Miami Vice (TV Series) Lend Me an Ear (1987) User Reviews

Playing both sides

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 14 May 2012]

After a boat chase Crockett and Tubbs are surprised to find no trace of any drugs on board as they had witnessed what appeared to be a transaction and the boat driver had no opportunity to ditch anything; and it couldn't be due to a dodgy informant as the information came from a phone tap. The target is Alexander Dykstra and he realises there must be a leak so he gets his place swept for bugs; the man he employs soon finds and destroys the phone tap. Not having access to the best surveillance equipment the police go to a private contractor; Steve Duddy, an ex-cop and coincidentally the man Dykstra employed to find the police tap! Duddy sees this as an opportunity and provides bugs for the police to use then goes and finds them... getting paid by both sides! He has no problem with this until he sees Dykstra murder a woman; he doesn't go to the police though; he does however use his equipment to point the police towards Dykstra.

This was an enjoyable episode; less gritty than many of this season but a lot of fun. The opening boat chase along a river which culminated in a boat jumping onto a road! The story was interesting and was a nice twist when we learn what was actually being smuggled by Dykstra. Guest star John Glover, who played surveillance expert Duddy was the highlight of the show, he did a great job; thankfully he wasn't made a comedy character even though he was funny at times. The other guest star, Yorgo Voyagis, did a decent job as Dykstra although he had less to work with as his character was an outright villain. Over all this is a fine episode; ideal if you want some good action without things getting too dark.

Better than I thought it was going to be.

[kitteninbritches · 9/10 · 15 February 2021]

I wasn't expecting much from the synopsis but was glad I watched this episode. Usual quota of violence but it was also quirky and amusing and quite suspenseful too. Not to mention educational! I know a lot more about bugging premises etc than I used to :) Suitably nasty villain and good interaction between Crockett, Tubbs and the ex-cop.

Deja vu

[SimonSaysSmallScreen · 8/10 · 29 November 2022]

This episode reminds me of the 1974 F. F. Coppola film "The Conversation" starring Gene Hackman as the surveillance expert whose paranoia drives him nuts at the end. The fantastic closing scene of him tearing his own apartment apart millimeter by millimeter, looking for bugs. In this case, the expert is playing both sides, so the route to paranoia is short and direct. And, the concept is introduced early by the character himself, in so many words, so we know what's coming. I have to imagine that Michael Mann was thinking of the film; after all, who could resist a nod to Coppola? Just another reason Miami Vice was so much fun.

Miami Vice Meets Fistful of Dollars

[errol1909 · 10/10 · 22 October 2008]

There are many aspects of 3 that are related to the western genre. The other seasons don't present that, unless you talk about Season 4 pitiful, parody of the western Cows of October. I don't even want to talk about that episode or season, because it's not the Miami Vice that I love. Only 3 I love. Forget the rest. As I was saying before about 3, there are many references of western films and the culture. For a few examples.

Let's start with the phenomenal episode of El Viejo. That episode was one perfect blend of Vice meets the Wild West. With it's terrific mixture of western music, showdowns, and the man in the middle who represented the Wild West. The western 80's vibe themes of Jan Hammer and the two perfectly mixed western songs of 80's artists added a perfect western feel. Especially Cactus World News, "State of Emergency" that highlighted the sensational western showdown climax in the cemetery that had a The Good, the Bad and the Ugly feel to it. Let's also not forget about the western dude of Willie Nelson playing a Texas Ranger of the past added the perfect touch to this amazingly, outstanding classic episode. I love it in every way.

Another episode that was featured in 3 that had western shades was The Afternoon Plane, which in contrast was a modern day version of High Noon. Most of the scenes featured in this episode were from that classic film. The small town, the villains, the women, and the whole arch of the story. Of course the writers changed a few things here and there. It's a great episode, but in my opinion the least greatest episode of 3.

Now we come to the episode Lend Me An Ear which this review is supposed to be about. Lend Me An Ear in my honest opinion is a modern day version of Fistful of Dollars. Of course the story is extremely different from that classic film. There are though a lot of similarities that remind me of Fistful of Dollars. First of course the Man with No Name in this episode is Duddy played with such charisma and perfection by the great John Glover. One of the most underrated actors. Duddy is the man who milks for the green. He wants it and will do anything to get it. Even playing both sides in the episode of the good and the bad. In this case the good are Crockett and Tubbs and the bad is Dykstra played by Yorgo Yarvis. A unknown Greek actor who does an marvelous job in his role. In Fistful the Man with the No Name played both sides for the green and at the end realized he was wrong in doing what he was doing.

In this episode Duddy plays Crockett and Tubbs for the money and then in turn plays Dykstra for the same thing. Duddy knows what he is doing as did the Man with No Name. Duddy is sly and slick. He's a smooth one. So is his counterpart Dkystra. Who fits the bill of Rojas from Fistful. Rojas was a cold blooded, psycho who relished in the thrill of killing people. Take for instance the massacre of the solders with the Gatling gun. Dkystra is the exact same. Only when he kills he gives his victims an insanely, evil smile and then points a gun at them and fires away. Take for instance the way he did his super hot girlfriend Trace and his client McGregor. Both went out with a smile.

Those are the similarities of Lend Me An Ear that represent Fistful in some way or the other. The episode itself is completely engaging, fun, and thrilling. Another classic great from 3. Everything about the episode clicks perfectly. Also just like Fistful, Lend Me An Ear has a thrilling, exciting, and stylish climax. The episode also has the second best opening of 3 with the speedboat chase and an absolute moody and very cool scene of Crockett, Tubbs, and Switek bugging their opponents house accompanied in the background of the dreary but great song "Climb" by Peter Himmelman that adds a dreamy feel to the scene.

This is another episode that is not to be missed. More great cinematography of Oliver Wood and top notch directing from James Quinn. Quinn in my opinion was the best director of Miami Vice. He was outstanding in shooting action sequences and had a deadly eye for the camera to capture style and grittiness. It's a shame the guy never got anywhere in movies. He's a hell of a lot better than any filmmaker in this day and age we live in now that is supposed to be called film-making. In reality it's called garbage. See Lend Me An ear. You'll love it!

Better watching the second time around!

[mm-39 · 7/10 · 25 December 2023]

Lend Me an Ear when I first watched the episode I found the 45 minutes entertaining. I remember watching Lend Me an Ear and my sister said look the old Joker from the Adam West Batman series. Many years latter during re watching I found Lend Me an Ear better watching the second time around! What makes Lend Me an Ear better: The drug deal M T V style boat chase was incredible. A horrid bad guy, (tight, cold and smart) hires a surveillance expert who plays both sides in a creepy Joker style way. Great casting using the Joker. After blowing Vices fuse and bugs the Joker gets hired by Sonny. The viewer experiences 80's high teck while being played by the Joker. Wow a memorable ending kind of like the Manhunter movie ending. Well Johnson has a memorable surveillance payback for a tight revenge done in Crockets style. Enjoyable to watch seven stars.