Television Review: Saigon Rose (Homicide: Life on the Street, S6X06, 1997)

Saigon Rose (S06E06)

Airdate: 21 November 1997

Written by: Eric Overmyer
Directed by: Nick Gomez

Running Time: 45 minutes

In the latter seasons of Homicide: Life on the Street, the show began to diverge significantly from its roots as an adaptation of David Simon's groundbreaking 1988 non-fiction book, Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets. Instead, it started to resemble more of a standard broadcast network police procedural, particularly in its frequent use of "redball" cases. These are sensationalist plots that often mirrored real-life sensational crimes that had occurred recently and were still fresh in the audience's memory. This "Ripped from the Headlines" ethos is evident in several episodes, but one standout example is the Season 6 episode Saigon Rose.

The script for Saigon Rose was written by television veteran Eric Overmyer and serves as a fictionalised retelling of the real multiple murder that took place in 1995 at the Kim Anh Vietnamese restaurant in New Orleans. The plot, however, is set in Baltimore, at a fictional Vietnamese restaurant called Saigon Rose. The story revolves around two siblings, Tom (John Tran) and Lucy Nguyen (Vanessa Brown), who work at the restaurant. By sheer luck, they survive an attack that claims the lives of their parents, two other siblings, and Larry Jones (Russ Jones), an off-duty policeman. The siblings, who were hiding in the refrigerator during the attack, call the police, and the case is subsequently taken over by Detective Pembleton.

Upon arrival, detectives find Officer Toinette Perry (Camille McMurty-Ali), Jones' colleague, who also moonlighted as a security guard at Saigon Rose. Perry's demeanour at the scene is strangely detached, either unphased by the gruesome crime or eerily helpful. Pembleton quickly rules out the siblings as suspects, and Perry points to the most obvious culprit: herself. Her record as an Affirmative Action hire, coupled with her apparent incompetence and psychopathic tendencies, makes her a prime suspect. The final breakthrough comes when detectives arrest Perry's cousin, Curtis Lambright (Dion Graham), a young man with a criminal record. Lambright quickly implicates Perry as the mastermind behind the mass murder, revealing that the plan was supposed to be a "clean" robbery but descended into chaos when Perry started eliminating witnesses.

Like many episodes of Homicide, Saigon Rose also features side plots that is supposed to add depth to the main narrative. One such subplot is the continuation of the Luther Mahoney saga, with Mahoney's sister, Georgina Rae, being released from prison. The case against her collapses, leaving Kellerman in a precarious position. Apart from worrying about being killed by her or exposed for his extrajudicial killing of Luther Mahoney, Kellerman now has to deal with persistent harassment from Falsone. The tension escalates to the point where two detectives nearly come to blows and point guns at each other.

Another side plot involves Ballard, a new member of the Homicide Unit, who nearly succumbs to a severe allergic reaction to shellfish after dining with her partner, Gharty.

The episode is generally well-directed and well-acted, with Camille McMurty-Ali delivering a standout performance as the arrogant and ruthless sociopath, Officer Toinette Perry. McMurty-Ali's portrayal of Perry is convincing and chilling, making her one of the most memorable villains in the series.

However, Saigon Rose is a little too neatly tied to the real-life events it is based on. The main villain, Toinette Perry, has a name that is eerily similar to Antoinette Renee Frank, the perpetrator of the 1995 Kim Anh restaurant killings. This parallel is somewhat jarring and detracts from the episode's originality.

Additionally, the script misses an opportunity to draw parallels between Kellerman's struggles and his status as a policeman who crossed the line while taking out Luther Mahoney, and Toinette Perry, who crossed the line even worse for selfish reasons. This missed connection weakens the episode's thematic depth and character development.

On the other hand, Overmyer's script is interesting because it takes a stance that could be described as right-wing in its criticism of Affirmative Action, or what today would be called "DEI hiring." The episode suggests that giving positions of authority to individuals who are not qualified for them can have dangerous consequences. This critique adds a layer of social commentary to the episode, making it more thought-provoking than your average police procedural.

Near the end of the episode, the audience is introduced to the character of Billie Lou Hatfield, played by Ellen McElduff. Hatfield is a new waitress at the Waterfront Bar who describes herself as a "topless performance artist." Her character will become a recurring presence in future episodes, adding a touch of eccentricity to the series.

Despite these missed opportunities, Saigon Rose is a well-made episode of Homicide: Life on the Street. It is one of the better parts of the latter stage of the series, showcasing the show's ability to blend compelling storytelling with social commentary. The episode's strengths lie in its strong performances, particularly McMurty-Ali's chilling portrayal of Toinette Perry, and its willingness to tackle controversial topics. While it may not be perfect, Saigon Rose is a testament to the enduring quality of "Homicide: Life on the Street" and its ability to keep audiences engaged even in its later seasons.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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