In its second season, Miami Vice
walks that fine line between hip and cool. Hip fades, but cool is
timeless. Then, as now, it doesn't get much cooler than this
groundbreaking and trendsetting series' promise of a "life of
adventure, exciting folks, and exotic locales," to quote one
sardonic character. But the compelling stories, cinematic trappings,
and lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry between costars Don Johnson and
Philip Michael Thomas elevate Miami Vice from time capsule
status. Likewise, the eclectic soundtrack, that would be painfully
dated had it been stuck in the '80s, is a mind-blowing shuffle of
genres and mainstream, alternative and world artists. "Prodigal
Son," the double-length episode that opens the season, features
Glenn Frey, U2, the Neville Brothers, Debbie Harry, Brian Ferry, Lou
Reed, Traffic, and Phil Collins. Collins himself portrays a con man
in one of the season's most entertaining episodes, "Phil the Shill."
Not content to just be heard, other musicians who generally eschewed
television, appeared on Miami Vice this season, adding to the
series' considerable cachet. Among them: Kiss frontman Gene Simmons
("Prodigal Son"); Miles Davis ("Junk Love"); Leonard Cohen ("French
Twist"); Ted Nugent ("Definitely Miami"); and Frank Zappa
("Payback"). Miami Vice instantly established itself as an
oasis for character actors, many at the beginning of their careers.
The second season offers early glimpses of Nathan Lane ("Buddies"),
Harvey Fierstein and a pre-Seinfeld Michael Richards as a
menacing heavy ("The Fix"), David Strathairn ("Out Where the Buses
Don't Run"), Bob Balaban ("Back in the World"), and John Leguizamo
("Sons and Lovers," which also features the unfortunate
stunt-casting of Lee Iacocca as a gun-toting parks commissioner).
Most of Miami Vice's buzz-generating episodes were in
season 1, but season 2 offers several series benchmarks. Two of
Johnson's finest hours are "Back in the World" (which he directed)
and "Buddies," two episodes that explore Crockett's Vietnam War
experience. Thomas got his chance to shine in "Prodigal Son" and
"Sons and Lovers," in which Tubbs becomes a target of the vengeful
Ivan Calderon. "Bushido" is an always-welcome showcase for
Emmy-winner Edward James Olmos as Castillo, who helps shield an
associate's Soviet wife and son from the CIA and KGB. "Out Where the
Buses Don't Run" boasts an Emmy-worthy performance by guest star
Bruce McGill (D-Day in Animal House) as an unhinged former
vice cop. Miami Vice stylishly subverted TV cop drama
convention, but despite one too many downbeat endings that freeze on
a devastated Crockett, it remains exhilarating to re-visit. There
are no extras on this three disc-set, but the episodes are enough to
make you want to party like it's 1985. --Donald Liebenson
