Episode #97 "Asian Cut"

[ivoryjones]

On 4/15/2017 at 2:26 PM, Crockettt said:

Yes, Exactly. Did you notice that Don's face in S5 looks so different than in previous seasons ?

Yes! That's very strange. I guess that only a few months passed by between S4 and S5. Yet, he seemed so different already on Hostile Takeover. I can't remember whether he got better or not on later movies like Hot Spot and Paradise

[Matt5]

Really enjoyed "Asian Cut" 9/10

[Remington]

One of my favorites of S5. I think its the first S5 episode I saw.

This is where the photography gets really gloomy. Its suits this one.

Love Under The Milky Way. Beautiful and haunting.

The professor was sure as hell weird. Dig his house.

What is up with that first outfit Gina wears lol.

Olivia Brown gives a good performance.

The finale is a little over the top but well done.

Just love the dark almost horror vibe of this episode.

9/10

Edited May 25, 2017 by Remington

[Matt5]

On 5/25/2017 at 8:59 PM, Remington said:

One of my favorites of S5. I think its the first S5 episode I saw.

This is where the photography gets really gloomy. Its suits this one.

Love Under The Milky Way. Beautiful and haunting.

The professor was sure as hell weird. Dig his house.

What is up with that first outfit Gina wears lol.

Olivia Brown gives a good performance.

The finale is a little over the top but well done.

Just love the dark almost horror vibe of this episode.

9/10

Great review @Remington

[Matt5]

I’m going to watch “Line of Fire”, “Asian Cut” and”Hard Knocks” tonite - I always enjoy these episodes. 

[RedDragon86]

Dark episode. I give it 7/10.

Edited February 5, 2020 by RedDragon86

[RedDragon86]

On 4/15/2017 at 6:26 PM, Crockettt said:

 

 

Yes, Exactly. Did you notice that Don's face in S5 looks so different than in previous seasons ?

Its a shame he wasn't as motivated as he was in season 4, because this season is much more consistent.

Edited February 5, 2020 by RedDragon86

[Matt5]

Very good episode -  10/10.

 

[Jack Gretsky]

I tend to like the "weird" ones like this one.  Since I'm long familiar with the show "Wings," I had to chuckle at David Schramm's "fake sincere" voice during the first half of this episode.  There's no way Roy Biggins was going to stay a nice & soft-spoken professor by the finale!

[sdiegolo78]

On 5/19/2018 at 7:48 PM, Matt5 said:

I’m going to watch “Line of Fire”, “Asian Cut” and”Hard Knocks” tonite - I always enjoy these episodes. 

great choices!

[FlemFan]

The cuts run deep . . . not to mention, Jamie Foxx's first MV appearance.

[ViceFanMan]

This is one of the few good ones of Season 5! The plot, acting, colors, fashion, action, suspense, the bizarre & wild, all come together to create one "heck" of an episode!

 

Love the bum at the beginning that tries to explain to Crockett and Tubbs that there's a body in the alley...that dude was a pretty darn good character actor--unless they used a real-life bum soused on booze?  

 

What's this...Crockett is finally wearing a pastel shirt with a white jacket again? Awesome!!  I've also noticed that Sonny is now taken to wearing faded/ripped jeans with his jackets instead of the dress pants. This was kind of a cool change for him and I liked it. But, Fred Dryer as Rick Hunter, on the 80's cop drama Hunter, is actually kind of the one who made the jeans with the sports jacket popular.

 

I love Trudy's hooker outfit at the beginning too...the colors are superb and so 80s! I also noticed a new "outter" area, and/or questioning rooms, and/or hallway at the OCB...with more modern dark grey walls but neon colored lighting! That's more of a 90's thing and totally reminds me of Silk Stalkings--the 90s most popular cop drama on the USA network. I loved it, too and thought it was cool! 

 

The plot was wild and bizarre...which I like things like that! I usually like wild serial killer episodes and storylines that keep me captivated and on edge--and "Asian Cut" was definitely in that category. David Schramm was the perfect psycho as Professor Halliwell...he was creepy and all-out evil!! He freaked me out! Loved how we got to hear the "ooing and ahhing" (in Halliwell's mind), supposedly from the mannequin admirers of his sick torture pictures...he later even tries to comfort/shush one when Trudy was after him...like it could hear or understand him--that was crazy, but kind of hilarious on TV, too.  

 

I also found the grey-haired Asian guy Tegoro freaky too--the knives stuck in hands as art was sick but it was supposed to be. I too agree that Castillo wouldn't know every single Asian symbol or marking out there...there would be tons he might not immediately recognize and would need help identifying them. I actually liked that aspect, that he wanted Professor Halliwell's help (before he realized the good professor was the psycho)...it made Castillo more "real" and not some mythical figure that somehow always "magically" knows that kind of thing. 

