S1e1 - Pilot [Part 2]

Hanson arrives for his first day back at high school and gets into a fight with Waxer over a parking space before the first bell rings. Waxer kicks the mustang, so Hanson retaliates by scratching up his car. The fight is swiftly broken up by a teacher and when neither cop to who started it, they're both sent to the principal's office. Hanson's got a reputation, and now he's got a parent teacher meeting after school the following night.

He's also got two problems, one in the form of Waxer threatening his life and another in the form of Kenny Weckerly who unfortunately also goes to this school. A third crops up in English class with the lovely Wendy -who loves to party – sending notes and flirting with everyone's favourite undercover officer.

Hanson manages to aggravate the English teacher, when tasked with helping Wendy with her prepositional problems, he rephrases “Where's the cafeteria at?” as “Where's the cafeteria at, dork?” (as opposed to “Schmoa” in the Anchor Bay pilot) and earns a part in the school play for his trouble.

Wendy continues her flirting, and Hanson tries to let her down gently, until he has to hide from Kenny, and then he gives Wendy a quick smooch and gets shoved by a football player in reward. 

Unfortunately for Hanson he gets paired up with Kenny for play rehearsal and almost gets busted as a cop but luckily for him Kenny mistakes him for someone who used to date his sister. Hanson tries to buddy up to Kenny, but he's having none of it and then Wendy's back trying for another game of tonsil tennis with Hanson, he swiftly gets shot of her by pretending he gave her friend a coldsore.

Waxer wants his money and Hanson comes to play hero, the principal intervenes before Waxer manages to stab him and is warned he's a killer.

Back at the chapel Hanson's trying to debrief , but the rest of the gang are too busy playing frisbee and playfighting to co-operate. Eventually he gets his debriefing, Ioki's managed to get a drug dealer with Hoffs' help and Hanson pulls out his own notes, much to Penhall's disbelief. Here comes an arc for season 1, Hanson's republican, uses long words and desperately clings to procedure. He has a stick up his ass.

Jenko tells Ioki and Hanson to go stake out, and Penhall and Hoffs wish him well. Ioki can't drive well, and removed the seatbelts from his car to save weight. Ioki and Hanson start talking about their lives, and then Ioki brings up Hanson's father, asking what he won the medal of valour for, “getting killed” replies Hanson touchily. There's no time to brood however, because Kenny's on the move, using his scooter to deliver papers and steal jewelry in some smash and grabs.

Ioki starts the chase which ends with one car crashing, kenny riding his scooter down some steps and then they're pulled over by Charlie who has a couple of quips for Hanson “I didn't recognise you without the bandage across your partner's nose!”

After being taunted about wrecking his car, Ioki and Penhall flirt with Hoffs, which culminates in “Make you wish you could play basketball doesn't she?” “Black jokes, from you?” asks Penhall.

Meanwhile Hanson uses his dad's old connection to fast track some needed paperwork to help the case with Kenny. Jenko's got the parent teacher meeting later with Hanson's principal.

Kenny finds Waxer in the garage, and freaks to find that they've sold parts from his father's car. He becomes sentimental over his dad's clarinet and tells Waxer he owes him the difference for the car. Waxer insists he owes him nothing. Kenny gives him a stolen camera and asks if they're even now. Waxer smugly tells him he'll never get even.

Parent-teacher time! Jenko's playing the part of Hanson's dad, and immediately ruffles his feathers by calling him "sport" again. There's a father-son verbal spat and the principal intervenes, Jenko tries to get out of the tough love program, citing long hours at work. The principal however, ain't buying it and somehow they find themselves scheduled for football at 8'oclock Wednesday night. Hanson thinks Jenko made it look like he was raised by Walt Disney, after a few snide remarks Hanson's tasked with getting an address for Waxer.

Ioki and Hanson start tailing Waxer. From his house, to some dump, to a posh looking restaurant. Whilst Waxer has a business meeting with Ace concerning something in the back of his truck, Hanson tries to be inconspicuous by ordering a light, and gets ticked off with the bartender who decides to joke around based on an ad. Hanson flashes his badge, threatens to report him speeding up the acquisition of his beer but unfortunately ends up leaving before getting a sip.

