On paper, this episode is pretty standard Vice, but the strong execution helps lift it above average. Frank Zappa makes for a surprisingly effective and not so surprisingly quirky villain, and guest star Graham Beckel really shines as an undercover DEA agent. This is a Crocket-centric episode, and Johnson proves once again that he's at his best when Crockett is under the gun. Also of note is a nice moment for Edward James Olmos' Lt. Castillo. Olmos is a great actor, but his Castillo rarely shows any humanity. But here he has a strong, but understated ('natch), scene with Johnson where we see him peel back the armor just a tad and show the heart beating underneath.
With a nice sleight of hand twist and good guest performances, "Payback" works as a solid, effective outing for our favorite pastel-clad detectives.