The BEST episodes of NYPD Blue
Every episode of NYPD Blue ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of NYPD Blue!
The gritty details of life as a member of a New York City police unit.
#1 - Safe Home
Season 6 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/25/1999
As a result of her injuries, Sylvia has died. The squad worries about Andy's state, will he start drinking again. Andy is staying in his apartment, only making sure that Theo makes it to and from school. He is only accepting a minimal amount of help from his ex-wife Katie. Medavoy and Martinez interview a man who claims that he was hired to murder Kenny Priest at the Cullinan trial. He points to his sister, Lurleen as the one who set him up with the job; she also had something to do with Cullinan's murder of Mike Roberts. Sorenson goes to seek Sipowicz's help, when they get Cullinan to drop his high priced attorney. John Irvin is hard on himself and feels that he can never face Andy again. Danny gets Andy to help with the interview of Cullinan and the very subdued interview gets Cullinan to crack. John Irvin and Andy silently pass each other on the stairwell. A few moments later, Andy reappears and assures John he doesn't hold him responsible for Sylvia's death. Andy debates about how
#2 - Moving Day
Season 12 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/1/2005
Jones and Clark respond to the death of woman named Pamela Wyatt, who appears to have been a high priced call girl. Ortiz and Murphy arrive on the scene along with Sgt. Sipowicz who enlightens Jones and Clark about his officially taking over command of the 15 Squad. They return to the Squad and meet two new detectives that have joined the squad, Ray Quinn and Joe Slovak. They ran a dump of the Pamela Wyatt's phone records and have come up with some names to check out. Sipowicz's former Sergeant, Al Angelotti from the 25 Squad, now a retired Chief who is working security for a wealthy client comes into the squad with his client, Robert Heilbrenner and Heilbrenner's attorney. While Clark and Jones (with Sipowicz in attendance) listen to Heilbrenner describe his relationship with the Pamela Wyatt, Angelotti is out talking to the rookie detectives about what they currently know about the case. Murphy and Ortiz interview the victim's parents, both of whom were ignorant of what their da
#3 - Bale to the Chief
Season 12 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/22/2005
The interim boss Lt. Henry comes into the squad and introduces himself to the detectives, who in turn introduce themselves. They offer to bring him up to speed on their cases, but Lt. Henry is the anti-Bale and tells them they can get to it when they get to it. He is more interested in knowing if any of them like to play golf. Murphy and Ortiz go to the scene of a homicide where a young Muslim woman, Farah Amar has been stabbed to death. In questioning the neighbor they learn that the woman had numerous loud arguments with her husband. Back at the squad while Sipowicz tries to bring their new boss "Arnold Palmer" up to speed on their investigation into Bale's shooting, Jones and Clark try to get more information about Sergei Yesenin's whereabouts from "Russian Mike" who has come back in for further questioning. "Russian Mike" wants a deal before he will cooperate any further with the investigation. The husband of Murphy and Ortiz's victim, Adeeb Amar, comes in for questioning. Th
#4 - Lenny Scissorhands
Season 12 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/15/2005
Ortiz and Murphy arrived on the scene of a shooting, where two of Sipowicz's men were involved in chasing down a suspect, who got away after he able to shoot one of the officers. Back at the squad, Sipowicz tells the pair about a possible witness to the crime that he saw while they were all still at the scene, an elderly woman sitting at her window. Even though it is Medavoy's last day on the job, Sipowicz doesn't feel like getting his picture taken. With Medavoy leaving Clark is now partnered with Jones and together they go to the scene of crime, where a woman, Deborah Olshan, was beaten to death in her home, a possible victim of a robbery. At the scene they interview Maxine Annunziato, her friend and the one who discovered the body. Murphy and Ortiz talk with the woman that Sipowicz identified as a probable witness to the shooting of the officers. She tells them that she saw the officers enter the building, but she didn't see them chasing anyone. Clark and Jones return to the s
#5 - Brother's Keeper
Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/17/1998
