A Model Citizen
Directed By: John Mc Naughton
Story By: Tom Fontana, Jorge Zamacona
Teleplay By: Noel Behn
Howard and Munch investigate the accidental shooting of an African-American teen by his brother. For Munch, that's not the only thing he has to deal with - he has to take a class for the bar to get a liquor license, and finds out a rift has developed between Bayliss and Lewis when they both become attracted to Emma Zool (Lauren Tom), who designs crime scene models for the state attorney's office. Pembleton, meanwhile, gets sued by Annabella Wilgis for how he interrogated her, and Felton comes home to find out Beth has left him and taken their children and the furniture.
This episode contains examples of:
- Based on a True Story: The shooting Howard and Munch investigate is based on a real life shooting documented in David Simon's book, and just as in the show, the gun was never recovered.
- The Bro Code: Lewis is furious about Bayliss sleeping with Emma when he was into her first.
- By "No", I Mean "Yes": When Bayliss asks Emma if she has a boyfriend, she says, "No, no...maybe."
- Casual Kink: Emma has a bed to have sex with Bayliss on - except it's in a coffin. Bayliss is weirded out by it at first, but he finds the combination too irresistible.
- Foreshadowing: The rift that develops between Bayliss and Lewis, as well as the efforts of community activist Sam Thorne (Joe Morton) to get guns off the streets, both continue to play out in the following episode.
- Love at First Sight: Subverted and then played straight - Lewis feels this for Emma as soon as he first sees her (when she's carrying a model from her car), but Emma tells him kindly but firmly she doesn't feel the same way about him; however, as soon as she and Bayliss lock eyes on each other, it's love (or at least lust) at first sight for them.
- Not Now, Kiddo: When Lennox comes into the squad room to report his brother being shot (without saying that he did it), Munch loses patience with his convoluted story and kicks him out.
- Refuge in Audacity: Munch apparently told the woman running the liquor license class that an elephant stomped on his mother to explain why he had to come to a later class.
- Saying Too Much: Munch gets kicked out of the license class because he just couldn't keep quiet about revealing his contempt for what he thought was the hypocritical idea that bar owners should stop people from getting drunk.
- Seinfeldian Conversation: At the beginning of the show, Howard bemoans the fact Romper Room has been taken off the air. Munch thinks she's crazy, but Bolander and Felton also remember the show fondly.
- Shout-Out: Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" plays when Felton discovers Beth has left and taken their children and furniture with her.
- You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: Munch's reaction when at the liquor license class, the teacher says in addition to making sure he doesn't allow drunks to drive or serve drinks to minors (both of which he's okay with), he also has to make sure not to let people get too drunk, which he thinks goes against the whole point of having a bar.
