User Reviews

Daniels (well played to the slimy hilt by Jon Cypher) orders Furillo (the always on the money Daniel J. Travanti) to put four officers undercover in the adult store Murray's Wonderland. Officer Perez (powerful work by Tony Perez) accidentally shoots a little boy with a toy gun after mistaking him for a burglar. Bates (an excellent Betty Thomas) gets seriously hurt on the job.

The whole incident involving Perez gives this particular episode a potent dramatic kick, with Perez feeling tremendous guilt over what he did while Daniels tries to avert blame by making it look like it was the mother's fault (this episode scores extra points for the fearless way it depicts the more ugly and selfish side of politics). The undercover operation at the porn palace provides a prime source of humor: Watching Washington (a sly performance by Taureen Blacque) impersonate a hip jive-talking janitor is a hoot and Hunter (a nicely flaky James Sikking) has a hilariously awkward conversation with a sex worker in a peep show booth. Moreover, there are sterling guest contributions from Sam Groom as the friendly Dr. Stuart, Ron Parady as the hard-nosed Mahoney, Olivia Brown as strung-out junkie Vicki, and, in an especially hearty-breaking turn, Alfre Woodard as the slain boy's distraught and grieving mother Doris.

The principal story thread of this powerful and heartbreaking episode is that of a young mother (the wonderful Oscar nominee Alfre Woodard) who was forced to leave her child alone in their apartment. Some time later, two cops check out a call about a prowler in the building, and Officer Perez (Tony Perez) mistakenly shoots the kid, thinking he's this (it turns out, nonexistent) prowler. Other story threads include Ozzie Cleveland (J. A. Preston) entering the mayoral race, four of Hill Street Stations' finest staking out a XXX establishment, and Lucy ending up in the hospital after a perp hits her HARD in the ribs.

The through-line about the death of the child is poignant and compelling. Perez, being a basically good man, is just sick about what he's done, and there is a fantastic moment where he and the grieving mother meet. She forgives him, acknowledging the part that she played in her childs' bad end. Lucy says it best, though: sometimes these things happen, as bad as they are, and it would behoove Perez' fellow cops to not second-guess him too much.

Some humor comes out of the situation with Neal, J. D., and Mick at the aforementioned "Wonderland", where Neal puts on this act while interacting with some of the people who work / shop there, and Micks' angry confrontation with a vice cop who'd like to know why the Hell Hill Street detectives are in this place, out of their jurisdiction. It's also an amusing moment when Howard has a session with one of the "therapists".

'Doris in Wonderland' is fantastic, mature, sobering entertainment that scores a bulls' eye; also guest starring are Sam Groom, Milton Selzer, Terry Alexander, and Olivia Brown.

The last-second plot development hardly comes as a surprise, but it's still a pretty big punch in the gut.

10 out of 10.