Ep 14. Weaver of Hate

Detective Sipowicz has got a sudden burst of obsession with closing up the case of the murder of a colleague, Arthur Fancy, that happened a while back. He is convinced that the murder was racially motivated, as Arthur was the only black detective on the squad, and he believes that the murderer was a white supremacist. Sipowicz's suspicion leads him to a group of neo-Nazis who are known for distributing hate literature among civilians.

Simultaneously, a wealthy executive is found dead in a hotel room, seemingly having lived an outwardly successful life. The detectives begin to investigate his life, only to find out that he was harboring a series of dark secrets, including infidelity and drug abuse. They begin to piece together how his secrets could have contributed to his untimely death.

Sipowicz's obsession with the hate group leads him into the dangerous underworld of white supremacists. He comes face to face with their racist beliefs, and finds out that they are extremely secretive and do not hesitate to use violence to maintain their iron grip on their cult. He becomes a target of their attacks, and his investigation is threatened with termination by higher-ups who think it is too dangerous.

The group has a leader, a charismatic man named John Irvin, who has managed to brainwash his followers into committing a series of violent acts against minorities. He is dismissive of the police's investigation, confident that his followers will remain loyal to him, despite their involvement being exposed.

Sipowicz and his colleagues race against time to bring the murderers of Arthur Fancy to justice, while also solving the high-profile murder of the executive. Sipowicz is determined to get justice for his colleague and also put an end to the hate group's operations. But in the end, his investigation takes a personal turn, and he finds himself questioning his own beliefs and biases.

The episode deals with tough issues such as racism, bigotry, and discrimination, and is intense and thought-provoking. The script is well-written, and the acting is top-notch, with standout performances from Dennis Franz and the guest actor who portrays the charming yet dangerous John Irvin. The episode expertly weaves together the various plotlines and keeps the viewer engaged throughout. Overall, Weaver of Hate is a standout episode in the long-running and critically acclaimed series, NYPD Blue.