Just when it seems that Lethal Weapon cannot possible mine more comedy and pathos out of its existing formula, “Homebodies” comes along and pushes the envelope even further. This episode takes a closer look at the very disparate partners and what they want. As Roger worries about Riggs not doing anything on his weekend off, Trish tries to set Martin up with a date by playing matchmaker.
The case this week takes place against the backdrop of a silent rave and Koreatown. A promoter is killed at the party while handing out legal enhancing drugs. The rave DJ talks about a Korean gangster named Kang. She sats that he threatened both the victim and his supplier, someone called Owlsly.
Apart from the murder case on their hands, the two partners are still at odds with one another. Rigg’s will not return Roger’s texts and he is starting to get annoyed with his elusive partner.
It appears that Murtaugh has been thrown a lifeline when Avery assigns Detective Cho to help the two cops crack Koreatown. Riggs acts on his own while Roger discovers Korean food and the joys of working with Cho, a man after his own heart.
Riggs finally agrees to a meal with Roger and Trish only to learn that she has set him up with a blind date. The evening does not go well and the case calls both men out.
Cho texts Murtaugh and tells him that the DJ and Owlsly are in danger from the Korean gangsters. The two men split up, Roger joins Cho and they find the DJ, badly beaten but alive. Martin finds Owlsly hiding under her apartment floor.
Roger and Cho learn that Owlsly had a thing for Adam and Martin is drugged by the pharmaceutical wiz. She has half a million dollars from the Koreans and she tries to run.
Murtaugh and Cho head to the girl’s apartment and they find a drugged Riggs riding on top of the Korean’s car. Martin is flung off of the car and he joins Roger and Cho. Murtaugh shoots out a tire and Owlsly kills herself with an overdose.
Once again Lethal Weapon creator Matthew Miller, who wrote this episode, crams a lot into an hour. We have Riggs and Murtaugh still having issues, an interesting case, Trish crossing the line and a very funny bit between Cho and Roger who act like “lovers” who want to get together.
(On a sidenote, Roger gets a new, and infinitely better looking, hat.)
“Homebodies” manages to fit in one murder, a bad attack and a surprising villain. It also has damned impressive car chase and a very brief shoot out in a Korean restaurant. The episode also features a good bit of comedy.
Scorsese practically OD’s on Owlsly pills, and in the process works out a few kinks in the script he is writing. Roger Jr. has some issues getting a date to the dance and Riggs finally admits to Dr. Cahill that while he understands the urge to commit suicide, he is not contemplating it.
Lethal Weapon is still the best cop/buddy series on television at the moment. FOX and Miller have caught lightning in a bottle with the Wayans/Crawford dynamic. The series also benefits from having a cast that all have tremendous chemistry and fit together like a glove.
The stories for the first season are all interesting and cleverly interwoven around the underlying issue of Roger and Martin ironing out the kinks in their relationship. This is cracking entertainment that delivers “above and beyond” on every single episode.
Lethal Weapon airs Wednesdays on FOX. Tune in and catch the small screen version of Riggs and Murtaugh and watch them blow the big screen version away.
Cast:
- Clayne Crawford – Martin Riggs
- Damon Wayans – Roger Murtaugh
- Jordana Brewster – Maureen Cahill
- Keisha Sharp – Trish Murtaugh
- Floriana Lima – Miranda Riggs
- Dante Brown – Roger Murtaugh Jr.
- Kevin Rahm – Brooks Avery
- Chandler Kinney – Riana Murtaugh
- Michael Raymond-James – Chad Jackson
- Richard Cabral – Cruz
- Michelle Mitchenor – Sonya Bailey
- Johnathan Fernandez – Scorsese
Guest starring Will Brandt as Adam Pressman, Jocelin Donahue as Kate, Lyndon Smith as Owlsly, Jack Yang as Kang and Chin Han as Detective Cho.
The whole Cho/Murtaugh dynamic was very funny. It was like Roger was “cheating” on Riggs. It played out beautifully. ?
At the end, when Cho and Roger were talking, I was hearing Cho almost hitting on Roger, while Roger thought he was talking about a transfer, which Roger declined.
Still enjoying this series.