NYPD Blue

10 Best Episodes of NYPD Blue - Season 1

Police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan. Each episode typically intertwined several plots involving an ensemble cast.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 02, 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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NYPD Blue - S1E17

#15 - Black Men Can Jump (Season 1 - Episode 17)

LaSalle has a chance to move out of the precinct and into a more regular routine of detective work. A thirteen-year-old boy is shot. Sipowicz suspects a private investigator of bilking a father, for the past six months, in a scheme to find the man's daughter. Andy's also was looking for her for the past 2 1/2 years. The father of the murdered boy apprehends the killer, after he discovers the killer (whose injured LaSalle) has escaped from the precinct.

The episode was rated 7.73 from 56 votes.

NYPD Blue - S1E13

#14 - Abandando Abandoned (Season 1 - Episode 13)

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Medavoy leaves his wife and tells Donna about his feelings for her, which it turns out are mutual. An academy classmate of Kelly's joins the squad; then Sipowicz and Kelly investigate the death of her husband, whom was an ex-cop trying to stop a robbery on her first day at the 15th precinct. An alcoholic woman keeps lodging complaints with Kelly against her husband that she never follows through with, later she confesses to killing him.

The episode was rated 7.75 from 59 votes.

NYPD Blue - S1E14

#13 - Jumpin' Jack Fleishman (Season 1 - Episode 14)

Medavoy and Martinez work a strangulation murder case that appears to be the work of a cross-dresser. Andy has a bad tooth, hates needles, and tries to prevent a dentist from jumping off a 28th floor ledge; he fails. LaSalle's first case involves a woman who was raped and she, John, Andy, Janice and Licalsi's hot-headed new partner try to catch the most probable suspect; however the hot-head blows the bust. Lois tries to reconcile her relationship with Andy.

The episode was rated 7.75 from 57 votes.

NYPD Blue - S1E16

#12 - A Sudden Fish (Season 1 - Episode 16)

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Medavoy suffers a stress-related anxiety attack after making into the station. Sipowicz looks into the robbery of a Vietnam veteran, who's confined to a wheelchair. Andy rejects a gift from Sylvia. John starts moonlighting as a bodyguard for his rich friend's girlfriend, but he catches her in the act of being unfaithful. When he confronts her, she tells him that she's being blackmailed, so Kelly meets the blackmailer and advises him not to do it again. Medavoy doesn't want to tell his wife about his problem, which displeases Donna, and he thinks he still may want a divorce. The wheelchair-bound veteran takes his mugger's hostage. Laura invites John out to dinner and tells him about her serious relationship. John is best man at an impromptu wedding.

The episode was rated 7.76 from 37 votes.

NYPD Blue - S1E18

#11 - Zeppo Marks Brothers (Season 1 - Episode 18)

Roberts meets with Kelly in search of getting some bodyguard work. A woman whose boyfriend was a material witness is afraid to identify the hit man because she's afraid she'll be next. Laura feels as though she's being stalked and while checking it out John gets to meet her new boyfriend. The hit man is identified, wired and sent to Riker's to get incriminating evidence against the brothers who hired him. While listening in, John hears that Laura was also an intended target. None of the detectives are too excited when Haverill sends them down to Times Square for uniform detail at a parade.

The episode was rated 7.77 from 52 votes.

NYPD Blue - S1E4

#10 - True Confessions (Season 1 - Episode 4)

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Kelly quits his security job and warns the abusive husband to watch out. A man is arrested for a robbery and double-homicide when Det. Walker is convinced he is guilty, though Sipowicz feels differently. Laura quits her job and plans to move into a position with the District Attorney's office, prosecuting narcotics. Kelly winds up at the scene of the abusive husband's murder. "4B" has Kelly come and appear before the tenant's readiness group, later the edgy "4B" is shot on a subway platform trying to save an elderly woman.

The episode was rated 7.80 from 83 votes.

NYPD Blue - S1E1

#9 - Pilot (Season 1 - Episode 1)

Sipowicz's continual harassment of Giardella winds up getting him in trouble. Fancy tells Kelly it may be time for a new partner. Sipowicz is brought up before IAB. Laura wants to process their divorce and the neighbor in apartment 4B, where a mugging has recently happened, is doing the paperwork. Sipowicz gets drunk and meets his lady friend and is shot by Giardella in the process. Kelly begins to apply pressure on the local Mafia to try to get them to give Giardella up. Janice and John begin to have a relationship. "4B" is mugged in the laundry room. Marino wants Janice to kill Kelly.

The episode was rated 7.80 from 121 votes.

