Review for Quincy, M.E. - Complete Series Three

Quincy, M.E. is a criminal investigation show that aired on NBC from 1976 to 1983, years before the slick hyper-realism of the C.S.I. show franchise took hold. Featuring the wonderfully down to earth New York actor Jack Klugman (The Odd Couple) in the main role, Quincy became a household name during its extraordinary seven year run.


The series was amongst the last of a certain type of glossy crime show produced by US studios throughout the seventies which you’ll either love or hate (Kojak, Columbo, Ironside, McCloud, McMillan & Wife) and which, perhaps indefensibly, I personally love. You know the kind of thing – mercilessly parodied in ‘Police Squad’ where you can see the end coming a mile off and everything works out just fine, episode after episode. 



Klugman plays a stubbornly dedicated medical examiner who will not rest until justice is done and who invariably spots an anomaly in any murder case within seconds of arriving on scene or getting access to the murder victim’s body. 


The show is either horrendously or wondrously politically incorrect depending on your viewpoint with regard to sexual equality, though falls over itself to support black rights and racial harmony, reflecting the key concerns of the day and showing that, despite some crimes against political correctness, its heart was in the right place.


So expect plenty of womanising (despite being in his fifties and not exactly an oil painting Klugman pulls a bevy of young beauties throughout the series), lots of smoking, and plenty of drinking. Don’t expect any senior female members as all women in the series are relegated to secretarial or support roles. Violence is so unreal as to be completely inoffensive and, for a series dedicated to medical examinations, you are highly unlikely to see any blood. 



Having bought and watched series one and two (released an age ago in a single box as series 1 comprised a mere four episodes) I have been looking forward to the delayed release of series three. However, the wait continues as I, like you, will have to order mine after March 4th as I received just a single disc from the set to review (Disc 5 with just three episodes) though I feel fairly secure in suggesting that it is probably representative.


Not much has changed from the earlier series. Klugman is still on top form as the often frustrated ME, battling with his boss to be allowed more time and / or resources to continue his investigations. He is driven by a strong moral code and is completely tenacious, never giving up until justice is seen to be done. The cases just keep coming and this time include two ‘corrupt union’ stories (out of just three on the disc) as well as one focusing on the false accusation of a black man. The first of the ‘union stories’ has Quincy spotting a human skull (found in the desert) on the bars of a biker’s chopper. He’s none too happy when Quincy insists on impounding it. What a coincidence when it turns out to be the skull of a Union leader who went missing with union funds a year before. 


There’s also an excellent episode where Quincy outs a serial murderer of wealthy wives with the help of one of the victim’s attractive sisters. She’s EVER so grateful for his help so he doesn’t hesitate to take full advantage by planting a kiss. All superbly and predictably entertaining, like a diet of solidly satisfying comfort food, despite doing little to extend your cultural horizons. But then who cares if you like it?


Image quality is acceptable throughout if unremarkable (don’t go bigger than 40” TV on this one) though they have certainly packed some content onto a single disc.


You get a generous helping of twenty self-contained and wildly entertaining episodes on this set so, if it’s your bag, you know you can’t go wrong. 

Here’s the episode list.

1. No Deadly Secret
2. A Blow To The Head...A Blow To The Heart
3. A Dead Man's Truth
4. A Question Of Time
5. Death Casts A Vote
6. Tissue Of Truth
7. Holding Pattern
8. Main Man
9. The Hero Syndrome
10. Touch Of Death
11. The Deadly Connection
12. Last Of The Dinosaurs
13. Accomplice To Murder
14. Matters Of Life And Death
15. Passing
16. Crib Job
17. Ashes To Ashes
18. Gone But Not Forgotten
19. Double Death
20. Requiem For The Living