NYPD Blue

10 Best Episodes of NYPD Blue - Season 3

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 - S3E19

#15 - Auntie Maimed (Season 3 - Episode 19)

Sylvia is close to giving birth and Andy is on edge. When isn't he? Donna contemplates a California job offer. The nephew of the victim of a robbery-homicide is found holding the stolen goods. Andy and Bobby (with observations from Andy Jr.) work that case. Greg, James, Adrianne and Diane all work the robbery-homicide of a bouncer. James and Adrianne have another talk. Sylvia gives birth with only a little trouble. It is a boy and they name him Theo.

The episode was rated 7.80 from 40 votes.

NYPD Blue - S3E16

#14 - Girl Talk (Season 3 - Episode 16)

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A rapist-murderer is throwing small children from the tops of buildings and a cop from another precinct joins Simone and Sipowicz with their investigation. The only thing Andy knows about this cop is "she got her 1st grade money, the year I got screwed out of mine." Martinez and Russell investigate an alleged case of date rape, but the women of the squad and Sylvia, have major disagreement with James' decisions regarding the suspect. Andy shows his son some of the ropes of being a cop.

The episode was rated 7.84 from 37 votes.

NYPD Blue - S3E1

#13 - E.R. (Season 3 - Episode 1)

Russell, on the road to recovery, wants Andy to let Bobby know she's doing okay now. James is shot and may be paralyzed for life. His assailant, a government witness, will probably go free. Donna expresses her interest in Bobby to him. Bobby contacts Benita to use her to help put pressure on the DA and their protected witness and they talk about their time together. Everyone wants Bobby, but he has still feelings for Diane. Sylvia has some news for Andy.

The episode was rated 7.86 from 57 votes.

NYPD Blue - S3E9

#12 - Sorry, Wong Suspect (Season 3 - Episode 9)

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Greg and Marie split up again and she comes down to the station and sees Donna for the first time. Andy is also in the doghouse with Sylvia when he chooses not to accompany her for one of her tests that involves a large needle. Simone and Sipowicz probe the death of a Chinese girl whose leg has a strange marking on it. Martinez and Lesniak look into a robbery case where a woman in a wheelchair lets a man in who claims to be a policeman. Working together on this case gives James an opportunity to find out where Adrianne really stands in her sexuality.

The episode was rated 7.87 from 39 votes.

NYPD Blue - S3E18

#11 - We Was Robbed (Season 3 - Episode 18)

Simone and Sipowicz are forced to commit robbery while working with an FBI agent to place a bug in a mob hangout. The wiseguys come to the precinct to file a robbery complaint; Diane and Greg catch the complaint. Andy Jr. learns more about being a beat cop. Donna's hairdresser has a problem with her ex-boyfriend wanting to hijack the truck of her current boyfriend. James goes undercover as her current boyfriend; Adrianne doesn't appreciate the competition. James and Adrianne have a talk.

The episode was rated 7.98 from 41 votes.

NYPD Blue - S3E13

#10 - A Tushful of Dollars (Season 3 - Episode 13)

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Diane worries about her mother's pending grand jury trial. Andy and Bobby search for the killer of a mobster's son, which reveals a family affair. The lawyer of a suspect in a murder impedes Greg and Diane's investigation. The erratic son of the victim doesn't help much either and he has a thing for Diane. James and Adrianne get another shooting case that involves Andy and Bobby's suspect. The bullets are flying in NYC during sweeps' month.

The episode was rated 7.98 from 44 votes.

NYPD Blue - S3E5

#9 - Dirty Laundry (Season 3 - Episode 5)

Fancy is less than enthused when a detective under surveillance by IAB is assigned to the squad. Bobby is asked to keep an eye on him. They pull a case where an elderly man has been accused of exposing himself. Later the man is found hanging out in his apartment on the door. The murder of a pimp in a Laundromat is witnessed by a young woman who helped the detectives out on a previous case. Andy debates about whether to let John cut his hair, when he does John asks him about whether he should approach Lesniak. When he does, she finds out that gay people don't listen either. The IAB plans to apprehend Drucker in the squad room.

