JAG

10 Best Episodes of JAG - Season 5

Harmon "Harm" Rabb Jr. is a former pilot turned lawyer working for the military's JAG (Judge Advocate General) division, the elite legal wing of officers that prosecutes and defends those accused of military-related crimes. He works closely with Lt. Col. Sarah Mackenzie, and together they do what needs to be done to find the truth.

Written by Sophie and last updated on jan 28, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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JAG - S5E1

#15 - King of the Greenie Board (1) (Season 5 - Episode 1)

While patrolling the Mediterranean near Yugoslavia and against the orders of Harm, his division commander, Lt. Buxton fires on what he believes is a Serbian armored car about to attack Kosovar refugees. As Buxton and his pals are celebrating his victory back aboard the aircraft carrier, however, the grave news arrives: those ""Serbs"" Buxton attacked and killed were, in fact, Russian peacekeepers, and Buxton made the mistake while under Harm's command. Mac prosecutes what appears to be an open-and-shut case of a Marine weapons expert accused of reckless endangerment.

The episode was rated 7.93 from 84 votes.

JAG - S5E16

#14 - Boomerang (2) (Season 5 - Episode 16)

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The murder/desertion trial of Kevin Lee takes a bad turn after his wife changes her testimony under cross examination. Harm and Mic fights to win over Mac

The episode was rated 7.94 from 82 votes.

JAG - S5E23

#13 - Real Deal SEAL (Season 5 - Episode 23)

Lt. Curtis Rivers (Montel Williams), a Medal of Honor-winning Navy SEAL, is court-martialed for punching a Congressional candidate who falsely claims to be a Navy SEAL. Rivers explains that he is on a crusade to expose Navy SEAL impostors. In order to prove his point to Harm, who is assigned to defend him, Rivers places him in the center of a dangerous plot to expose another false SEAL. Though Rivers assures Harm that his safety is in the hands of two legitimate former SEALS, he finds himself alone in court when Harm misses the trial to pursue a lead on the would-be assassin.

The episode was rated 7.97 from 72 votes.

JAG - S5E18

#12 - The Bridge at Kang So Ri (Season 5 - Episode 18)

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Harm and Mac are assigned to investigate charges that American GIs shot and killed civilians during the Korean War. They board a plane for Korea, along with a veteran who claims to have participated in the shootings. Korean terrorists take over the plane and insist on punishing those responsible for the alleged war crime.

The episode was rated 7.97 from 77 votes.

JAG - S5E6

#11 - Psychic Warrior (Season 5 - Episode 6)

When a Navy research project involving psychic phenomena goes awry and results in the death of one of its research subjects, Harm defends the admiral in charge of the project. As Mac prosecutes, she steadfastly proves that the admiral's ESP theories are wrong. But when her friend Chloe disappears and Mac experiences a vision that could save her life, she begins to have second thoughts about the paranormal.

The episode was rated 7.97 from 77 votes.

JAG - S5E17

#10 - People v. Gunny (Season 5 - Episode 17)

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Trouble in the JAG office starts when Gunnery Sgt. Victor Galindez, ""Gunny,"" is charged with assault following an off-duty altercation outside a gay bar. It comes to light that P.O. Tiner was also involved in the brawl, having come to the aid of his companion, whom Gunny was roughing up. Meanwhile, Mac finds herself wrestling with the ""don't ask, don't tell"" policy as attitudes toward Tiner change around the office under suspicions that he's gay.

The episode was rated 7.99 from 76 votes.

JAG - S5E15

#9 - Boomerang (1) (Season 5 - Episode 15)

At the request of Lt. Cmdr. Brumby, Admiral Chegwidden sends Harm and Bud to Australia to represent a U.S. Naval officer, Kevin Lee, who has suddenly surfaced 28 years after being ""murdered"" by an Australian sailor. Lee contends that he accidentally killed his Australian nemesis years ago and, in a panic, exchanged identities with the dead man. Now, charged with both deserting and murder, Lee is to be tried in an Australian court, pitting Harm against Brumby. Harm and Brumby are also about to go head-to-head outside the courtroom when Mac appears in Sydney and Brumby decides it's time to make her choose between him and Harm.

The episode was rated 7.99 from 81 votes.

JAG - S5E22

#8 - Overdue and Presumed Lost (Season 5 - Episode 22)

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Harm and Chegwidden fight an attempt by a salvage hunter to excavate the remains of a submarine that disappeared in 1941, just before the attack of Pearl Harbor. Meanwhile, Bud takes on the heavy burden of trying to keep an obese petty officer from being discharged for failing to lose weight.

