Ep 12. Upstairs, Downstairs

The episode opens with the murder of a young woman in a high-end apartment building on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Detectives Andy Sipowicz (played by Dennis Franz) and Bobby Simone (played by Jimmy Smits) are assigned the case, and their investigation soon leads them to a troubled family who lives in the building.

The family consists of a widowed mother, her two grown daughters, and their younger brother. As Sipowicz and Simone delve deeper into the family's history, they uncover an array of dark secrets and hidden tensions. The mother is revealed to have a history of abuse and neglect towards her children, and both daughters have struggled with addiction and mental health issues. The younger brother, who is developmentally disabled, plays a pivotal role in the case, as his behavior and statements to the detectives suggest that he may have witnessed something crucial on the night of the murder.

As the detectives continue to investigate, they become increasingly frustrated by the family's lack of cooperation and their efforts to conceal the truth. Meanwhile, tensions between Sipowicz and Simone come to a head, as Simone confronts Sipowicz about his ongoing struggles with alcoholism and the toll it's taking on their partnership.

The case takes a dramatic turn when a second murder occurs in the same building, leading the detectives to suspect that the killings may be linked. The pressure mounts as the detectives race to identify the killer and prevent any further violence.

Throughout the episode, the theme of class and privilege is explored, as the detectives navigate the complex dynamics of the wealthy and powerful residents of the apartment building. The title of the episode, "Upstairs, Downstairs," speaks to this divide, as the detectives navigate both the opulent residences of the building's wealthy tenants and the cramped, rundown apartments of the less fortunate.

Ultimately, the episode ends with a surprising twist that upends the detectives' assumptions about the case and leaves them reeling. As they grapple with the fallout of their investigation, both Sipowicz and Simone are forced to confront their own personal demons and the toll that their work has taken on their lives.

Overall, "Upstairs, Downstairs" is a compelling and emotionally charged episode that captures the gritty realism and complex characters that made NYPD Blue such a groundbreaking and influential series.