20 Squad faces a challenge trying to catch a crew of bank robbers when it turns out they're using the profits of their robberies to support a local community who are protecting them in turn. Luca worries about his younger brother, while Deacon wrestles with his conscience when faced with incontrovertible proof of institutional racism in the LAPD.
Tropes
- Big Brother Instinct: Luca to his younger brother.
- Death Glare: Durham gives one to Hondo, clearly blaming him for Deacon reporting him for racism.
- Everyone Has Standards: Hicks is clearly appalled to hear cops, including a S.W.A.T. officer, espousing racist views.
- Two of the robbers decide they're in too deep between the LAPD chasing them and their ringleader's growing appetite for hurting people during the robberies. He kills them for trying to back out.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: Luca feels he's the responsible to his brother's foolish.
- It's All My Fault: Deacon wonders to his wife if something he said or did gave Durham reason to believe Deacon shared his racist views.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Tan was close to running down the robbers when a couple of cops, seeing him running in plain clothes with a gun, stop him. By the time he's explained he's a S.W.A.T. officer, the robbers have escaped.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: The robbers were using the proceeds from their robbery to help a struggling community with paying their rent. When the landlord finds out that the tenants have been paying rent with stolen money (technically a felony), he evicts them, causing the leader of the robbers to suffer a Villainous Breakdown and kill the landlord.
- Pulled from Your Day Off: Tan was coming back from surfing at the beach when he overhears word of a robbery over the police scanner and goes to help.
- Shame If Something Happened: Durham sneers that his police union lawyer will get the case against him thrown out, while Deacon has just destroyed his credibility within the LAPD for informing on his fellow cops.Durham: My lawyers are going to tear this case apart and you're the only one who'll suffer for it! [...] They'll put me back on the streets, but you're gonna be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your career, [sneers] however long that is.
- Shut Up, Hannibal!: When Durham defiantly spits back that he stands by his views and that at least he's willing to express opinions all cops share, Deacon angrily shuts him down.Deacon: If that's what you think this job is about, then you never deserved it in the first place!
- To Be Lawful or Good: Deacon struggles with this regarding Durham's racism, but comes down on the side of good and reports him.Deacon: [to Hondo] I'm sorry it took me so long to do the right thing.
- Villain with Good Publicity: The robbery crew initially has this, as they use the profits from their crimes to support a struggling neighbourhood, who in return hide them from the LAPD.
- Would Hit a Girl: The robbers' ringleader strikes a woman bank manager for talking back to him during one of their raids, and non-fatally shoots a female cop.
- Youngest Child Wins: Luca's brother invokes this, pointing out that he got the freedom to choose his path in life while Luca, as the older son, was expected to carry on the family's S.W.A.T. legacy.