After some back and forth with an unwilling cab driver, the chase is on. The cab driver gets a little too close to Waxer's car however, rear ending it, and Waxer shoots the window out, convinced Hanson is following him. Unable to go further due to the abysmal state of the taxi cab Hanson throws a tantrum in the back before calling Jenko to let him know they messed up and tells him about the shooting. Jenko is impressively worried and tells him to forget about the cabs, cabs are easier to come by than good cops. A sweet sentiment, especially in this first episode as you get the general feeling that Hanson is desperate to prove he's a good cop, to live up to the impression left by his father and here's Jenko giving him much needed support. Hanson's instructed to go pick up Kenny, more for his protection than anything else. However Waxer gets there first and gives him a little reward in the form of a speedballer's mix.

The next day at school Hanson's desperate to find Kenny but he's an elusive guy and most people have no idea where he is. Seeking privacy, Kenny's in the locker room shooting up, and Hanson gets into another discussion with Wendy, who eventually lets him know where she saw Kenny. He's halfway to dead when Hanson finds him unconscious on the locker room floor.
Whilst he's loaded into an ambulance, Ioki and Jenko take down Waxer's friend Ace in an impressive kick the door in, go in all guns blazing arrest.

Hanson's on a guilt trip, blaming himself for the fact that Waxer gave Kenny a hot shot. Hoffs tries to explain that people who shoot junk and do drugs are going to end up dead. Maybe not right away, maybe after a lot of pain, but they're going to die. Kenny's family try to make amends and Hanson interrupts to talk to him. Kenny's angry to find out Hanson's a cop (which is weird because he'd already met him previously as a cop) Even weirder, "That sucks!" is overdubbed to "That stinks!" and Hanson's accused of being  a double agent turning in his buddies, and Hanson sharply tells Kenny, he's no buddy of his.

After Kenny refuses to acknowledge Waxer was trying to kill him, and spouts off a a few too many wisecracks, straight lace Tom Hanson shows he's got a touch of the dark side in him and slaps the taste out of Kenny not once, but twice. He then threatens to kick Kenny's tail until he tells him where he can find Waxer, and Kenny cries like a baby.

Apparently it didn't take long for Kenny to break because Hoffs shows up at Waxer's headquarters on a motorbike with Penhall, Hoffs wants an 8-track from Waxer, and she's eventually invited in but Penhall has to stay outside, causing worry for Jenko and Hanson. the wire's found

and a shoot out ensues (the set moves) when Penhall busts in through the door swiftly followed by the rest of the Jump Street gang. Shots are fired and Waxer's buddy gets hit. Penhall and Ioki appropriately freaked out when Jenko has to return fire and shoots the kid. It's easy to forget watching out of order, but they've only been in Jump Street a few weeks ahead of Hanson, and they're all 21 years old. They're not much older than the kid Jenko just shot, and they're pretty inexperienced, something that gets explored throughout the first and second seasons especially.

Waxer takes his opportunity to make a get away but unfortunately runs head first into Hanson's mustang. He then tries to shoot at him, and a chase on foot ensues,with Hanson tearing after him through the subway, Something that would go on to be used in the opening credits. Hanson dives on Waxer and tells him he's under arrest and after a crack about his masculinity and a few punches, Hanson gets the best of him, throws him to the ground bleeding, before getting his gun snarling "You're under arrest, Tyrell!"

The calvary arrive in the form of the rest of the Jump Street gang, and Hanson and Hoffs have another flirty moment. Hanson even asks Jenko what's her deal, but is told he'd never make the weight. It's a shame none of this ever went anywhere. They were still throwing subtle hints in Season 4 of all places.

Kenny assures Noreen and Hanson he's going to do ok, they have a moment, which is nice to see after the slapping from earlier. Kenny seems to be back on track at this point.



Back at the chapel, Penhall's moaning about Hanson and the fact that he's only been here a week yet nabbed himself three big collars and set Kenny off into rehab. He makes a jab about gold stars on report cards before sliding down the fireman's pole to land at Hanson's feet. Ioki and Hoffs say they're impressed with Hanson and insist if Penhall's complaining so much he is too.

