blood ties homicide life street blood ties episode sixth season premiere american police drama television series homicide life street episodes constitute overall episodes series originally aired nbc october october october respectively written based story directed blood ties marked appearances regular cast members replacing outgoing cast members guest appearances episodes tied story murdered domestic worker employed wealthy philanthropist played jones protagonists initially refuse properly investigate wilson family respect success contributions african american community baltimore leads tensions accusations discrimination police department storyline serves commentary racism come best intentions blood ties included additional including murder attempts police officers retaliation fatal police shooting drug dealer fifth season second episode involves murder park late season baseball game episode police investigate execution style police informant according nielsen ratings episode blood ties viewed million households second million households million households episodes received generally positive reviews plot summary return homicide unit rotation robbery find highest murder clearance rate years delighted credits success new detectives particularly lewis asks different partner questions problems old partner assigns newer detectives partnered evening attends black tie dinner honoring friend wealthy businessman respected baltimore philanthropist hotel woman found beaten death men bathroom called investigate wife regina body identify working domestic workers leave brief interviews agitated asks went easy respect wilson contributions african american community fires shots moving car lewis narrowly avoid injury escapes immediately afterward lewis called investigate shooting death woman nearby street scene find lewis speaking woman shot police later conclude real target leaving hotel somebody opens fire shoots arm suggests shooter targeting detectives involved previous fatal shooting drug dealer angry questions report death indicates shot save lewis said autopsy reports indicate beaten badly questioning associates drug supplier pressured telling lewis shooter nephew arrest find matching gun pistol prompting admit shot police send message mother death brother georgia arrested trying flee jet handle drug money following autopsy cox finds somebody sex victim death learn daughter vicious abusive boyfriend named declare primary suspect despite protests lead thin properly questioned episode ends imprisoned stating hear soon days death detectives little progress lead victim abusive boyfriend suggest look closely son sex death knew men socially respectful contributions african american community dismiss suggestion refuses ask submit blood hair sample day runs story investigation believes leaked press order distance crime question denies having sex tough questions interview tells investigation protect rich respected black family investigation learn prison months eliminating lead announces running story cleared suspect leaked police accuses leaking story accuses going easy successful black man discussion prompts heated argument accusations racism sides agrees interview believes clear tells wilson needs blood test son wilson admits sex night murder said kill later devastated insist necessarily treated suspect disbelief detectives interrupted wilson attorney says family submit blood hair test court order investigate murder park late season baseball game leaving possible suspects long_island man presumably yankees fan found beaten death stairs stadium governor maryland pressures police department solve murder game ends millions tourism dollars ticket revenues fruitless interviews question new attended game victim russell admits killed victim said baltimore_orioles better team yankees agrees confess murder let watch rest game police department continues questioning detectives shooting expresses concern lewis covering role shooting bring continues questioning runs page story accusing homicide unit investigation protecting based race pressure form superiors demands solve murder immediately admits privately wife let personal feelings respect way investigation agrees central investigation searching wilson house detectives find love letters written questions agree talk statements court confronts love letters said courage said sex known said believe demands truth admits killing jealous rage learning affair father begins read rights stops refuses let arrest son later attorney says confession evidence arrest refuses issue arrest warrant member prominent family solid case decide san_diego tells continue protecting son reluctant peace remains cold admits wrong instincts case correct tells let personal feelings cloud judgment agree bring baltimore evidence lewis investigate execution style wife presumably retaliation collins police investigation sister find collins young son jack hiding closet house terrified answer questions takes jack park bond mutual love cars teaches vehicle comfortable police jack tells man identifying answering machine voice killer disturbed recognizes voice belonging detective jack identifies lineup lewis confront evidence questioning confess murder said killing collins threatening reveal payroll production story blood ties conceived executive director supervising producers episode written producer second penned producer episodes directed respectively blood ties originally premiered october month later originally planned angered fans delay indicated regular season baseball game prominently featured second episode arc despite fact baltimore season ended september blood ties featured appearances regular cast members portrayed seattle homicide unit detective marking character appearance series previously played respective characters guest appearances character appeared fifth season finale character described department internal affairs department executive producer said thought new cast additions create drama tension characters add new people feeling