The word goes out to the uniforms to look out for any possible donors for a heart for Simone. Sipowicz, Medavoy and Martinez investigate the homicide of an elderly woman whose hands and feet were cut off of her body. Bobby is transferred over to the surgical staff, where his new doctor recommends that waiting for the heart transplant is his best option. The woman's two sons are probable suspects, one son, Arnold Struel, shows no remorse over her death, the other, Stanley an alcoholic junkie, who didn't like her, at least shows some compassion. Sipowicz finally gets Arnold to give it up. Later, when he returns to the interview room, he sees that Arnold is hanging himself. He debates about waiting until he is dead, to provide a donor for Bobby, but circumstances (Medavoy) prevent him from waiting. By chance, an off-duty cop is shot in the head and for all practical purposes is dead; Fancy makes a pleas with the widow, for a directed donation. Eventually she consents and Bobby is prepped
#6 - Old Man Quiver
Season 12 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/1/2005
Sipowicz and Clark arrive at the home of an 80-year-old millionaire, Hugh Rasmussen, who was smothered to death. They talk to the man's secretary, Judith Howell, a middle-aged woman, who found the body. Then the wife, Amy Rasmussen arrives back home; she's come back from the gym and she is young enough (28-years-old) to be the victim's granddaughter. She acknowledges the comments that her husband has been thought about as a dirty old man and that she may be considered a gold digger, but as far as she's concerned they can all go straight to hell, she loved her husband. Sipowicz and Clark run the basics of what they know so far by Bale and Bale notes to Sipowicz that today is the day of his promotion and he offers his congratulations. Jones and Medavoy go to a retirement home, where Olive Rosenthal was found dead. The doctor found a suspicious needle mark on the woman's body. The director of the home wants the detectives to avoid talking to the other residents, but they tell her th
#7 - A Death in the Family
Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/7/1996
A robbery-homicide sends Bobby and Andy to the hospital; however the victim is Andy Jr. Andy wants Bobby to lead the case and he also wants the opportunity for restitution. Diane doesn't like the way Bobby is handling the case. They turn up the weapon, but the suspects don't pan out. In the midst of all this turmoil, Donna makes the decision and quits her job. Andy goes for a walk and makes a stop.
#8 - 22 Skidoo
Season 10 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/20/2003
It's the morning after for John and Jennifer and they'll both be late for work if John doesn't put the honey bottle away. The detectives respond to the scene of a homicide in grocery, where no money was taken. Ortiz spots Clark getting out of Dr. Devlin's car and is short with him when he says hello. Back at the squad, canvas hasn't turned up anything, but crime scene did get a fingerprint from a similar crime that occurred the night before. That fingerprint belongs to Terry Parkhurst. Medavoy tells the others that he is anticipating receipt of the list that might announce his promotion to detective 2nd grade. McDowell makes plans for a small wedding ceremony that might be able to take place later that evening. Rodriguez calls Sipowicz into his office and tells him that the commissioner will not allow two detectives in the same squad to be married. Sipowicz asks Rodriguez if it will be a problem with him if they go ahead and get married anyway. He tells them it won't, as long a
#9 - Yo, Adrian
Season 10 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/13/2003
Sipowicz (with McDowell watching) works with the lawyer on his testimony in the custody hearing that is going to be held later in the day. The other detectives are on the scene of a woman who was murdered in her own apartment. A neighbor, who had heard some commotion going on in that apartment gives them the name of the victim's boyfriend. Meanwhile, Sipowicz meets with Diane Russell, who is now working in the special victims unit. He tells her about their suspicion that Adrian Caffee was made pregnant by her father when she was a teenager. Sipowicz believes with her experience Russell might be able to talk with Caffee and Russell agrees to try helping out. Clark and Ortiz interview the boyfriend of their victim, whose name is Stan. He tells them his girlfriend was doing her brother-in-law, which is one of the reasons why she was his ex-girlfriend. He appears to be shocked when they tell him about her death, and he gives them an alibi to confirm. He claims to have been returnin
#10 - The Vision Thing
Season 12 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/9/2004
