"ZODIAC" Exit Shimamura November 3, 1996

by
Gordon Hom

The Rotunda episodes are finally all shown. With "Zodiac," we are seeing episodes shot this season, instead of last season. A point of this is made when Evan asks Nash about the old Rotunda headquarters location (see our quote in the "Zodiac" synopsis). We now know the fate of two of the regulars from last season and why their names aren't in the opening credits.

Kelly, Nash's second ex-wife (played by Serena Scott Thomas) departed in "The Brothers McMillan" when Kelly is re-united with her out-of-wedlock daughter and lover. The re-united family departs for far away Ireland. Now Lt. Shimamura (played by our favorite Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) departs NASH BRIDGES after being passed up for promotion. Shimamura departs for far away Hawaii. That's how characters are written off in TV land - they are sent far, far away. At least we get to see the dynamic Tagawa in one last action scene when he takes out a nasty martial arts Bad Guy with a single swift kick to the head. Maybe it's tough to have an actor with Tagawa's presence next to a star like Don Johnson - he might steal some thunder (but Don should be secure in his stardom).

The serial killer is in crowded company this season with PROFILER, MILENNIUM, and THE X-FILES all mining the same territory. But the infamous Zodiac killer is indigenous to San Francisco, and was the Bad Guy of choice in Clint Eastwood's quintessential SF cop portrayal in DIRTY HARRY. In the Eastwood film and the NASH BRIDGES version, the killer is caught and killed, but what really adds to this dark legend is that Zodiac has never been caught. NASH BRIDGES alludes to this at the end of the episode, as "Zodiac" ends on a chilling X-FILES-like note.

The set-up for the Joe Dominguez gag this week is bust your gut, blow snot out of your nose funny. Joe is after a messenger service drug distributor, and Joe comes across a beautiful SF Asian dominatrix. Joe pulls out handcuffs in anticipation of arresting her to which she lovingly responds "Handcuffs, goood." A copy machine is whirring in the background as she commands Joe "GET NAKED and sit on this!" Politically correct humor? NASH BRIDGES is not about to be selected as the California NOW's favorite program. Come to think of it, there's a lot of strippers appearing in NASH every so often.

For more, see synopsis for Episode 16

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