Review:
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The title of 21 Jump Street is based on the location
of an undercover youth division of the police force that
investigates crimes involving people under the age of 21.
The task forces were put together by a group of individuals
that could pass as high school students. Captain Adam Fuller
(Steven Williams) oversees the energetic and diligent youth
division spearheaded by Tom Hanson (Johnny Depp). Together
these police officers approached controversial issues involving
drugs, alcohol, sex, and gangs, which were presented in
an interesting and factual manner. **
The fourth season of 21 Jump Street opens with the
episode Draw the Line where Dennis Booker (Richard Grieco)
solves the case that framed Hanson, but after the case is
solved he decides to resign from his position with the youth
division. With Hanson free, the series continues through
a wide range of crimes that involves all of the other cast
members. Throughout this season Doug Pennhall (Peter DeLuise)
finds himself falling in love, going to El Salvador, and
bringing home his nephew. In the episode Stand by Your Man
rape hits 21 Jump Street, as one of the suspects of a group
of drug dealers violates Judy Hoffs (Holly Robinson Peete).
A secret from Harry Ioki’s (Dustin Nguyen) past emerges
while Hanson has to witness an execution. Besides these
personal events, the show goes on dealing with coming of
age issues that could lead adolescents astray and have negative
life changing outcomes. ***
21 Jump Street was a very successful show that aired
only for one more season after the fourth season. Some have
speculated that the shows termination had to do with Johnny
Depp’s departure after the fourth season, which sounds reasonable
considering his talented acting. This season was also Dustin
Nguyen last season, as he sought new direction in his life.
However, both Depp and Nguyen left it with a bang, as the
fourth season is the best season of the five years that
21 Jumps Street aired 103 episodes. A side note for all
buyers of the DVD set is that the final episode of the fourth
season, Blackout, is not present on the set. Anchor Bay
Entertainment has planned to add this episode on the fifth
season DVD set that is to be released sometime in March
2006. ***
Episode Guide: ***
1. Draw the Line 2. Say It Ain't So, Pete 3. Eternal
Flame 4. Come from the Shadows 5. God is a Bullet 6. Old
Haunts in a New Age 7. Out of Control 8. Stand by Your Man
9. Mike's P.O.V. 10. Wheels and Deals 11. Parental Guidance
Suggested 12. Things We Said Today 13. Research and Destroy
14. A Change of Heart 15. Back from the Future 16. 2245
17. Hi Mom 18. Awomp-Bomp-Aloobomb, Aloop Bamboom 19. La
Bizca 20. Last Chance High 21. Unfinished Business 22. Shirts
and Skins 23. How I Saved the Senator 24. Rounding Third
25. Everyday is Christmas ***
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