Crime Story
Desert Justice
TV Flash files “Desert Justice” as hour 39 of 44 in the TV Flash guide — Crime Story (1986–1988) on NBC, season 2, episode 17, aired 1988-03-22, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S02E17: listed hour 39 of 44 in the Crime Story guide, hour 17 of 22 in season 2. It aired 1988-03-22 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “Roadrunner” (S02E16). Next is “Byline” (S02E18).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Torello and Nate lack jurisdiction over a crooked county government trying to run a Chicago acquaintance out of business.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Desert Justice sit in the Crime Story guide?
S02E17 is listed hour 39 of 44 — hour 17 of 22 in season 2, season 2 episode 17.
When did Crime Story S02E17 air?
Desert Justice aired 1988-03-22 and is listed at 60 minutes.
Do I need Miami Vice first?
No. This is the bruising older sibling — Mann-adjacent period crime, not pastel Vice. Serialized cop-versus-mob, Chicago to Vegas, two seasons.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Michael Mann's period crime novel on NBC: Dennis Farina's real-cop glare chasing Anthony Denison's Ray Luca from Chicago heat into Vegas neon. Serialized cop-versus-mob obsession, not case-of-the-week, with period clothes and a Del Shannon theme that already sounds like a eulogy. Miami Vice's bruising older sibling — two seasons, no apology.
Two seasons. Forty-four hours. NBC, 1986–1988, then the window closed before the obsession could get comfortable. That is the chart, not a eulogy with extra linen. Crime Story is Chuck Adamson and Gustave Reininger's period crime novel, executive-produced in Michael Mann's stylish gravity: Dennis Farina's real-ex-cop glare on Lt. Mike Torello chasing Anthony Denison's Ray Luca from Chicago heat into Vegas neon, Stephen Lang in the legal mix. Serialized cop-versus-mob, not case-of-the-week. Period clothes. A Del…
Filed against
- Dennis Farina as Lt. Mike Torello
Dennis Farina’s Lt. Mike Torello chased Crime Story from Chicago heat into Vegas neon — Michael Mann’s period crime novel on NBC, real-cop glare, serialized obsession instead of case-of-the-week, a Del Shannon theme that already sounds…
- Anthony Denison as Ray Luca
Anthony Denison’s Ray Luca ran from Chicago heat into Vegas neon on Crime Story — Michael Mann’s period crime novel on NBC, Dennis Farina’s real-cop glare, serialized cop-versus-mob obsession instead of case-of-the-week. Del Shannon as a…
- Stephen Lang as David Abrams
Stephen Lang burned through Crime Story as David Abrams — Michael Mann's period crime novel on NBC, Chicago heat into Vegas neon, serialized cop-versus-mob obsession instead of case-of-the-week. Del Shannon already sounding like a eulogy.…