The episode was rated 7.98 from 45 votes.

NYPD Blue - S3E6

#8 - Curt Russell (Season 3 - Episode 6)

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An Indian woman is found dead in a car and Andy is full of theories about who and why. Donna is off at a computer course and her temporary replacement is a real character who clashes with Andy. James and Greg are nearby when a drug crazed man tries to rob a couple of stores of credit card slips. Russell and Lesniak work a case involving a man who was left to die of a drug overdose, that leads to a chance to nail a fence. Simone and Russell have words when she doesn't want him to provide the backup that she and Lesniak will require. Fancy has a couple of words for Bobby.

The episode was rated 7.98 from 47 votes.

NYPD Blue - S3E4

#7 - Heavin' Can Wait (Season 3 - Episode 4)

Lesniak's preference gets around the precinct. Sylvia's morning sickness, Russell falling off the wagon & calling Bobby, not him, and the senseless murder of two kids makes it a really bad day for Andy. Bobby and Andy clash throughout their investigation.

The episode was rated 8.06 from 49 votes.

NYPD Blue - S3E10

#6 - The Backboard Jungle (Season 3 - Episode 10)

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A basketball game, held in the memory of a young boy, erupts into violence. 2 dead, 7 wounded. Andy has a race relation's problem with the organizer of the event that was witnessed by a reporter. Fancy and Sipowicz's relationship is on shaky ground as details of this event come to light and Andy is removed from the case.

The episode was rated 8.10 from 50 votes.

NYPD Blue - S3E3

#5 - One Big Happy Family (Season 3 - Episode 3)

Medavoy and Lesniak pair up to identify who's launched a series of vicious attacks on a man. James returns to duty. Simone spots a possible suspect in a series of rapes. Russell tries to maintain her sobriety and it is tested when her parent's domestic problems get out of hand. Lesniak makes it clear to Medavoy she likes James as a friend only, and tells him she is gay, which he tells to James.

The episode was rated 8.10 from 48 votes.

NYPD Blue - S3E11

#4 - Burnin' Love (Season 3 - Episode 11)

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Simone and Sipowicz look into the death of a young woman whose body is found burned well beyond recognition, except for a tattoo on her back. Gotelli puts his two cents in, much to Andy's delight. One of the victim's temporary roommates becomes the prime suspect. Medavoy pulls double duty (things still aren't good at home) and is assigned to watch an informant who has a penchant for playing poker with his friends. Unfortunately he might be put in a compromising position, when another "player" joins the game.

The episode was rated 8.11 from 44 votes.

NYPD Blue - S3E21

#3 - Closing Time (Season 3 - Episode 21)

Sylvia confronts Andy about his "late night walks." The new administrative assistant arrives to take Donna's place. Andy's return to drinking affects him at home and on the job, where Fancy sends him home. Bobby fulfills Andy's vendetta. A drunk Andy tackles some street punks, who get the better of him and his gun. Bobby and Officer Shannon work to locate the punks; Fancy gets the gun back; the rest is up to Andy.

The episode was rated 8.16 from 43 votes.

NYPD Blue - S3E8

#2 - Cold Heaters (Season 3 - Episode 8)

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Simone and IAB share the suspect after Bobby gets some information from his incarcerated friend, Ray, about a case that Mike Roberts once worked. Fancy and Sipowicz both work the case of a self-confessed gunman in a neighborhood shooting, once they get the story they help the shooter out. Medavoy investigates the assault case of an actor who was injured in staged fight that went awry.

The episode was rated 8.22 from 45 votes.

NYPD Blue - S3E20

#1 - A Death in the Family (Season 3 - Episode 20)

A robbery-homicide sends Bobby and Andy to the hospital; however the victim is Andy Jr. Andy wants Bobby to lead the case and he also wants the opportunity for restitution. Diane doesn't like the way Bobby is handling the case. They turn up the weapon, but the suspects don't pan out. In the midst of all this turmoil, Donna makes the decision and quits her job. Andy goes for a walk and makes a stop.

The episode was rated 8.48 from 44 votes.

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