He finally admits it, but there's a definite thread of animosity between the two in this first episode. I think it's running on jealousy. Hanson wants to debrief but is told no one debriefs on Friday nights as Jenko plays guitar with his band. Hanson gatecrashes the party, saxaphone in hand and they jam out to "Shotgun" for the credits.

 Music featured in this episode:

Higher Love - Steve Winwood 
Split Decision – Steve Winwood
Freedom Overspill – Steve Winwood
And the orchestra plays – LA Dream Team
Truckin' – Grateful Dead
Shotgun – JR Walker

S1e1 - Pilot [part 1]

We begin with domestic bliss, peppered with a dash of teenage rebellion as Noreen interrupts dinner with idle gossip about a friend's old man being busted and a blast of Steve Winwood. Dad's none too pleased with music at the dinner table. Kenny arrives (abruptly ending the music as he does so) and there's some back and forth about clarinet. Understandably he's none too happy about having to learn his father's instrument. This is the 80's after all, the clarinet just doesn't scream "cool".
Here comes Waxer, busting a fist through the french doors, wearing a cheap knock-off version of the "Beat it" jacket, looking like an angry Michael Jackson.

"Stay quiet, stay alive" he threatens, and Kenny's mother immediately wails frantically. Perhaps she misunderstood the direct instruction from the man with the gun.
Turns out Kenny owes six grand,  but has a cash flow problem and is in desperate need of time.
Time's up however, and Waxer takes his payment by shooting the TV into smithereens and commandeering Dad's jag from the driveway.  Waxer's sidekick wangles the deal by saying it's the keys for the car or they're taking Noreen to the prom. He's a terrible actor by the way.
Dad goes to call the police, despite Kenny's frantic pleas not to.

Enter young Hanson and his mentor Charlie.
They're debating the finer points of policing. Hanson's young, inexperienced, and already showing neon signs of heroism. He has a high moral code, and he's not afraid to get on his high horse and ride.

He's also got a temper, and a reputation that precedes him. Charlie fills us in on the fact that Hanson already broke the noses of his two previous partners.  He goes in hot and ready to kick tail (badly over dubbed where their mouths clearly state "ass".)
Charlie brings up the elephant in the room - Hanson's extremely youthful visage. He has a baby face, and it's the button everyone likes to push. He then mentions knowing Hanson's dad, another sore point for our young rookie, and one that shapes him for the entire series.
A call comes in and off they speed, dousing Hanson in hot coffee as they go.

 Charlie and Hanson arrive to interview the Weckerly family, with Charlie taking the lead. Noreen likes what she sees and does some unsubtle eye flirting with young looking Tommy.

The jokes start about Hanson's youthful looks, with cracks about how he looks like Ducky from "Pretty in pink" and is allowed to drink coffee until 10pm. Since he graduated top of his class in the academy and recently completed domestics, Charlie lets him take the lead trying to talk to Kenny. 

Hanson goes in with the softly-softly approach telling Kenny it's not against the law to be afraid and generally playing good cop. Kenny won't tell him spit and Hanson replies with one of my favourite lines in the early series, "But what happens if they come back?" 

I think it's the way Johnny Depp delivers it. Hanson's not cowed by Kenny's attitude, In fact he seems to know exactly where this scared kid is coming from, perhaps stemming from his bullying issues that crop up in later episodes and were touched upon briefly in the conversation with Charlie in the panda, about him being such a good target. Kenny takes off, and Hanson merely watches him go. 

After a couple of quips Charlie lets Hanson drive, and there's a store robbery in process. Charlie's suspicion sensor is activated by the car and so they pull up beside and the chase is on! 

Lights and sirens, boxes flying and Charlie's clinging to his seat for dear life. 

"You said we were in pursuit, I'm pursuing!" screams Hanson driving hectically down a one way street. 

