Miami Vice (TV Series) Hard Knocks (1989) User Reviews

Not one of the best, but certainly not one of the worst either

[dangkoen · 7/10 · 17 December 2007]

This episode features Switek falling into a gambling and drinking addiction after a failed promotion, which also effects the relationship with his current and caring girlfriend. Like things aren't worse enough yet, Switek is forced by thugs into talking the son of his friend, a football player, into throwing a game. Switek slowly begins to brake down on what to do about the situation and knows he must do something to stop the thugs.

This is a good episode from a decent season, that features loads of action. Everyone also does a great job at acting, however some people claim otherwise. But who really stands out, is Michael Talbott. He perfectly portrays Stan Switek who experiences a downfall and should have won a price for his supporting role in this season.

I have read recent reports of people that Switek may been a dirty cop, which is obviously not the case here. He is a good cop and it shows in this episode, as in the end he does what he has to do. The final scene is very moving and a so called "Vice-fan" who doesn't like this episode, is not a real Vice-fan at all.

Stan has a gambling problem

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 2 March 2013]

It seems that Switek has a serious gambling problem; he owes $75,000 to local bookmaker Chi Chi. Chi Chi has problems of his own; members of the New York Mafia want to take over his operation and when he rebuffs them he ends up dead. This isn't the end of Stan's problems though; the men from New York expect to collect Chi Chi's debts. Stan isn't the only person who owes them money; his friend's son; a promising football player is also heavily in debt and they expect him to throw a game. Stan's situation isn't helped when he is turned down for a promotion and he can't bring himself to ask his friends for help.

This is a good downbeat episode of 'Miami Vice'; it makes a nice change to see a Switek led story that isn't light hearted. Michael Talbott does a good job portraying Switek as he struggles with his problems. The more serious tone doesn't mean that there is no excitement; there are plenty of fairly tense moments as well as a nice little car/truck chase at the beginning and a shootout at the end. My only real complaint about the episode is that Stan's gambling problem seemed to come out of nowhere just as the team were investigating his bookie; still that is a minor complaint and one must remember that most series of this time were made up of entirely self-contained episodes back then.

Good episode!

[mm-39 · 7/10 · 10 March 2017]

Character driven episode! Stan is in a down spiral. Drinking, fighting and disgruntled Stan's character arch hits a low point owing 75 thow gaming marker to the bookies! Hard knock's story is about friendship, sports and masculinity in Stan's world. The problems of being strong an masculine. Can Stan redeem himself the viewer asks? A new angle for the Miami vice story-line! The new story-line gamble payed off! We learn more about the Crockett character at the end also. A powerful ending. 7 out of 10 stars.