Miami Vice (TV Series) Payback (1986) User Reviews

A Season 2 high point

[Mr-Fusion · 8/10 · 29 March 2016]

Crockett's cover is blown, he's being targeted by both Internal Affairs and a vengeful drug kingpin ("I want my money") and the pressure's on from all directions. Part of the reason I love "Payback" is because it's Vice-style noir, turning the screws on a good cop. It's also a terrific synthesis of style and substance. The story's well done and the music and mood round it all out into a very entertaining package.

If the episode has a downside, it's that Frank Zappa never returned to carry out his threat in the closing moments. My understanding is that he retired due to ailing health, and that's just an unavoidable act of nature. But a bummer, nonetheless.

But overall, this episode's a great one. The guest stars are good, Jan Hammer's theme is a favorite and that closing shot in the middle of the ocean resonates long after it's over.

8/10

It's all in the execution

[Fluke_Skywalker · 7/10 · 26 March 2016]

On paper, this episode is pretty standard Vice, but the strong execution helps lift it above average. Frank Zappa makes for a surprisingly effective and not so surprisingly quirky villain, and guest star Graham Beckel really shines as an undercover DEA agent. This is a Crocket-centric episode, and Johnson proves once again that he's at his best when Crockett is under the gun. Also of note is a nice moment for Edward James Olmos' Lt. Castillo. Olmos is a great actor, but his Castillo rarely shows any humanity. But here he has a strong, but understated ('natch), scene with Johnson where we see him peel back the armor just a tad and show the heart beating underneath.

With a nice sleight of hand twist and good guest performances, "Payback" works as a solid, effective outing for our favorite pastel-clad detectives.

Starring Frank Zappa

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 26 November 2009]

This is another classic episode of Miami Vice which sees Crockett under suspicion when a prisoner who had stolen three million dollars from drug lord Mario Fuente kills himself in front of Crockett leaving both the drug lord and Internal Affairs to believe he told Crockett where the cash was stashed. It doesn't help that Crockett's current case is investigating the drug lord in question, although he feels safe not knowing that Fuente is aware that Sonny Burnett is Crockett's undercover identity. It looks as if the only way Crockett to clear his name and protect his identity is to try to make a deal with Fuente, he is helped here by an undercover DEA agent.

Don Johnson does a great job as Crockett making us believe he is genuinely distressed by his situation. This episode is also notable for the appearance of the late Frank Zappa as Fuente, a role which he performed very well.

Vintage vice with Frank Zappa - need I say more?

[DVD_Connoisseur · 10/10 · 22 August 2007]

"Payback" is one of "Miami Vice"'s finest episodes. From its stylised, big-screen visuals in the opening sequence to the thrilling ending, I simply love every second of this tale. In the '80s when a few friends were suggesting that the series had "jumped the shark" by the second season, I'd play them this tale to show how the quality of the show continued to be jaw-droppingly good.

This is a dedicated Crockett episode - Sonny finds himself suspected of stealing $3 million from an ex-employee of Mario Fuente (the late, great Frank Zappa). Under pressure from his own people and Fuente, Crockett is in a difficult place.

Zappa rarely appeared on television in an acting role and his performance in "Payback" is genuinely memorable. His character has a quirky, eccentric charm and he is totally believable in the part.

It's a great shame that the plot threads from this episode were not tied up at a later date. It would have been fantastic to see another performance from Zappa and to see how the story panned out.

All in all, an unreserved 10 out of 10 for "Payback". Beautiful visuals, an intriguing plot and first class performances from all concerned make this unmissable television. Don Johnson is on top-form as a more anxious-than-normal Crockett.

INXS, Chris Isaak, X and Sly & Robbie accompany Jan Hammer's marvellous music on the soundtrack to this episode.

Sergio Leone meets Miami Vice.

[mm-39 · 6/10 · 5 February 2017]

Payback is Sergio Leone meets Miami Vice. Payback has a Sergio Leone's story-line and style. A prisoner Crockett put in jail kills himself. A drug-lord, wants his money back from Crockett. The D E A and Internal Affairs want Crockett. The screws tighten on Crockett! There is a double cross. Stylistic artistic scenes blend into the tense story. Ingredients of a Leone's story. I did not mind Payback episode. Entertaining episode, but not a classic either. Payback's bright spots are Zappa, made a memorable cameo, and Johnson has a stellar performance. Six out of ten. Season two evolved Miami Vice into a better series as the character have more impact on the story line. Six out of 10 stars.

Story makes no sense

[xbatgirl-30029 · 3/10 · 30 June 2021]

This would be a pretty good episode if the plot made absolutely any sense. Forget that Frank Zappa's character, and everyone who works for him, knows Sonny is a cop. The guys blow their cover virtually every episode. No, as far as I can make out, a guy in prison decides to kill himself while declaring "payback!" to Sonny with no actual plan. It just happens. A DEA guy then decides to take advantage of the situation to steal $3 million and *I guess* let Crockett take the fall??? Of course Crockett is a total stranger to him and he's screwing him personally over with the police and with a murderous drug dealer for absolutely no reason and DEA guy has no remorse about it in the end. His motive is "the job did it to him." Anyway, does he just take the money and disappear? He could do it and never be suspected. Nope, that would make sense. Instead he inserts himself into Crockett's case with plans to take the money back to Frank Zappa, along with Crockett to be killed. Again, just because?? Along the way, we see how apparently easy it is for someone to track Sonny down. Also at one point we get the scene where Sonny is called to the IA office and observed, for no real world reason other than - tv. In the end, it was all completely pointless.

Bad accents & worse logic. Oh my.

[bringbackberniew · 3 February 2022]

I'll start with a positive: it took me half a second to recognize Zappa, and he was good. Better than Hedeya, for sure.

Now, the story. Oh my. You DEFINITELY have to not think about this one. The wild thing is it brings to a head something that I have laughed about over and over watching select episodes in S1 & S2. It is crazy to think Sonny can keep his undercover identity while waltzing around the city acting like a real cop day after day. Drug lords kill somebody? Sonny & Rico show up at the scene of the crime, over & over. Yet, nobody ever recognizes them. Oh. My.

In this episode, a woman has no trouble putting 2 & 2 together and figuring out Crockett = Burnett. Cover blown. But wait, the episode ends and life goes on ... nobody knows nothing.

I'd say MV jumped-the-shark, as most shows do sooner rather than later, but the crazy 50/50 undercover/day-to-day-cop thing was crazy from the beginning.

At least they chose some good singers/bands for the music in this one.