Ep 6. Stan the Man

In season 3 episode 6 of Hill Street Blues, titled "Stan the Man," the Hill Street precinct is dealing with the aftermath of a violent robbery spree. The robbery suspects are still at large, and tensions are high as the officers work to gather information and make arrests.

Meanwhile, Stan Jablonski (Robert Prosky), a veteran detective, is dealing with his own personal crisis. He's just been diagnosed with cancer, and he's struggling to come to terms with the diagnosis while still trying to maintain his tough exterior.

As the investigation into the robberies heats up, Jablonski is assigned to work with Officer Lucy Bates (Betty Thomas), who's been eager to prove herself to the other officers. But Jablonski is hesitant to trust her, and he's not interested in working with a rookie.

As they work together to gather evidence and track down the robbery suspects, Bates and Jablonski begin to develop a mutual respect for each other. Bates proves herself to be a capable and dedicated officer, and Jablonski begins to open up about his fears and anxieties surrounding his cancer diagnosis.

With the help of Bates and the other officers at the Hill Street precinct, Jablonski continues to fight to bring the robbery suspects to justice. But as he struggles to deal with his illness and the uncertainty of the future, he begins to realize the importance of the people in his life and the support they can offer.

"Stan the Man" is a poignant and emotional episode of Hill Street Blues, touching on themes of illness, mortality, and the strength of human connection. Through the character of Stan Jablonski, the episode explores the complexities of dealing with a serious illness while still trying to maintain a sense of dignity and independence. And through the relationship between Jablonski and Bates, the episode highlights the power of empathy and understanding in building connections between people from different backgrounds and experiences.

Overall, "Stan the Man" is a powerful and thought-provoking episode of Hill Street Blues, offering a nuanced and empathetic depiction of the challenges of illness and the importance of community and support in overcoming them.