Mid-arrest (and after Charlie reminds Hanson to pull out his gun!) Charlie goes to call it in, the radio being damaged during their mad dash. The criminals start taunting Hanson about his age, and the fact he doesn't look old enough to be a cop. A fight ensues, two of the criminals escape in the police car, a gun shot goes off in the tussle, scaring Charlie who races back to find Hanson getting the better of one crook and smacking him repeatedly off the front of his own car. In the confusion Charlie ends up with a broken nose, making Hanson three for three with giving his partner's free rhinoplasty. 

Back at the station Hanson's getting ribbed from all sides, there's only Charlie sticking up for him in the locker room. Summoned to the Captain's office, Hanson goes expecting to be chewed out. He's reassured he's a good but too angry, too much of a liability, nobody wants to ride with Tom anymore. The captain introduces Hanson to the Jump Street chapel initiative, an undercover unit operating out of a chapel for young looking cops in Hanson's predicament to bust High school kids. Hanson doesn't like the sound of it but reconsiders once he learns it's either Jump Street or desk job until he looks old enough to be  taken seriously as a cop. 

We get another mention of Hanson's dad, and then we get  a sentimental moment of Tom playing saxophone (weird instrument choice for him) and he remembers a call from his dad. Finally Hanson arrives at the chapel and meets Penhall and Ioki. There's many a joke about Hanson's hair and the fact he looks like he could be on the student council.

He goes to see Captain Jenko, a 60's hippie type, and really laid back. Hanson doesn't take well to this. He prefers rules. And order.
Hanson prefers coffee and omelettes for breakfast but Jenko assures him these are out. As part of the "Pepsi Generation" he's going to survive on pizza, soda and potato chips from now on. Jenko then commits the cardinal sin of calling him sport before introducing Hanson to Hoffs.
There's a bit of a spark here, and it seemed like they were heading for Hanson/Hoffs for the majority of season 1 before it slowly petered out.

 Through the power of montage Hoffs gets Hanson a make over, the Jack Kennedy hair cut goes, and now there's jeans with a leather jacket. She introduces him to the fun world of being an 80's teenager. Arcades, junk food and music. Hanson baulks at getting his ear pierced though.
Penhall kickstarts Hanson's first field operation by throwing a bottle at Jenko's van, before letting Hanson make the buy after some teasing and briefing. Jenko says "Ya dig?" a lot. It could almost be his catchphrase. Hanson's given strict instructions not to make a bust.
However the buy doesn't go down smooth, Jase is too condescending and trigger happy, pulling a gun on Hanson who's temper gets the best of him after a crack about his age, and he takes him down and arrests him .

Unfortunately, all he bought was socks and ended up blowing six months of undercover work. Jenko is not happy.
Kenny Weckerly is robbing things whilst doing his paperround, desperately trying to raise the money he owes.
In the chapel parking lot, Penhall gets a few shots in at Hanson before admiring the mustang. Hoffs lets us know that Hanson's screw up turned out well in the end, as Jase had committed murder earlier.

Hanson tries to have a bonding moment with Penhall over cars but alas it's Hoffs' and the moment's lost. This starts a weird arc in season 1 where Hanson and Penhall don't seem to like each other at all. Which is a weird early installment thing because fans of the show know they go on to become really close buddies. It'll be interesting as I rewatch and review to note when the animosity starts to clear and what exactly cements their friendship into the beautiful bromance it becomes in the future. Since they're not yet the Hanson and Penhall duo they will become,  Hanson and Hoffs have a moment, and he helps fix her car.

The group are  sharing their progress at various high schools in the chapel, none of them doing anything remotely taxing, and Penhall gets in another dig about Hanson screwing up the night before. He gives as good as he gets, their arguments are quite petty. Jenko hands him a folder, and  Hanson's got his first undercover assignment at a high school.

Music featured in this episode:

 Split Decisions - Steve Winwood
The Finer Things - Steve Winwood
Back in the high life again - Steve Winwood
Take it as it comes - Steve Winwood 

Welcome

Inspired by the "Boy Meets World" reviewed blog, I've created this one where I can recap and review the episodes of  the original 21 Jump Street TV show chronologically.

The show debuted on Fox in 1987 and ran for five seasons, some more popular than others.

I'll be recapping and reviewing the German box set, which contains the original music and scenes removed from the other world wide releases.