The episode was rated 8.00 from 77 votes.

JAG - S5E7

#7 - Rogue (Season 5 - Episode 7)

As lowest ranking lawyer at JAG, Bud is assigned to accompany Raglan, a former special Forces operative who is hired by the Pentagon to test security at military bases. Raglan's current mission is to test the security around a U.S. nuclear attack submarine. But when Raglan goes too far and hijacks the sub with Bud on board, Harm is called in to chase the sub down by second guessing his old friend. The cat and mouse game becomes deadly, though, when it appears that Raglan has switched sides, demanding millions of dollars in ransom or he'll take aim on a U.S. target.

The episode was rated 8.00 from 77 votes.

JAG - S5E25

#6 - Surface Warfare (Season 5 - Episode 25)

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Bud's underachieving brother is accused of making a mistake during a training exercise that nearly killed 15 Marines. But establishing his innocence proves to be a difficult task, thanks to the age-old tension between the Navy and the Marines. Adm. Chegwidden frets over a speech he must give when he is to be given an award. Mic Brumby returns unexpectantly to the States; Mac & everyone are stunned when he announces that he has resigned his Royal Australian Navy commission so that he could move to the USA and be by the ""woman he loves.""

The episode was rated 8.01 from 79 votes.

JAG - S5E11

#5 - Ghosts of Christmas Past (Season 5 - Episode 11)

On Christmas Eve, Harm pays his annual visit to the Vietnam Memorial to honor his father who was shot down on Christmas Eve, 1969. At the memorial, Harm meets a beautiful, but mysterious woman, who claims to have known Harm, Sr. She used to be a singer in a traveling USO tour and she met Harm's father shortly before his fateful flight. In an unusual casting twist, Harm stars as his father in this episode, and many familiar faces show up playing different roles.

The episode was rated 8.04 from 75 votes.

JAG - S5E10

#4 - Mishap (Season 5 - Episode 10)

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Lt. Elizabeth ""Skates"" Hawkes, Harm's former RIO (radio intercept officer), comes under fire after the crash landing of a Tomcat aboard the USS Patrick Henry. The ship's captain and Skates' commanding officer both place the entire blame of the crash on her shoulders and press for her court-martial. Barred from the initial investigation because of his relationship with Skates, Harm is finally able to help when he's called upon to defend his friend at her court-martial and employs all of his legal skills to save her military career.

The episode was rated 8.14 from 79 votes.

JAG - S5E2

#3 - Rules of Engagement (2) (Season 5 - Episode 2)

Unexpectedly, the wily Buxton demands that Harm and Brumby be his lawyers, thereby preventing Harm from testifying against him and forcing the two adversarial lawyers to work together. The contentious trial continues with Mac and Roberts prosecuting, and the pressure is enormous as the U.S. Navy and the Russian government vigilantly follow the trial to ensure that its own agendas are met. Meanwhile, the Navy has its own special plans for the troublesome Buxton.

The episode was rated 8.14 from 76 votes.

JAG - S5E12

#2 - Into the Breech (Season 5 - Episode 12)

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Harm and Mac stumble upon a miscarriage of justice in a 10-year-old case when they tutor a group of law students in a mock trial. In the original case, an investigation team headed by Admiral Chegwidden concluded that a disgruntled gun captain caused an explosion that killed 29 sailors, including himself. But when the ""defense attorney,"" helped by Mac, and the ""prosecutor,"" helped by Harm, retry the case, a new witness and new evidence are uncovered, prompting Mac and Harm to request that the original hearing be re-evaluated.

The episode was rated 8.19 from 79 votes.

JAG - S5E13

#1 - Life or Death (Season 5 - Episode 13)

Mac is assigned the personally distasteful task of representing a fellow Marine who is appealing his death sentence for the murder of three other Marines. She believes that the defendant, Kenneth Farmer, should receive the death penalty, but she must argue otherwise in court. Brumby, who doesn't believe in capital punishment, must argue in favor of it. However, in attempting to overturn the original guilty verdict, Mac must argue inadequate counsel by the corporal's previous lawyer: then-Commander A.J. Chegwiggen. The appeals court lets stand the original guilty verdict, but orders a new sentencing hearing. Mic is recalled by the Royal Australian Navy and must leave within 72 hours. As a result, Harm is assigned to replace Brumby at the new sentencing hearing. Despite Mac's arguments to the defense of Corporal Farmer that was not raised by then-Commander Chegwiggen, Corporal Farmer is again sentenced to death. Admiral Chegwiggen throws a goodbye party for Mic at the local bar. Ever

The episode was rated 8.27 from 70 votes.

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