On a city bus a man was stabbed in the chest in front of his wife and kids. A witness reports to Sipowicz that the victim and his killer were eyeballing each other down before the stabbing occurred. Medavoy tells Jones about his daughter's plans to buy a house. He is going to need to find a part time job to help her out. Jones tells him about a position as a bouncer, but he doesn't think Medavoy can handle that kind of job. Medavoy is a little put out that no one thinks he handle himself. Sipowicz is contemplating the stabbing case when Clark arrives and tries to discuss it with him. Sipowicz is distracted by the effect of the killing on the victim's family; he is also bothered by Clark's feeling for the case. They run the case by Bale and then Bale checks in with Sipowicz's mental state, post shooting and everything else that has recently been going on. Sipowicz tells him that everything is okay. An antiques dealer, Gerard Prosser comes into the squad to go over the details o
#11 - Divorce Detective Style
Season 12 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/19/2004
Clark leaves his latest encounter's apartment, hoping to make it to work on time. The other detectives are already on the scene of the blunt force trauma homicide of artist Tracy Gilchrist and Clark (of course) arrives late. Annoyed with this, Sipowicz shuts Clark out of his interview of one of the victim's neighbor. She tells him that the victim worked as a phone sex operator. After the interview Clark tries to address the situation, but Sipowicz isn't listening. Back at the squad room, Sipowicz takes delivery of a package (of kiddie porn). When he signs his name, the FBI agent reveals himself and takes him to the coffee room, where his partner and Lt. Bale are waiting. With the recent pattern of harassment to back him up, Sipowicz and Bale get the FBI to drop their investigation. Clark leaves for court, he is testifying in the case against Steve McClintock. Scott Garvin and his attorney come to the squad to report the probable kidnapping of his son. Garvin has received a ran
#12 - Honeymoon at Viagra Falls
Season 5 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/19/1998
Simone and Sipowicz work with Cohen to investigate the death of one of Cohen's witnesses and her son. Evidence points to the opposing attorney having some involvement with the arrangement of the homicide. Bobby and Diane plan to get married on their lunch break. Russell and Kirkendall help a man locate his missing daughter. Medavoy and Martinez look into a corporation dealing in fake sports memorabilia. Medavoy is taken with the blonde who was named as the front of the corporation, she reminds him of Donna. Andy's doctor stops by with the results of his latest blood test, the results are good. When the doctor inquires about Andy's sexual functions, Andy is less than forthcoming and the doctor's prescribes him the new wonder drug, Viagra. Just as the time for the lunchtime wedding grows near, both Bobby and Diane's cases break wide open. Bobby & Diane just make into the office, find a witness and get married. Greg calls upon the blonde. Andy gets his prescription filled and is able to t
#13 - Passing the Stone
Season 11 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/17/2004
A Jewish jeweler is gunned down outside of his shop. His widow tells Sipowicz and Clark that a white guy who's recently converted to Islam had been giving her husband some trouble lately. Clark gets the address for Tim Garrity, the recent convert to Islam; just as Jones gets a call that Michael's aunt has been brutally assaulted. Jones and Medavoy go to the aunt's apartment. Jones talks with Michael, who tells Jones that his aunt wasn't seeing anyone, and that his father wasn't around. Sipowicz and Clark talk with the converted Muslim. A uniform is bringing in Michael's dad and Jones is preparing himself for the pending interview. Rodriguez suggests that Medavoy and Ortiz take the interview, that way Jones won't succumb to his desire to beat the crap out of Craig Woodruff and give him what he wants. McDowell interviews an employee of the dead jeweler and she tells her that her boss had an ugly argument over the phone with a rapper named "DJ Drayno." Rodriguez has her get the inf
#14 - Torah! Torah! Torah!
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/31/1995
A father suspects his retarded son of killing his daughter. Simone and Sipowicz get the case. Lesniak keeps reporting on James' condition. Morrisey's tactics with a suspect in a murder don't sit well with Fancy; however, the facts in this case match Andy & Bobby's case. While Simone and Morrisey work out the details of their combined case, Andy and Greg pose as Hasidic Jews to recover a stolen Torah. Sylvia takes another test (results positive) and asks Andy to be discrete. Later she discovers his level of discretion.
