If you are watching the series on DVD save this episode till last as the DVD keeps the episode in broadcast order which is a pity as this is meant to be the last ever episode.
This series finale sees Crockett and Tubbs press-ganged into working for a federal agency which wants then to help General Borbon, a Latin American dictator, get out of his country before the revolutionaries take over. They say they want to help him escape because he has information which could help shut down the Columbian cartels bringing drugs into Miami. This is plausible as the cartels are determined that Borbon will stay in his country; which means killing those trying to help him escape. When Crockett and Tubbs head south they find themselves in a dangerous situation; their supposed allies don't seem at all trustworthy in fact it seems they only people they can trust are the revolutionaries! Even when they get Borbon and his daughter back to America their problems aren't over; the Columbians still want him dead and there is a leak which means Crockett and Tubbs continue to be in danger.
As the eighties drew to a close so did one of its most stylish series; the epitome of '80s cool; 'Miami Vice'. After a somewhat disappointing fifth season I was pleased that the series got a top notch send off. Earlier episodes clearly suffered from a lower budget but it is clear this one had no such problems. There is plenty of action from start to finish including car chases, numerous gun fights and several explosions. It isn't all action without meaning though; the story is solid and there is an emotional intensity as our protagonists are forced to consider whether they wish to serve in the police any longer. Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas put in the expected fine performances as Crockett and Tubbs roles they will always be best known for. Guest star Ian McShane put in a decent performance as General Borbon but it little difficult for a British viewer to see this well-known English actor as a Central American general his tan made him look the part at least!
It is a sad that the series couldn't continue but it was probably for the best that it finished with this fine episode rather than continuing with weaker and weaker episodes till it became rubbish or trying to replace key actors who were clearly ready to move on at this point.
This series finale sees Crockett and Tubbs press-ganged into working for a federal agency which wants then to help General Borbon, a Latin American dictator, get out of his country before the revolutionaries take over. They say they want to help him escape because he has information which could help shut down the Columbian cartels bringing drugs into Miami. This is plausible as the cartels are determined that Borbon will stay in his country; which means killing those trying to help him escape. When Crockett and Tubbs head south they find themselves in a dangerous situation; their supposed allies don't seem at all trustworthy in fact it seems they only people they can trust are the revolutionaries! Even when they get Borbon and his daughter back to America their problems aren't over; the Columbians still want him dead and there is a leak which means Crockett and Tubbs continue to be in danger.
As the eighties drew to a close so did one of its most stylish series; the epitome of '80s cool; 'Miami Vice'. After a somewhat disappointing fifth season I was pleased that the series got a top notch send off. Earlier episodes clearly suffered from a lower budget but it is clear this one had no such problems. There is plenty of action from start to finish including car chases, numerous gun fights and several explosions. It isn't all action without meaning though; the story is solid and there is an emotional intensity as our protagonists are forced to consider whether they wish to serve in the police any longer. Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas put in the expected fine performances as Crockett and Tubbs roles they will always be best known for. Guest star Ian McShane put in a decent performance as General Borbon but it little difficult for a British viewer to see this well-known English actor as a Central American general his tan made him look the part at least!
It is a sad that the series couldn't continue but it was probably for the best that it finished with this fine episode rather than continuing with weaker and weaker episodes till it became rubbish or trying to replace key actors who were clearly ready to move on at this point.