 

The acting and depth for this one was pretty good! Everyone did a fantastic job--especially Trudy! I love how Trudy at the end gets to take down Halliwell--very emotional for her, and I love the scene between her and Crockett! However, I didn't think Gina was given a big enough part...she was more "sidelines" in this one. I also don't know what the heck they were thinking, but Gina's clothes/ fashion & hairdo in this were horrible! The ugly braided ponytail for her hair; then the colossal-sized, butt-ugly scarf hanging down over an oversized jacket---it was hideous! But, it was probably in style in the 80s and that's just the way it was.

 

The songs included in this one were cool and helped set the mood or tone...with Under the Milkey Way by The Church, and Here It Is, Take It! by That Petrol Emotion! I also felt that the amount of gore/blood allowed in this episode was notable...as even with MV, in the 80s that kind of blood still usually wasn't allowed.

 

The torture of Trudy towards the end, with the electrocution in her feet, was also somewhat "pushing" it for the time. This one is "dark" but realistic, tragic but captivating! However, there were some previous serial killer episodes that were better. I originally gave this a 10...but in all honesty that’s probably too high. In Season 5, the only episode worthy of a 10 (in my opinion) was “Heart of Night”. But, this one still deserves an 8 (which for Season 5 is definitely sayin’ somethin’)!  

[Dadrian]

I know we’ve all noticed many scenes where DJ’s stunt double Bobby J. Foxworth is a little too obvious in higher definition, but has anyone ever noticed that he actually has a speaking part in this episode?

Near the end when C&T break into Haliwell’s home at night, that entire scene is  Foxworh. When T&C are in the dark on the staircase (with the reporter hanging behind them), Bobby’s silhouette is remarkably close to DJ’s, but he sounds nothing like DJ when he says, “What’d you find?”, and “Let’s go!”

Check it our next time.  

[Tom]

vor 13 Stunden schrieb Dadrian:

I know we’ve all noticed many scenes where DJ’s stunt double Bobby J. Foxworth is a little too obvious in higher definition, but has anyone ever noticed that he actually has a speaking part in this episode?

Near the end when C&T break into Haliwell’s home at night, that entire scene is  Foxworh. When T&C are in the dark on the staircase (with the reporter hanging behind them), Bobby’s silhouette is remarkably close to DJ’s, but he sounds nothing like DJ when he says, “What’d you find?”, and “Let’s go!”

Check it our next time.  

Wow1 I ve never noticed that before and I thought I had seen and dissected that episode often enough, but you´re absolutely right. That´s Bobby Foxworth in all scenes playing in Halliwell´s home.

[Eillio Martin Imbasciati]

I'm glad that this episode was brought up today, I've been meaning to comment on it. I think It's a Trudy episode that sneaks up on you, but it's even-handed in the sense that the entire Vice team gets to do things, and I REALLY like that.

That Stuart Whitley, I feel that he's a total weenie for sure.

Wow, I love the look Trudy gives when Mr. Dyson walks away, and then she says to Tubbs, "He certainly has his grief down pat". I'd also like to mention that what Tubbs is wearing there makes me thinks he looks like a bodyguard for Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation (knowing Tubbs and how he likes to dance, this wouldn't surprise me).

I also love the voice Trudy uses with Sandy Dyson when she pretends to be Cookie.

I feel bad for the Sandy Dyson character on a few different levels, but I have to say that Julie Brams had a nice run playing different characters on Vice. Her Sandy is probably my favorite of the three (I can relate to being a real self-starter).

How about that Cheryl Stone, guess Cheryl's a real bitch.

I thought Tegoro was a fun & dangerous red herring here, and I like how that after Mr. Dyson is offed in the club he just casually walks aways from it.

Carlos Escobar...wow, no introduction necessary for that fella; he'd fit right in at The Temple of Doom.

I'd also like to mention Gina's voice that she uses on the phone for the escort scene; with what Trudy did with her Cookie earlier, it's Voices (Hi, Russ Ballard, what up?)!

Ooh, "Under the Milky Way"...I love that song; I think it's darkly beautiful & dreamy, my kind of tune.

Eric Haliwell, well, I like that he's a professor, but it seems that Geri Halliwell is a safer choice.

Overall, I think this episode is fantastic (so many different elements at play: mystery, creepiness, sadness, failed redemption, madness, sadism); no nit-picks for me, 5/5.