#15 - Great Balls of Ire
Season 12 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/12/2004
The detectives are on the scene of ex-con Lester Byrd's homicide when Sipowicz receives a call from his wife telling him that Theo didn't arrive at school this morning. Sipowicz leaves the scene and arrives at the school to find that Theo has shown up. He finds out from Theo that he was met by a man who said he was a friend of his dad, the man had a detective shield and exhibited knowledge of recent events in their lives. The man took Theo for a half hour ride. Back at the squad, Bale introduces his new movement log policy and he puts John Irvin in charge. The detectives run the case by Bale. Sipowicz arrives and Bale magnanimously lets him not charge his morning's activity to lost time. Sipowicz asks to be off the case for the day, citing that Jones can work the case with Clark. Sipowicz wants to catch up on his paperwork and Bale allows him to do this, but says that he is not setting a precedent. Theo's guardian Anna comes into the squad and he questions her about what happen
#16 - Oedipus Wrecked
Season 9 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/7/2002
It's the morning after and John and Rita scramble to get ready to leave for work as their pagers go off. Rita must have been gentle, because John isn't showing any signs of suffering from a groin injury. They both join the other detectives at the scene of a double homicide, with an additional victim at the hospital. Medavoy announces that his daughter is going to be getting married, he's going to meet the future bride and groom for dinner tomorrow evening. McDowell and Ortiz respond to a call about a middle-aged woman who's discovered carrying narcotics. Sipowicz and Clark Jr. interview a suspect who was in one of the victim's appointment books. He comes on strong, until he hears about the murder. Ortiz and McDowell interview their middle-aged drug courier, but she denies knowledge about where the drugs came from. Then she has a realization and confesses to being the courier; but her story doesn't sit right with them but they give up pursuing it further. Katie Medavoy stops by
#17 - Speak For Yourself, Bruce Clayton
Season 5 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/24/1998
Simone and Sipowicz look into the shooting of two women (one was killed) who were raped by a group of men in an apartment owned by a former crack dealer named Jamal who was crippled in a previous shooting incident. Caught by his doctor at the hospital, Andy tells Bobby about his prostate trouble. Meanwhile, Kirkendall, Russell and Medavoy investigate a shooting at a clinic. When they get their female suspect into custody, a security guard from the clinic who was her secret admirer comes to the precinct demanding she get a second chance. Medavoy takes him down.
#18 - As Flies to Careless Boys...
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/30/1997
Four months have passed since the death of Jimmy Salvo. Bobby's working odd jobs while he's been suspended pending IAB's investigation. Bobby stops by the station to talk to Andy, while there he notices that Gina's showing signs of pregnancy. She hasn't formally announced it and is reluctant to let James do the right thing. Bobby tells Andy about the FBI seeing him the other night, he wants to set up a plan to make things right. Meanwhile the detectives investigate a couple of routine homicides. Bobby tells Lt. Shannon about Andy's presence. Jill works her source, Leo Cohen, to try and get information out about the pending indictments against Andy and Bobby. The FBI tells Bobby he is on his own. They had other plans for Lt. Shannon, after Andy had given his testimony. When the squad is called to a scene, where the suspect in Andy's case is holed-up, a shot is fired in Andy's direction. Shannon is identified as the shooter. The whole mess gets unraveled; it is revealed that the 15th squ
#19 - Hand Job
Season 9 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/5/2002
A safe is stolen and two people are crucified and Ortiz and McDowell catch the case, one victim is alive, but still nailed down, but his stripper girlfriend didn't survive. He tells them that two Russian men committed this crime. Sipowicz, Clark Jr., Medavoy and Jones investigate the shooting of a rap star that was shot (and later dies from his injuries) at his record release party. One of the guys who worked security for the party is named Marcus Hodges and is a cop that Clark Jr. knows from his days back at the police academy. Clark Jr. and Sipowicz talk with Hodges about the shooting, but he didn't see the crime go down. The rap star's brother is questioned and he says that a rival rap star named "Fury" but that they call "Furry" probably did it, since he was seen at the club that night. McDowell and Ortiz run the details of their case by Rodriguez, while the temp PAA listens with great screenwriting interest. Clark Jr. vouches for the conduct of his former classmate to Rodri
#20 - Chatty Chatty Bang Bang
Season 11 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/2/2004
Sipowicz and Clark are at the scene of a hit and run, where the driver of an SUV has struck down a guy on a bike and killed the young daughter of a known mobster. They move over to the scene, where the suspect's SUV has been found, but the young black men at the scene, who impeded a group of Italian boys who were looking to hold the driver and the vehicle for the police claim to not know the whereabouts or the identity of the driver. Back at the squad they find out the SUV was reported stolen and the others find out about Jones plans to become qualified as a foster parent for Michael Woodruff. Ortiz and Medavoy go to the hospital to interview a woman who was raped in her own apartment. Jones reports back from the canvas that a plate number was obtained from a vehicle leaving the scene, which gives them a lead to start with. Meanwhile an anonymous caller on the hit and run gives the detectives the name Calvin George. They get George's address and go to the home, only to find a car
