Miami Vice (TV Series) Bought and Paid For (1985) User Reviews

Tragic story after a funny start

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 15 November 2009]

When I started watching this episode I thought it was going to be one of the comedy episodes... after all the opening scene featured Izzy selling a large quantity of white powder to a "professional" in an abandoned warehouse. When it is raided it turns out the powder is just artificial sweetener which a soft drink manufacturer was getting on the cheap. Added to this Izzy makes his getaway by stealing the bug-van.

After this introduction the main story came as quite a shock; when a friend of Gina's is raped in Gina's house by the son of a former employer. Gina and Crockett get there just after the rapist leaves and Crockett gives chase and as the rapist is in a Lamborghini it is an exciting high speed chase. Eventually he is caught but is released when the victim refuses to identify him as she is afraid that the rapist's father, a rich Bolivian ex-general may harm her family in Haiti. There is so much evidence though that Gina is determined to persuade her to press charges. At first it looks as if justice will be served but as the father attempts to buy off the victim by giving her poor mother a large some of money the story comes to a tragic conclusion.

Despite the strange mix of comedy and tragedy this episode worked well with Joaquim de Almeida doing a great job as the arrogant criminal who thought that money could buy him anything.

Tragic, but nicely made

[Mr-Fusion · 8/10 · 11 November 2016]

'Bought and Paid For' features one of the show's nicest car chases, but action isn't the focus here. Instead, it's the sexual assault of a young Haitian immigrant and the political maneuvering to sweep it under the rug. This is deeply personal for Gina, recalling the events of 'Give a Little, Take a Little', and a cold examination of class divide (when a human being's dignity is a commodity to be bought and sold). In the end, justice is done (in classic Vice style) . . . but it's not a happy ending; this is a very bleak episode. Well-directed, but hopelessly bitter.

The bright spot is Joaguim de Almeida, who's about as charismatic a sleaze as one can get.

8/10

Classic episode.

[mm-39 · 9/10 · 4 August 2018]

What works for Bought and Paid for is strong acting and memorable moments mixed with great dialogue. The opening car chase with a Ferrari and Lamborghini is just over the top! The Joaquim character is just so slime personafide! Everything, and every women is just for Joaquim amusement. The banter between Crockett and Joaquim is priceless. Gina takes the case personally and drives the last 2 thirds of Bought and Paid For. Sexy women so angry attitude along with a rich son who's is always baled out by Father puts Joaquim in the top 5 for memorable slime characters on Miami Vice. The acting is over the top with the plot twist ending. Bought and Paid For asks about Gina actions in the end? 9 out of 10 stars.

A top drawer episode of "Vice"

[DVD_Connoisseur · 10/10 · 27 July 2007]

If I was tasked with choosing 10 episodes that captured the essence of "Miami Vice" for a newcomer to the series, I'd probably include this one.

Following a humorous start with Izzy and his bug-eyed sidekick, the episode moves into far more serious territory when Gina's friend (played by Lynn Whitfield) is raped by Joaquim de Almeida (perhaps known best for his role as Ramon Salazar in "24").

This episode has it all - gritty drama, exciting action, a great score and memorable performances. As a Gina-driven story, Saundra Santiago is finally given the freedom to display her acting talents.

The show's short but thrilling car chase between Sonny, in his trusty Ferrari Daytona Spyder, and Arroyo, driving a gleaming white Lamborghini Countach, is excellent, big-screen style entertainment.

The soundtrack includes Debarge performing "You Wear It Well" and their better known "Rhythm Of The Night". Other tracks include Fleetwood Mac's "I'm So Afraid" and Sly & Robbie's "Bass and Trouble".

10 out of 10. One of the highlights from Season Two.

classic,top episode

[Yiannis-T · 10/10 · 23 January 2021]

Just a top classic episode of Miami vice!we have an appearance of the Lamborghini countach in this episode,and a wonderful street chase scene vs Crockett's Ferrari!Gina has a top role at this episode,she's protecting a friend of hers who was abbused

Not realistic...I hope!

[ramblingvagabond · 5/10 · 8 December 2019]

I don't know why this episode got so many high scores. It was one of the most frustrating episodes of the season. A woman was raped, everyone knew she was raped, everyone knew who raped her, and Gina wanted to go after the guy. But because there wasn't much evidence, everyone treated Gina like there was something wrong with her that she still wanted to pursue the case. Even sonny, even Castillo! They all were like "what's wrong with Gina?"

Seriously? They're willing to let a rapist walk just because he denied doing it? People are convicted of rape often when they only have the word of the victim, and in this case his prints were all over the place. But just because he denies it, the "good guys" are like, "okay, we'll just drop it" even thought they KNOW he did it.