Back in the World

Fans used to scene by scene action or shoot em-up fare would have been turned off by this episode. But "Back In The World" showed just how much Miami Vice was about more than just guns, fast cars and women, flashy clothes, and flashy story ideas.

TV is already a time consuming business and just imagine what Don Johnson had to go through during the taping of this episode, as he was the director of this episode and he had to remember and act his lines that he was given for this episode. That's a lot of work, especially for a big TV star who had so much people and responsibilities tugging at him for his time back then.

"Back In The World" was about a man named Ira Stone (Bob Balaban) who was adamant about writing a story about dead Vietnam soldiers and the heroin that was smuggled with their bodies back to the states where they were to be buried or cremated. But in the midst of trying to write this story, it was found that he was a drug user himself, a liar, a bad husband, and a nutcase.

One of the best lines I've ever heard in my life was uttered in this episode by Johnson, "Selling out, it's the American dream Tubbs." People (Americans and immigrants) sell out in this country every day, for money, to fit in, for acceptance, for show business, the opposite sex, friends, and jobs.

G. Gordon Liddy, who was big in American history for his role in the Watergate Scandal, made a interesting villain in this episode. And Miss Patti D'Arbanville, always a welcome sight for me, was a trip as the angry wife of Stone.

I've seen this episode a million times and it always intrigues me to see D'Arbanville and Johnson in that hotel scene together (as she's packing up her stuff and leaving Miami after being wronged too many times by Stone), seeing as how those two were an item around the time this episode aired.

The last scene accompanied by The Doors' "My Eyes Have Seen You" was a classic event in this show's history. I loved it how Crockett and Tubbs were quietly and stealthily trying to eliminate or bring to justice Maynard and that Laotian goon of his. The camera close-ups of Crockett and Tubbs' eyes and the synchronization of that Doors song with their every movement was just beautiful for me. One of my favorite scenes in the show's 5 year run.

Bad dope killing users in Miami equals a link to Vietnam - according to Crocketts old pal from the war Ira Stone played by Bob Balaban. The suspect? Captain real estate- the nickname for G Gordon Liddy who comes across like a Bond villain. Balaban's Stone is playing a stereotypical journalist who's half hippie half anti war activist. Crockett- who rivals William Shatner w/ ego.building an amazing backstory as a football star at Florida as well as Vietnam vet- directed this episode. Another Bond villain shoots mortars at Crockett & Stone on Crocketts boat while Stone screams "incoming"! Ridiculous scene!!!! Unfortunately for the Doors, their music is all over this episode. Tubbs isn't as involved in this one and he's lucky! Skip this one- the next 2 are Phil the Shill, 9 out of 10, and Definitely Miami- 10 out of 10!

"Back in the World" starts with a scene from Crockett's Vietnam past and old archive footage from the war. After the end titles, Crockett is reunited with his risk-taking wartime pal, Ira Stone (Bob Balaban). Stone is now a wired reporter, on the trail of an almost legendary rogue officer who was exporting heroin in the bodies of fallen soldiers during 'Nam.

The soundtrack to this episode is wall-to-walls "The Doors", with "Break On Through", "I Can't See Your Face in My Mind" and "My Eyes Have Seen You" used to especially effective use.

It's Balaban who really stands out in this Don Johnson directed episode. He delivers a superbly rounded performance and is very believable in the role. G. Gordon Liddy, in his acting debut, is also great as the mysterious "Captain Real Estate". There is also an appearance by supermodel Iman as the striking Dakotah.

Splendidly entertaining, big-budget stuff as always, this episode scores 9 out of 10.

Just when I thought Miami Vice couldn't get any better I get to "Back in the World", an episode which shows that Don Johnson can direct as well as act. The pre-credit sequence showed archive footage of the evacuation of Saigon in 1975 which cuts to Crockett being shown a body bag which is being used to transport heroin back to the US.

After the credits Crockett meets the reporter who showed him that body and he is claiming that the man responsible, known as "The Sergeant" is selling that heroin again, not only that but it is contaminated due to the way it was transported. Their investigation leads them to another ex-Vietnam associate, Capt. Maynard AKA Mr Real Estate, however he claims to know nothing about The Sergeant and believes he is probably just a myth. It is clear that they are on to something though as myths don't ambush people with a mortar.

Along with the great story and action there is music from The Doors and an hilarious scene where Switek is dressed in leather feeling rather uncomfortable when a man flirts with him in a bar.

First of all, disclosure, if I remembered seeing this from when it was first on, I'm sure I'd have a very different reaction now. I can understand why so many love this episode. But I can only do a 2021 review. Second, Don Johnson seems to have a great eye for iconic scenery, color, and lighting. Like he took regular Miami Vice and turned it up to 11 visually. That said, the pacing is very disjointed and I hate the script. I see the writer has 3 credits and one is a video game. Tv writing was not his thing. Couldn't care at all for the story or characters. I don't find the acting strong either. Bob Balaban was especially annoying.

But overall, part of my issue is this really took me back to being a young teen in the mid-80s and how intensely oppressive it felt having Boomers talk (what seemed like) endlessly about the 60s, Vietnam, hippies, the works. To teens, that was ancient history and we did not want any of it. Saw this story a zillion times. It wasn't even mentioned in school as part of history. But now, as an adult, I realize some of the events of this episode took place just 10 years earlier. Ten years is nothing! It blows me away now at how recent those events were. I totally get why the adults were still dealing with Vietnam and why stories like this could be powerful.

Maybe if the script or some other aspect of the show was different, I could feel now some of what the adults were feeling and get transported into their shoes. But I could only still watch this as an 80s kid who did not want anything to do with Vietnam.

I'm giving an extra star for Iman at her most iconic, plus Switek dressed as a leather daddy. 80s gay panic aside, I'm sure they thought they were being progressive and meant well.