#21 - Jealous Hearts
Season 9 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/15/2002
Sipowicz visits Gibson at the hospital to ask him about Mrs. Hornby and her missing jewelry. Harrison starts quizzing his wife about her whereabouts, which starts escalating just as Rodriguez enters. The detectives begin investigating two DOAs at a restaurant robbery, another victim played dead. At the scene McDowell spots a woman pretending to be a cop. The woman claims that she is just trying to help, but McDowell and Ortiz decide to check her out. McDowell mentions she is going on a blind date, with a lawyer, which leads to a couple of comments from Sipowicz. Julian Pisano stops by the squad to offer information on the restaurant robbery/homicide. Pisano tries to strike a deal with Sipowicz before Sipowicz strikes him. He offers them up the name, Gio Deloria. Sipowicz's further comments about McDowell's possible blind date and the relationship that she's building with Theo lead to him telling her "not to put herself out" in regards to making time for Theo. Rodriguez talks w
Watch Now:Amazon
#22 - You're Buggin' Me
Season 12 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/26/2004
Sipowicz receives a late night phone call and he goes to the bar where Clark is drinking and tries to convince him that it is time to go home. He takes Clark's keys and leaves with Clark in pursuit. Outside of the bar three shots are fired in their direction, one of them strikes Sipowicz in the shoulder. At the hospital Sipowicz has been stitched up and is going to work. He tells Medavoy that he thinks the shooting was a random act, or related to Clark and had nothing to do with his stalker. Murphy and Ortiz interview the bartender, who admits to making the call to Sipowicz about Clark's drinking. He also tells them that an off-duty cop works his door, but he had left before the shooting occurred; he also tells them that he isn't giving up that cop's name. They convince him it is in his best interest to do otherwise. In the squad's coffee room, members of Sipowicz's AA support group are there to give him some support. Someone called and told them that he had begun drinking agai
#23 - In Goddess We Trussed
Season 11 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/6/2004
Gibson calls Sipowicz into his office; Sipowicz has been transferred to Missing Persons at the morgue. Sipowicz accuses Gibson of not having the spine that he once told him he would need to have when it came time to do something about Hatcher. Sipowicz grabs an empty box out of Gibson's office and uses it to clear off his desk, while he is telling the others about the supposed man-power redeployments that have caused his transfer. Hatcher doesn't seem as surprised by this turn of events as the others. Sipowicz goes to see the Chief of Personnel and lodges his complaint about the Chief's nephew, who he says doesn't belong on the job. He tells him that he has been protecting a bad cop. The chief doesn't want to listen, so Sipowicz leaves and reports to the morgue, where he meets Det. Wally Dorland, a sixteen year veteran of the morgue assignment. Back in the 15th precinct Clark and the others start to work the homicide of a woman who was purported to be a therapist. They find evid
#24 - Here Comes the Son
Season 9 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/8/2002
The detectives start investigating a massage parlor rip-off. While their rip-off involves a homicide there are similar rip-offs occurring in the Bronx, Sipowicz and Clark Jr. are going to work the case with detectives from the Bronx, including Clark Sr.; leaving the others to look into the case of an elderly woman being robbed in her home by exterminators. And Mrs. Hornby sends her agent, Beacham, to ask Sipowicz to come back to her apartment and work security. The dollar figure for the job is raised and other perks are offered, but Sipowicz rejects them all. McDowell, Ortiz, Jones and Medavoy look into the exterminator case, through the efforts of two Samaritans; one of the exterminators was captured and subdued at the scene. The other has gotten away, but is quickly grabbed up. While waiting to talk to the victim and one of the perps at the hospital; small talk leads to Ortiz telling McDowell that she and her husband are working on their marriage. In the meantime back at the sq
#25 - Death by Cycle
Season 10 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/22/2002
Clark Jr. and Sipowicz respond the scene of the death a boy who was murdered for his bicycle. Jones and Medavoy join them and start the canvas, while Clark Jr. and Sipowicz deal with the boy's bereaved father who's just arrived on the scene. The father tells them about his boy's bicycle and is angered when they ask if son was involved in any gang activity. McDowell finds out that her brother-in-law has made bail; and she decides she needs to end this situation. A uniform brings up a man caught dumping a bicycle in front of the precinct. The bike is the type owned by their victim; Clark Jr. and Sipowicz question him and he reluctantly gives them a lead on where to find the guy who sold it to him. McDowell questions the clerk at the hotel, where her sister and brother-in-law were staying. She gets him to give her the key and she finds her sister lying injured in her hotel bed, with her husband nowhere to be found. Clark Jr. and Sipowicz find their possible suspect at the pool hal