Season 6 Secret Witness 3.5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 Stars Out Of 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
I think Secret Witness is a very good episode. A young Ted Reynolds witnesses the murder of Joe Wang walking home early AM from his night job. Bo, the Hitman, then has a witness to eliminate as well. Reynolds runs for his life as the Hitman is in close pursuit. He shoots at Ted a few times but misses. This sets up the suspense and tense Secret Witness episode as Bo must locate the witness. Ted has a young wife Sue and a baby to support. He's scratching out a living and it's tough watching their struggle with little money. I enjoyed how the Hitman goes down the list of Reynolds names and this is good writing. He just doesn't pick Reynolds with the first name selected. It gives Secret Witness an honesty and realism. Ted believes his best action is to use the newspaper's Secret Witness program. They guarantee confidentiality and Ted writes what he witnessed about the murder and nearly becoming a victim himself. Usually a monetary reward is given as well. McG and HFO become involved due to the seriousness of the situation. They investigate the writer's letter and it appears legitimate. It's now a race to who finds the Secret Witness first. Time runs out on Ted Reynolds. Bo finds their place and Sue and the baby are taken hostage. Ted later arrives and is shot by Bo and left for dead. It's chilling and shocking watching Bo place the gun to the baby. I wonder if this initially written in the script or if that was something ad-libbed by the actor. It's very powerful and shocking. Similar to Father Jack The Priest being shot and killed in Engaged To Be Buried by Rono. I remember watching this in the 1980's as a teenager wondering how it would finish. It was a creative finish. Ben loosens the lug nuts on the tire of Bo's car at McG's direction. As he tries to escape driving, Bo's tire falls off and he can't drive anymore. Danno finishes Lansing off showing his sniper skills. Lansing although gravely wounded confesses that Dan Bok hired him. Lansing soon passes away and the episode ends with the fate of Ted Reynolds unknown. Great point by Bobbi on Sue played by Cindy Williams. She would later be remembered as Shirley on the popular 70's show Laverne and Shirley. JC