Ep 21. The Kid

Barney Miller season 2 episode 21, "The Kid," is a classic episode of the popular police procedural comedy-drama. Set in New York City's fictional 12th Precinct, the show follows the daily adventures of the precinct's detectives and their captain, Barney Miller.

In this particular episode, the team is faced with a unique challenge: the custody of a nine-year-old child who has been left in their care. The boy, who is deaf and mute, is the son of a deceased criminal, and no other family members or guardians have come forward to claim him.

As the team juggles their regular police duties with taking care of the child, they begin to learn more about his unique needs and personality. Throughout the episode, the audience gets an inside look at what it takes to care for a child with special needs, including learning American Sign Language and finding ways to communicate with him.

Meanwhile, the detectives are handling various cases that come through the precinct, including a con man who has been scamming people out of their money, a ghostbuster who claims to be able to communicate with the dead, and a group of young men who have been vandalizing phone booths.

Despite the chaos of the day, the team works together to make sure the child is taken care of and that justice is served for all of their cases.

As always, the show's clever writing and talented cast make for a humorous and heartwarming episode that touches on important themes of family, community, and the challenges of being a police officer. Fans of the series will love this classic episode, and newcomers will quickly become hooked on the show's unique blend of humor and heart.