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Willie-The-Wino
Reviews
Miami Vice: Junk Love (1985)
A harder-edged tale with a great cameo
This is one of my favourite episodes of Vice. It's also the only one I've had to watch twice to get the full picture-- this isn't actually a bad thing, as I'm the kind of viewer who likes a little depth in these pieces. I like TV to go a little further.
There's a deeper, more intricate plot here involving drug barons vying for supremacy, all wrapped around one unfortunate girl with a junk habit, hence the episode title. The plot is seedy, gritty and nihilistic, and just what the season needed.
Just when it doesn't get any better, Miles Davis appears in one of his few acting roles. Miles' voice alone is 110% perfect for Miami Vice, and he is excellently cast as the seedy ex-smuggler-turned-pimp Ivory Jones.
Everyone here has matured-- there's no more awkward jokes between Crockett and Tubbs, and even characters like the now-bearded Zito and Switek are slightly sobered, although not without occasional hints of comic relief. The episode turns up a couple of twists that show one of MV's strengths: it always had surprises up its sleeve. A dark, almost bleak episode, but definitely one watching.