that’s when Tom shows up for the rescue. Once Albert is taken into custody, Jeffrey spills the beans to Tom. All the stuff he sold, he bought with his own money, and the reason why he followed around Ms. Chadwick was so that he could build up the courage to ask her out on a date.
But it looks like Tom got there first.
For next week, we’ll be watching the next episode in the series, "My Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" – guest staring Josh Brolin – the first in a series of OMG You’re Famous Now! Cameos.