Ep 2. Ba-bing, Ba-bing

Ba-bing, Ba-bing is the second episode of the fourth season of Hill Street Blues. The episode is an intense portrayal of the day-to-day life of the Hill Street Station that operates in a dangerous urban landscape. It involves multiple plotlines that blend together the inter-personnel relationship with criminal activities in the city.

The plot of the episode revolves around multiple characters, but the main focus is on Detective Neal Washington (Taurean Blacque) and his involvement in a dangerous gang, "The Blind Robins." The gang has been menacing the Hill Street Station for a long time, particularly, the 3-2 precinct that Washington is assigned to. He has reluctantly been going undercover to gather intel and potential evidence against the gang.

The episode starts with Washington's increasing frustration with his difficult mission and the constant threat to his life. He is on the verge of quitting, but Lt. Howard Hunter (James B. Sikking) urges him to continue and promises to provide more backup and resources. Meanwhile, the Blind Robins have a new weapon in their arsenal, a powerful grenade launcher, that they are looking to use in their upcoming hit on the precinct.

The episode also shows an ongoing conflict between Captain Frank Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti) and his ex-wife Fay (Barbara Bosson), who is trying to move on from their failed marriage and start a new life outside Hill Street. Their bickering sometimes cause issues at the station, but they both genuinely care about each other and their children.

Another subplot is the real estate developer, Ben Fisk (Tom Atkins), who is trying to persuade Furillo to provide him with extra police protection for his new luxury high-rise. Meanwhile, Furillo is dealing with a veteran cop, Tommy McIntire (Dennis Dugan), who is trying to scam the department for extra overtime by falsifying his hours.

As the episode progresses, all of these plotlines come together, and the overarching tension builds up. After a failed attempt to infiltrate the gang, Washington is in dire straits and tries to reach out to Hunter for backup. Meanwhile, Furillo is grappling with the dilemma of Fisk's request for extra security, which would leave the other precincts unprotected. Additionally, McIntire's scam is about to be revealed, and Fay decides to leave Hill Street, causing a fractured rift between her and Frank.

The climax of the episode occurs almost simultaneously, all of the conflicts collide, and the explosive fallout ensues. As Washington tries to escape from the Blind Robins, they manage to get their hands on the grenade launcher and launch it at the precinct, causing widespread damage and chaos. Meanwhile, McIntire's scheme gets uncovered, leading to criminal charges and a loss of his pension. Furillo makes a crucial decision about Fisk's request, which has far-reaching consequences. And Fay leaves Hill Street, marking an end of an era.

Overall, Ba-bing, Ba-bing is a riveting episode that showcases the complexity of the characters and the sheer unpredictability of their environment. The episode balances the gritty realism of police work with the nuanced inter-psychology of the characters involved. It captures the viewer's attention and keeps them on the edge of their seat throughout its runtime.