like writing acting scene time think different characters audition read lines character previous episode said audition said want want female like don want sort idea said producers looking certain type terms strong woman men incorporated elements personality character strong trust instincts said treated cast starting aware fact predominantly men problem saying small dark woman terrified thought going asked experience joining said interesting interesting new regular characters replaced outgoing cast members return sixth season episode leo character said working time department fugitive unit actress leo reportedly left devote time family allegedly fired series episode character said left police work documentary filmed aired pbs won emmy award commentators said emmy mention joke things anybody references failure secure nomination primetime emmy award outstanding drama series seasons pitchers baltimore_orioles cameo appearances second blood ties episode wilson murder red ball police case involving innocent victim widely known suspects combination red ball cases tend draw attention media public high ranking police brass result additional detectives added case thought elements red ball case help produce strong season premiere tension veteran characters new detectives writers supervising producers said blood ties marked deliberate change series focusing darker story lines little unresolved relationships seasons absolutely change media outlets noted blood ties included action oriented elements car chases chase sequence involving helicopters airport denied allegations nbc executives said changes come don want style week feel conform want people know expect tune week formulaic new_york_yankees baseball team refused homicide life street permission use yankees logo episode said angered writers inspired portray yankees fans particularly negative light new_york native later portrayal said kept telling guys little harsh yankees names seen case list white board names purposely inserted inside joke homicide fans reference online rumors cast member replaced actors shannon false rumors actually leaked fans blood ties rest sixth season episodes included dvd box set homicide life street complete season released january themes portraying black members police department ignoring legitimate evidence protect prominent member baltimore african american community blood ties touches simultaneously themes police misconduct racism characters episode involves discrimination black characters blood ties described example reverse racism majority baltimore population black episode includes elements treat differently black suspect based financial success charitable contributions city african american community themes overtly addressed climatic argument blood ties arc second episode suggest questioning murder victim sex night killed accuses old stereotypes black male sexuality black men control comes blue shoes tight pants describes baltimore black run town protects points similar practices carried baltimore history italian americans irish americans primarily controlled city particular says favors called knights columbus history professor studies race united_states said blood ties provided wonderful levels race said understand caught culture struggling bring enterprise limited understanding came fully alive requires struggle realities journal article portrayal african american men homicide life street documentary historian said presentation light skinned black villains like dark skinned actors like played blood ties notion black skin color uniform regard character media outlets described watson subplot racial spin murder year old child beauty queen said similarities intended reception episode blood ties received nielsen rating constituted million households time episode homicide time slot competitor cbs households abc beat shows million households second episodes blood ties finished shows week second episode received rating constituted million households compared million nash bridges million episode received rating constituted million views compared million nash bridges million blood ties received generally positive reviews television critic described frank compelling discussions race medium episode actor word described blood ties explosive wrote smart humorous writing homicide strong performances superb ensemble actors praised episodes called complicated race class new_york_daily_news said episode helped maintain said episodes moment tonight opener edge seat entire hours moment surprise shooting shocked right feet newsday writer described blood ties brilliant drama superb piece work appears novel variation reverse discrimination episodes dallas morning news writer said solid impressions episode arc killer story line record new_jersey called episode gripping strong start terrific series praised episode said heart territory storylines particularly praised episode going outside normal conventions portraying lead characters like reluctant right thing buffalo news gave episode stars particularly praised performances said impressive job introducing new cast members arkansas democrat gazette said blood ties lived high standards said set fort worth star telegram praised blood ties said enjoy homicide life street said episode starts fast gets better intense minute described climactic argument second episode turbulent internal dispute seen detectives writer praised main story line said episode said blood ties serve good introduction series new viewers alan_sepinwall television critic star-ledger criticized addition silly action oriented scenes traditionally intelligent praised blood ties addition new cast members sepinwall particularly praised acting pitted powerhouse like holds times dramatically forceful voice sounds intimidated reviews blood ties positive said series benefited new characters episode asks viewers believe strongly inherent racism certain characters come know heroes seasons past thought clashes new detectives predictable
Blood Ties (Homicide: Life on the Street)