Miami Vice (TV Series) Sons and Lovers (1986) User Reviews

First-rate TV

[Mr-Fusion · 9/10 · 8 April 2016]

Now here's a season capper: Tubs finds out his boys can swim and Calderone's kid blows into town for some passionate Latin payback. It's poetic, really; Tubbs opened the season and he should be the one to send it off. And it's an action-packed episode; the stakes keep ratcheting right from the cold open and I remember my shock at that ending when I first watched this. In many ways, 'Sons and Lovers' marked a series pivot point. After this, changes from personnel to wardrobe to tone took effect. There's almost something bittersweet about it.

But either way, it's a winner; Johnson's and Thomas' cop show chemistry is in full swing, Leguizamo's a good bad guy and the Phil Collins song is one hell of a final note.

9/10

Great end to the season

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 24 December 2009]

Season two comes to a close with a bang when the Tubbs' past appears to be catching up with him; series one love interest Angelina Calderon returns telling him that not only is her half-brother planning to kill him but also telling him that he is the father of her child.

With their lives in danger Tubbs and Angelina are to be taken in to protective custody but corrupt DEA agents inform her brother where she is living and she is kidnapped and placed in a car packed full of explosives. Tubbs is told if he wants her to be released he must come alone to meet her brother.

Early on I thought this episode might descend into schmaltz when we get a series of flashbacks when Tubbs learns that Angelina Calderon is back in town, however it avoids that and is genuinely gripping when we don't know if Tubbs will be able to save her or not. This was a great ending to the season and left me wanting to watch the next season.

A splendid finale to the second season and another installment in the Calderone saga

[DVD_Connoisseur · 9/10 · 1 September 2007]

"Sons and Lovers" features a return of Tubbs' love interest from Season One, the beautiful Angelina Calderone(Phanie Napoli). Tubbs has a price on his head from Angelina's half brother, Ivan (John Leguizamo) and the outcome of this scenario is dramatic and shocking.

It's a shame that although the Calderone thread does continue in Season 3, Tubbs' child is never mentioned again. I guess this is one element that would have brought unnecessary complications to the series.

Stonking good entertainment, "Sons and Lovers" marks the end of the classic "Vice look" as future seasons adopted different visual styles.

9 out of 10. Music includes Roger Daltrey's "After The Fire" and Mr. Miami Vice Phil Collins' "Long Long Way To Go".

As always, the second season leaves the viewer demanding "More!"

Classic Vice

[Fluke_Skywalker · 9/10 · 25 March 2016]

"Sons and Lovers" sees our two heroes confronted by a ghost from their past in the continuing Calderone saga. Actually, Tubbs is front and center here, which is nice because--try as they might--'Vice' tends to be a tad Crockett-centric. Philip Michael Thomas--despite infamously coining the acronym E.G.O.T. (for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), a sort of showbiz award grand slam he aspired to win--is not one of our great thespians (he's currently 0-4 on his goal, though he does have a People's Choice Award), but he acquits himself reasonably well here, milking his talent for smoldering stares for all it's worth.

With a perfect synergy between the music, visuals and drama, "Son's and Lovers" is 'Miami Vice' at its near best.

One of the worst MV episodes

[karlbirchcake · 1/10 · 22 November 2023]

The positive reviews here are shocking and embarassing.

Caution: there might be some spoilers further below, so read and shake your head at your own risk

In the episode "Sons and Lovers" we have Miami Vice at its worst: dumb, lazy plot that's so bad it offends a thinking viewer and a fan of the series. If you remember fondly the classic Calderone arch from the first season, this watered down, soapy pathetic excuse for an episode will spoil it for you.

It follows all the worst and laziest patterns of screenwriting.

SPOILER: Check this "gem" of screenwriting out: Tubbs lover, a daughter of a mafia boss comes back to tell Tubbs he has a son. Of course, she hates Tubbs for killing her dad. You would think, she'll never forgive him. Luckily, Tubbs knows some black magic, cause in the next scene they are rolling around in bed like all the dad-killing and betrayal never happened! In the blink of an eye Tubbs changes from cop kidnapped (at gunpoint) by his ex-lover's mobs to dad of the month.

If you think it sounds as dumb and soapy as your grandma's Dallas/Dynasty/or whatever her tv poison was, wait for it, it gets worse.

Now there's a million dollar price on Tubbs' head, set by... you guessed it, Calderone's son, of whom nobody (except his sis, Tubb's lover) knew before...

To all those who rated this abomination of an episode higher than 5: I don't know what stuff you people took but vice should be stepping on your toes!

Not one of my favorite episodes.

[mm-39 · 4/10 · 18 November 2023]

Sons and Lovers was not one of my favorite episodes. Sons and Lovers starts out strong with a blown cover and kidnaping of Tubbs. What just does not do it for me was Tubbs relationship with Caldaron's daughter. Okay to watch the first time. Just could not get into the sub story. I know a seasonal episode of the Tubb's character. I don't know if I found the relationship unbelievable? Or the characters relations ships tragic conclusion bothersome? Maybe both. Some thing I can not explained with Sons and Lovers just rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it's the heal character of Caldaron son? Marty, Sonny, and rest of the characters portray excellent side roles. The direction and music all mixes for a good episode. Regrettably, Sons and Lovers leaves the viewer feeling empty; unless that was the intended effect of the season final! Four stars.