Homicide: Life on the Street
Season 5
TV-14
91%
The fifth season of Homicide: Life on the Street aired in the United States on the NBC television network from 20 September 1996 to 16 May 1997 and contained 22 episodes. A new opening sequence debuted with the start of this season, including elements of a police investigation and a growing chatter of radio transmissions behind the theme music. In addition, pictures of the actors were displayed alongside their names for the first time. The sequence ends with the ringing of the squadroom phone and a voice answering, "Homicide."
Two new characters appeared during this season: Chief Medical Examiner Julianna Cox; and Detective Terri Stivers, a Narcotics officer who works with Homicide to bring down local drug kingpin Luther Mahoney.
The season finale introduced Detective Paul Falsone, a member of the Auto Squad briefly on loan to Homicide, and re-introduced Stuart Gharty, now a detective assigned to Internal Investigations. It also marked the departures of regular characters Megan Russert, Kay Howard and J.H. Brodie.
Two new characters appeared during this season: Chief Medical Examiner Julianna Cox; and Detective Terri Stivers, a Narcotics officer who works with Homicide to bring down local drug kingpin Luther Mahoney.
The season finale introduced Detective Paul Falsone, a member of the Auto Squad briefly on loan to Homicide, and re-introduced Stuart Gharty, now a detective assigned to Internal Investigations. It also marked the departures of regular characters Megan Russert, Kay Howard and J.H. Brodie.
Where to Watch Season 5
22 Episodes
- Hostage (1)
E1Hostage (1)Gaffney and Barnfather give Gee a hassle about the return of Frank to duty and the sudden departure of Russert to Europe. Bayliss and Munch are called to the scene of a homicide, where the victim, Mrs. Uba, was cooking breakfast and the only witness may be a male pig named Angie. Frank returns to work and Gee tells him what his limited duties are going to be and that he's called in all his favors and both their asses are on the line. The squad is called out for a hostage situation at a middle school. - Hostage (2)
E2Hostage (2)Night has fallen and the crisis is no closer to being resolved. Gee demands that Barnfather make a decision. Frank continues to trying to adjust. Frank insists on going to the hostage scene. The identity of the hostage-taker is made when he demands that his pig be brought to the school. When the pig doesn't arrive in time, he sets a fire and seriously wounds a hostage (who later dies) and then becomes badly burned. Brodie takes issue with Munch's treatment of Pembleton. The paperwork gets completed and the hostage-taker is formally charged. Frank makes a decision regarding his recovery. - Prison Riot
E3Prison RiotA riot breaks out at the prison, where two inmates are killed. The squad goes to the scene, but Frank must still stay behind. Bayliss, Lewis, Kellerman and Howard interview the inmates; many of them have familiar faces. Frank works on his target practice. Bayliss thinks that one inmate really wanted to tell him something, so he puts together a deal to get the information. The inmate confesses to the murder and Bayliss doesn't believe him. Another riot breaks out and the truth is finally discovered. - Bad Medicine
E4Bad MedicineMore drug-related homicides are occurring. Pembleton is still relegated to desk duty and now so is Kellerman. A federal grand jury investigation is being conducted that goes back to the time when Mike was in the arson unit. Frank is still not taking his medicine and getting ready for the range test. Brodie moves out of Munch's place and into Bayliss'. Lewis finds out that the witness to his drug homicide has been brought downtown. He goes after him and meets Stivers, a female detective in narcotics. Lewis's witness points toward Luther Mahoney as the initiator of the contract. They go to find the executor, who's been executed. Stivers pages Mahoney and he comes in for questioning, but they can't make a case that Danvers thinks will stick. Frank misses a passing grade on his test by four points. - M.E., Myself and I
E5M.E., Myself and IThe arrival of a new Chief Medical Examiner upsets Bayliss at first, but results in an old case's exhumation and correct determination as a homicide. The FBI investigation of Kellerman continues, increasing his frustration. The marriages of Pembleton and Lewis are tested, but with quite different results. - The Heart of a Saturday Night
E7The Heart of a Saturday NightSurvivors discuss, in a grief-support group, the circumstances of three murders one Saturday night in Baltimore: a girl strangled in an alley on her 16th birthday, a mother who dies as the victim of a carjacker who drives off with her 3-year-old daughter, and a man who was attacked in the Waterfront Bar in the presence of several uncooperative witnesses. One of the cases remains unsolved. - The True Test
