Ep 18. Queen of the Gypsies

Set in New York City in the 1970s, Kojak is a crime drama series following the investigations of the tough, no-nonsense Lieutenant Theo Kojak, played by Telly Savalas. Season 2, episode 18 is titled "Queen of the Gypsies" and focuses on Kojak's search for a missing child within the Romani community.

The episode begins with Kojak and his team investigating the disappearance of a young Romani girl, Maria. The girl's mother, the self-proclaimed "Queen of the Gypsies" (played by Susan Sarandon), is distraught and demands that Kojak find her daughter. However, the Romani community is fiercely protective of their own and does not trust the police. Kojak faces resistance from Maria's father and other members of the community who believe they can handle the situation on their own.

Undeterred, Kojak persists in his investigation and starts digging deeper into the Romani community. He learns that Maria's mother has a troubled past and that there are several feuds and power struggles within the community. One of the leaders, Zoli, believes that Maria's mother is not fit to be the queen and may have orchestrated her own daughter's disappearance to gain sympathy and retain her position.

As Kojak continues to investigate, he discovers that Maria's disappearance may be connected to a larger criminal network involving the theft of rare and valuable jewels. The Romani community is known for their skills in pickpocketing and theft, and Kojak suspects that Maria may have been taken to further this criminal enterprise.

Kojak's investigation takes him to various locations across the city, from the seedy underworld of jewelry thieves to the Romani encampments scattered throughout the boroughs. Despite being met with distrust and hostility from the Romani community, Kojak never gives up on finding Maria. He even forms an unlikely alliance with Alba, Maria's older sister, who is also determined to find her.

Ultimately, Kojak's persistence pays off as he uncovers a web of lies and deceit that leads him to Maria's kidnappers. It is revealed that Maria was taken in exchange for a rare and valuable jewel that belonged to a wealthy collector. The thieves hoped to ransom the jewel back to the collector, but Kojak foils their plans and rescues Maria unharmed.

As the episode draws to a close, Kojak reunites Maria with her mother and the rest of the Romani community. In a touching moment, Maria's mother thanks Kojak for finding her daughter and acknowledges that their initial distrust of him was unfounded. The episode ends with Kojak walking away, his mission accomplished once again.

"Queen of the Gypsies" is a thrilling episode of Kojak that showcases the gritty, hardboiled nature of the series. It highlights the complex relationships between law enforcement and marginalized communities and the challenges that come with investigating crimes within these groups. The episode also features standout performances from the cast, particularly Susan Sarandon as Maria's mother. Overall, "Queen of the Gypsies" is a must-watch for fans of crime dramas and anyone looking for an engaging, character-driven story.