Miami Vice Season 3 Episode 319 Ep 319 - Red Tape

James "Sonny" Crockett and Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs are front and center in this episode of Miami Vice, titled "Red Tape." The duo find themselves caught up in a complicated bureaucratic mess that puts their lives and their colleagues' lives in danger.

The episode starts with Sonny and Rico attempting to take down a drug lord who has connections to the U.S. government. They get their hands on some incriminating evidence, but before they can use it to make an arrest, they're ordered to stand down by their superiors.

Confused and frustrated, Sonny and Rico begin to investigate the situation and soon realize that the drug lord they're after isn't just any ordinary criminal. He's working for a government agency and is being protected by powerful people who are more interested in protecting their reputations than in stopping drug trafficking.

In the midst of all this, Sonny and Rico find themselves at odds with their own boss, Lieutenant Martin Castillo. Sonny, in particular, feels like Castillo is holding back and not doing enough to protect them and their colleagues.

As they continue their investigation, Sonny and Rico brush up against all kinds of red tape - hence the episode's title. They're blocked at every turn and find themselves constantly having to fight against the system just to get the job done. They enlist the help of a sympathetic government employee, but even she can't help them to break through to the people who are really pulling the strings.

All of this comes to a head in a tense final showdown, where Sonny and Rico are pitted against both the drug lord and the government agents who are protecting him. The action is intense and fast-paced, and viewers will be left wondering until the very end whether the good guys will come out on top.

Throughout the episode, viewers are treated to all the classic Miami Vice elements they've come to know and love over the years. There are sleek sports cars, neon lights, and cool jazz music. Sonny and Rico are as stylish as ever, sporting the latest in '80s fashion. But beneath all the surface glamour, there's a serious story about corruption and the lengths people will go to protect themselves and their interests.

"Red Tape" is a standout episode of Miami Vice, with plenty of heart-pumping action and a thought-provoking storyline. It's the kind of show that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish, and make them think long after the credits have rolled.