Work Related
Directed By: Jean de Segonzac
Written By: Tom Fontana
Kellerman and Lewis get the case of a vehicle-related homicide, which Lewis wants to pursue even though it's a stone-cold whodunit, rather than go back to his wife. Bayliss and Pembleton investigate a shooting at a fast-food restaurant, and Pembleton suffers a stroke as he's interrogating one of the suspects.
This episode contains examples of:
- Berserk Button: The unseen shooter at the fast-food restaurant apparently did so because his boss called him a "slacker", which he hated.
- The Chains of Commanding: When Howard sees how Giardello is still feeling about shooting DeBassy, she moves the name under her name on the board so Giardello will no longer see it, and when a secretary looks at her, Howard responds, "Sergeant's prerogative."
- Continuity Nod:
- Dr. Devilbiss (first introduced in the first season, recognizes Bayliss from the last time he was visiting the hospital.
- Giardello is still feeling guilty about shooting DeBassy.
- Drives Like Crazy: After Munch and Russert tell Kellerman and Lewis what happened to Pembleton, Kellerman says he'll drive because, "if I let you drive, we'll both end up at the hospital beside him."
- Failure Is the Only Option: When Lewis seems determined to investigate the vehicle-related homicide, Kellerman tells him the investigation will ultimately be this because there's no way they'll catch the killer.
- Fourth-Date Marriage: Lewis admits to Kellerman his marriage to Barbara was this, and that's probably why their marriage isn't doing so well. Kellerman points out he lived with his ex-wife for three years before they got married, and their marriage didn't last too long either.
- Hope Spot: The paramedics briefly revive Pembleton to the point where he asks for a cigarette...and then suffers another stroke.
- Named in the Sequel: The recurring hospital doctor played by Sean Whitesell, who previously appeared in Season One's "Son of a Gun", "A Shot in the Dark" and "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", Season Three's "Partners", and this season's "A Doll's Eyes", is finally named here as Dr. Eli Devilbiss.
- Visual Pun: The bowling ball thrown into the window of the car (causing the vehicle to crash) of the homicide Kellerman and Lewis are investigating is red. This would qualify as a Stealth Pun except for the fact Kellerman points out the joke.
- Wham Shot: Frank suffering a seizure, which leads to a stroke, while he's interrogating a suspect in the box.