 

Edited October 14, 2021 by Eillio Martin Imbasciati
capitalization

[Jack Gretsky]

On 9/11/2020 at 12:45 AM, Jack Gretsky said:

I tend to like the "weird" ones like this one.  Since I'm long familiar with the show "Wings," I had to chuckle at David Schramm's "fake sincere" voice during the first half of this episode.  There's no way Roy Biggins was going to stay a nice & soft-spoken professor by the finale!

This was a good slice of Vice.  Wait, that came out wrong, considering the ghastly stuff going on in this episode.  What I mean is that this is my kind of classic Vice ep - it's enthralling all the way, even with that obnoxious Aussie photojournalist. Both Trudy and Gina get to do some good scenes, the first time that's happened for awhile. (I especially like the scene between Trudy and Sandy in the alleyway.)  And one of the few outstanding songs of the season, "Under the Milky Way."  

I'm always rambling on about "atmosphere" and "texture" regarding this show - a good example is the breeze seen gently swaying tree leaves during nocturnal scenes in this episode.  Evocative.  Or the faint yellow seen in a passageway Tubbs and Crockett enter near the end, the exterior behind them bathed in dark blue.  Miami Vice, in scenes like these, is true pop art. 

Edited November 19, 2021 by Jack Gretsky

[Jack Gretsky]

On 8/24/2021 at 6:10 PM, ViceFanMan said:

Love the bum at the beginning that tries to explain to Crockett and Tubbs that there's a body in the alley...that dude was a pretty darn good character actor--unless they used a real-life bum soused on booze?  

 

 

Yes, I wondered too about that actor.  He was quite authentic from what I've seen in real life. 

[ViceFanMan]

51 minutes ago, Jack Gretsky said:

Yes, I wondered too about that actor.  He was quite authentic from what I've seen in real life. 

I know...he and the bum used in “Death and the Lady” seemed almost too real to be an actor trying to play the part! It’s almost like they just grabbed real-life bums from an ally, and gave em a few bucks to do a couple quick scenes. But, I’m sure they probably were just character actors doing superb jobs. 

[Eillio Martin Imbasciati]

12 hours ago, Jack Gretsky said:

This was a good slice of Vice.  Wait, that came out wrong, considering the ghastly stuff going on in this episode.  What I mean is that this is my kind of classic Vice ep - it's enthralling all the way, even with that obnoxious Aussie photojournalist. Both Trudy and Gina get to do some good scenes, the first time that's happened for awhile. (I especially like the scene between Trudy and Sandy in the alleyway.)  And one of the few outstanding songs of the season, "Under the Milky Way."  

I'm always rambling on about "atmosphere" and "texture" regarding this show - a good example is the breeze seen gently swaying tree leaves during nocturnal scenes in this episode.  Evocative.  Or the faint yellow seen in a passageway Tubbs and Crockett enter near the end, the exterior behind them bathed in dark blue.  Miami Vice, in scenes like these, is true pop art. 

I think 'Asian Cut' has the kind of episode content that would play well on an episode of "Dexter" (love "Dexter", and the books as well).

[sdiegolo78]

Loved this one too! For me an 8 for sure.

David Schramm's character had that creepy vibe you could tell something was off right-away...even the first time watching the show. But of course nobody suspected him being the murderer (except maybe the Aussie reporter Stuart Whitley) until the end when Sonny using his intuition links him with Carlos Escobar. Glad Trudy shot him in the end. Very rewarding to watch. Furthermore Tubbs nails Escobar

 

[sdiegolo78]

On 4/15/2017 at 6:26 PM, Crockettt said:

Yes, Exactly. Did you notice that Don's face in S5 looks so different than in previous seasons ?

In what way?

[apocalypse]

One of the best episodes of S5 for sure. The actor who played the crazy doctor was pretty damn good. Carlos was good too. And that nosy reporter was cartoonish but he also played his role well. Superb acting by Trudy as well.

Very violent and perverse theme but this was one of the few S5 episodes that worked for me. 

[RedDragon86]

On 2/28/2022 at 11:04 PM, sdiegolo78 said:

In what way?

He is much more motivated, especially between seasons 1-3.

By season 5 he looks disinterested and bored.

Season 1 for example, he looks on the ball.

Season 5 he looks stoned 

Edited September 22, 2022 by RedDragon86

[ViceFanMan]

40 minutes ago, apocalypse said:

One of the best episodes of S5 for sure. The actor who played the crazy doctor was pretty damn good. Carlos was good too. And that nosy reporter was cartoonish but he also played his role well. Superb acting by Trudy as well.

Very violent and perverse theme but this was one of the few S5 episodes that worked for me. 

Agreed! I think it was David Schramm that played Dr. or Professor Halliwell. Very creepy and sociopathic...good actor & performance! Very good episode for Season 5!