Ep 21. Evaluation

Barney Miller season 4 episode 21, titled "Evaluation," centers around the detectives of the 12th precinct facing a mandatory evaluation from the department's psychologist, Dr. Nancy Fields. As the episode begins, we see each detective nervously preparing for their upcoming session with Dr. Fields.

Barney Miller, the precinct's captain, takes his evaluation first. He is surprised to learn that Dr. Fields is a former student of his, and they catch up on old times before getting down to business. Barney is hesitant at first, but ultimately opens up to Dr. Fields about the stresses of his job and the toll it can take on his personal life.

As each detective takes their turn with Dr. Fields, we learn more about their individual struggles. Detective Dietrich, known for his deadpan humor and intelligence, reveals that he has been feeling lost in his personal life since his divorce. Fish, the oldest detective in the precinct, is concerned about his own age and mortality. Wojo, the streetwise and sometimes impulsive detective, is reluctant to open up to Dr. Fields and tries to deflect her questions with jokes.

Meanwhile, back at the precinct, the detectives' colleagues begin to worry about the evaluation process. They fear that Dr. Fields may use the information the detectives give her against them or that she may recommend they be psychologically unfit for duty. These concerns only add to the stress the detectives are already feeling.

As the evaluations continue, tension builds amongst the detectives as they begin to compare their experiences with Dr. Fields. While some feel that the sessions were helpful, others feel that Dr. Fields was too invasive or that she did not offer any real solutions. Disagreements amongst the detectives create rifts within the precinct.

The episode comes to a climax when Dr. Fields shares her evaluations with Captain Miller. As Dr. Fields shares her findings, we see the varied reactions of the detectives. Some are relieved to have made it through the process without incident, while others seem disappointed with the results.

Through each evaluation, we learn more about the characters- both their struggles and their strengths. We see how the events of their job affect them, and how their personal lives affect their work. Though the episode is focused on the psychological evaluations, the real story is about the relationships between the characters and how they cope with the stresses of their job.

In the end, the detectives are left to reflect on their evaluations and what they learned about themselves. We are left with the sense that while the evaluation process may have been intimidating, it provided an opportunity for each detective to look inward and examine their own lives. The episode ends on a note of hope, as the detectives prepare to face whatever comes next as a team.