Ep 16. Jungle Madness (1)

The episode "Jungle Madness (1)" of Hill Street Blues season 1 revolves around the sudden disappearance of Officer Bobby Hill. The detectives of Hill Street Station are alerted to the situation when Hill's wife, Robin, comes to the station looking for help in finding him.

As the investigation begins, it turns out that Hill had been dealing with the after-effects of his time serving in Vietnam, which had left him with post-traumatic stress disorder. His erratic behavior had been noticed by his fellow officers, including Sgt. Esterhaus, who is worried about his wellbeing.

Meanwhile, the officers are also dealing with a series of robberies in the area. While investigating a potential suspect, Officer Henry Goldblume goes undercover as a homeless person to try to gather information. However, he is attacked by a group of teens who beat him up and steal his badge and gun.

As the search for Bobby Hill continues, some of the officers begin to question the effectiveness of their own department. Detective Neal Washington expresses his frustration with the lack of communication between the officers and their superior officers. The episode also touches on issues of race, as Washington, an African American, feels that he is not being taken seriously because of his skin color.

The tension and drama continue to build as Hill's disappearance becomes more and more mysterious. The officers investigate a series of leads, including a possible connection to a local Vietnamese gang. There is also tension between Sergeant Belker and Detective Renko, who have a heated argument over a woman.

As the episode comes to a close, tensions are high as the officers are no closer to finding Hill. However, there is a glimmer of hope when they receive a potential lead. Off-duty Officer Coffey has been spending time with a group of Vietnam veterans, one of whom may have information on Hill's whereabouts.

Overall, "Jungle Madness (1)" is a tense and gripping episode that explores themes of mental health, racism, and the challenges faced by police officers. The characters are complex and well-developed, and the storylines are engaging and thought-provoking. Fans of crime dramas will definitely enjoy this episode of Hill Street Blues.