NYPD Blue - S1E3

#8 - Brown Appetit (Season 1 - Episode 3)

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Janice's father comes to visit and warn her about his pending corruption indictment. Sipowicz makes some appearances at the hotel where Giardella is being held. Kelly and Martinez are assigned a case involving the robbery and brutal murder of a woman. 4B comes to the precinct in search of his gun. Fancy and Sipowicz meet man to man and air their differences. Kelly begins moonlighting as a security guard for a wealthy woman who's married to an abusive husband. Sipowicz is put back on the job and Janice's father takes the easy way out.

The episode was rated 7.83 from 80 votes.

NYPD Blue - S1E2

#7 - 4B or Not 4B (Season 1 - Episode 2)

Lastarza of the Organized Crime Unit tells Fancy & Kelly that they better stop applying pressure on the mob. Sipowicz regains consciousness but has no memory of the shooting. Laura and John become officially separated. "4B" begins to do his laundry every night with his gun in hopes of catching the attacker. Laura decides to join a private law firm. Angelo Marino puts pressure on Janice to kill Kelly; however, she kills him and his driver instead. Sipowicz returns to "active" desk duty and Lois turns up and helps to nail Giardella. Alfonse offers to give up all sorts of proof that will put him on easy street. A father takes a judge hostage, when he feels justice wasn't done for his dead son, Kelly talks him out of it. John and Janice talk about their relationship and Angelo Marino's death. "4B" shoots his mugger.

The episode was rated 7.84 from 92 votes.

NYPD Blue - S1E5

#6 - Emission Accomplished (Season 1 - Episode 5)

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James goes to visit his brother but finds the super at the building is a cop who is on the take and slowly forcing tenants out. Det. Stillwell's pranks become a nuisance for everyone. Martinez's brother's building is the scene of an "accidental" death that convinces him the cop is bad. James' father comes down on him for not keeping an eye on his brother. John contacts an old friend who's in IAB about Martinez's theories, but to protect Martinez from IAB, John takes a tape recorder in and gets Hanlon to talk. Laura's new job as an ADA takes a twist as she is assigned a case that involves Giardella.

The episode was rated 7.92 from 71 votes.

NYPD Blue - S1E7

#5 - NYPD Lou (Season 1 - Episode 7)

A man thinks he is a werewolf and demands to be locked into a cell before he kills someone. Sipowicz discovers that his estranged son's future wife has been sleeping around. A homeless man is suspected in the death of a nine-year-old. Giardella is killed before he can testify and Laura is the only witness to the crime.

The episode was rated 7.93 from 67 votes.

NYPD Blue - S1E11

#4 - From Hare to Eternity (Season 1 - Episode 11)

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Borough Commander Haverill starts to come down on Fancy. Kelly and Sipowicz investigate the kidnapping of a doctor's daughter. A woman claims to have no knowledge of the robbery the man they were riding with committed in North Carolina. Janice must pass some more information to the mob, but wonders how she'll ever get out of this situation. Sipowicz threatens to reveal some incriminating evidence about Haverill to get him to lay off Fancy, he later plays Santa Claus to underprivileged children. Kelly stops to visit his mother in her rest home. Martinez receives his new badge, making him a detective.

The episode was rated 7.95 from 58 votes.

NYPD Blue - S1E20

#3 - Good Time Charlie (Season 1 - Episode 20)

Janice gets promoted and will be working with the other detectives until she can be transferred to the re-organizing intelligence division. Kelly suspects that his friend is being framed for the murder of his mistress, even after his behavior in the squad room. Arthur's wife lets him know she is pregnant again; he is less than enthusiastic considering the complications of her previous pregnancy. Andy takes a sip of a drink at a birthday party for Sylvia's father and later he has more and then he throws her out of his apartment.

The episode was rated 7.98 from 48 votes.

NYPD Blue - S1E21

#2 - Guns 'n Rosaries (Season 1 - Episode 21)

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Medavoy tells Donna that he's caught his wife in the act of being unfaithful, so he is moving out. Racial hostilities flare up after Martinez shoots a belligerent black motorist who draws a gun on Medavoy, but the gun is missing. Distressed by recent events, Licalsi searches for direction, John points her to his friend, Father Downey. After talking with him, she then confesses to Fancy that she killed Angelo Marino and his chauffeur and then the circus begins. Sipowicz tries to attend an open meeting.

The episode was rated 8.23 from 43 votes.

NYPD Blue - S1E22

#1 - Rockin' Robin (Season 1 - Episode 22)

Kelly gets a high priced attorney to defend Janice and helps out with her bail. Andy tries to make amends with Sylvia who's been attending Alanon meetings. Kelly investigates the murder of a priest. While helping his son look for a car, Andy comes across a lead in the disappearance case that has frustrated him for 2 1/2 years. John and Robin meet for lunch and then again later that night.

The episode was rated 8.24 from 49 votes.

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