Tiberius27-1

At one point in this episode Karl Malden's Mike Stone turns to his partner with a disgusted "Are you kidding me?" expression on his face at the bad joke he'd just told and says something like "Let's get outta here." I found it a more appropriate epitaph for this often incredible show than this episode as a whole. Unfortunately in this case they didn't save the best for last and as my review title states they go out with a whimper rather than a bang. Considering the plot of this particular episode you might even say that the show had truly gone to the dogs by this point although the final season itself did have some amazing highlights including the first time ever 2 parter in the season opener and Ned Beatty's Emmy deserving episode. I'm watching "Back to the Streets of San Francisco" (Google where to watch it) that I apparently missed from 1992 (When it came out) until now but what can I say? This show that I'd never watched an episode of prior to this just completed binge has become one of my all time favorite television series. Great characters, interesting plots, and talented people will always be in style.

Thanks for the memories Streets of San Francisco and thank you to the late great Karl Malden (who I still think might have played a better Mickey than even Burgess Meredith did in the Rocky films) who was the very heart & soul of this amazing show.

Just as I've noted in reviews for previous episodes in this great series where Meg Foster and Don Johnson among others made their individual episodes with what should have been Emmy winning performances, the great Ned Beatty does so here. His conflicted performance is, in a word, REAL. Every scene that he's in is authentic and the viewer can even feel his tension and empathize because of how well he pulls you into the performance. Kudos all around.