E8The True TestAn outstanding computer genius at a prestigious prep school is found stabbed to death. The incident is believed to be racially motivated as he is one of only three black students. Bayliss and Lewis suspect a student whose protective mother is a powerful judge. Pembleton finally passes the firearms test. - Control
E9ControlOn Pembleton's first case back, a divorced woman is found stabbed to death; her 10-year-old twin boys were shot in the head. He is convinced the boyfriend did it, but Bayliss believes it was the ex-husband. Kellerman is summoned to the Grand Jury. Once again a drug murder implicates Luther Mahoney, but the star witness is intimidated even while in police custody. - Blood Wedding
E10Blood WeddingA robbery gone wrong kills Danver's bride-to-be while trying on a wedding dress. Once again Pembleton and Bayliss disagree on theories of the crime. Giardello tries to help Kellerman but runs into opposition; Kellerman is "comforted" by the new ME. Danvers confronts a jailed suspect with threats which has unexpected results. - The Documentary
E11The DocumentaryOn New Year's Eve, the detectives sit back in the quiet of the evening and watch a documentary that Brodie has made about them and their work. In this documentary, entitled ""BACK PAGE NEWS: Life and Homicide On The Mean Streets Of Baltimore"", one of Frank and Tim's cases is covered where some ""lies and hidden truths"" are revealed. During a sequence about one of Mike and Meldrick's cases, they chase a suspect right into the filming of something called ""Homicide"" by director Barry Levinson and his crew. Mike and Julianna agree to try a date. Also, the identity of the ""lunch bandit"" is revealed to be Gaffney. Brodie reveals that the documentary has been sent to PBS and gives his reasons why. As the new year rolls in, things return to normal as the phones start ringing. - Betrayal
E12BetrayalA girl is found with a broken rib which punctured her lung and 26 belt buckle marks on her body. Pembleton and Bayliss question the mother and her live-in boyfriend after a social worker confirms abuse suspicions. Kellerman is exonerated by the Grand Jury but still feels tainted by suspicion. Bayliss reveals his own childhood abuse to Pembleton. - Have a Conscience
E13Have a ConscienceAn Asian store owner, a war hero, tried to forbid dope dealers from operating outside his store. His killing leads detectives to Mahoney--again he is too "clean" to catch. Mahoney's parting shot to Kellerman throws the detective into a tailspin of depression. Lewis, his partner, follows up and tries to prevent another partner's suicide. - Diener
E14DienerPembleton and Lewis are assigned to the brutal murder of a wealthy woman. Each focuses on a different suspect: an angry talented art student from the projects and the woman's brother. A diamond ring with great sentimental value has disappeared from the victim's finger AFTER the body was found, which proves pivotal to the case. - Wu's on First?
E15Wu's on First?When a police officer is found shot to death, Elizabeth Wu writes an article praising his dedication to the job. An informer calls her with a contradiction: the cop was shot when he demanded his money back in a dope deal. Her source later reveals that he was the shooter but claims self-defense. Meanwhile Kellerman's rogue brothers show up and he winds up in a jail cell with them. Lewis and Julianna to the rescue. - Valentine's Day
E16Valentine's DayTwo bombings near Valentine's Day result in two deaths with no apparent connections. Brodie finds a way to get a confession from a drug dealer who conned a victim into playing Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun. The Pembletons' marriage seems to be disintegrating in spite of therapy. Lewis and Cox wait outside an office where a third bomb has been delivered. - Deception
E19DeceptionAutopsy reveals that the death of a recent arrival from Europe was caused by a burst baggie he had swallowed, one of over 70 bags of heroin found in his stomach. Luther Mahoney MUST be involved somehow! Munch gets a tip from a con that a body is buried under the track at Pimlico, but eventually finds the "dead" man. The Mahoney problem is solved. - Strangers and Other Partners (2)
E22Strangers and Other Partners (2)Felton's murder investigation involves the whole squad plus Falsone from Auto and Gharty from IID (Felton had been undercover). Actually, Howard and Russert are shut out because of their personal involvement with Felton. Gharty and Falsone discover they have both had the same snitch and hone in on his possible role in the murder.
