Quincy M.E. (TV Series) Double Death (1978) User Reviews

Highly entertaining and original

[rayoflite24 · 9/10 · 1 September 2015]

Double Death begins late in the evening with a nightclub fire that kills 14 people and creates havoc in the coroner lab as the unidentified bodies come pouring in. A tired and frustrated Quincy (Jack Klugman) has an explosive argument with Dr. Asten (John S. Ragin) about the lack of staff and resources in their department before storming out and later feels guilty about it at Danny's. A dejected Dr. Asten is about to leave the lab himself when another body from the fire is brought in, and trying to be helpful, he conducts the autopsy on his own determining the death was a homicide.

Quincy has some doubts about the findings, but Lt. Monahan (Garry Walberg) and the DA are already pursuing the case because a notorious criminal they have been after for years is implicated. When further evidence is uncovered which seems to invalidate Asten's report, he promptly resigns from his position, but Quincy believes there is much more to this case and he is determined to get to the truth about whether or not Asten was correct and a murder took place.

This is a quite good Quincy episode which has everything... compelling murder mystery, plenty of twists and turns, an interesting role reversal where the more cautious Asten declares a homicide vs. a doubtful Quincy, great emotional scenes among the regular players and even some comic relief when the investigation brings Quincy to a strip club and he meets some delightfully shady characters who assist him. Pure camp classic gold!

Overall, this is a thoroughly entertaining Season 3 episode which will keep your interest throughout and I highly recommend as a must-see!

A wonderful change of pace.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 16 April 2013]

There is an awful fire and over a dozen people are killed. After an exhausting night, Quincy stomps off and Astin is left in the morgue. However, another body is discovered and Astin himself decides to do the autopsy. It seems pretty cut and dry. However, the next day, Quincy comes in and has different findings. Astin naturally believes that he's wrong and begins to doubt himself--going so far as to resign. Now it's up to Quincy the crusader to come to the rescue and get to the bottom of exactly what happened and determine whether or not Astin was correct in his finding.

This is an excellent change of pace having Astin doing some hands-on work in the lab. It's also a reasonably interesting plot that kept my attention. I particularly liked the scene where Quincy was hanging out with strippers--and you'll just have to see this for yourself! Overall, a novel plot--one that is well worth your time.

Excellent classic Quincy.

[poolandrews · 8/10 · 2 May 2008]

Quincy M.E.: Double Death starts as the Los Angeles county coroner's office is inundated after a fire at the Cresent Club has killed fifteen people who all need to be identified, Quincy (Jack Klugman), Sam (Robert Ito) & Dr. Asten (John S. Ragin) are rushed off their feet but get the job done under enormous pressure. Once the work is complete Quincy argues with Asten that they are understaffed & they are ill equipped to deal with such emergencies & storms off, Asten himself is about to leave when another body comes in that was initially missed & Asten decides to do the autopsy himself. The body turns out to be the owner of the club Mike Ryan & Lt. Monahan (Garry Walberg) is desperate to pin his murder & the fire to local gangster Solly Arkoff (Joseph Perry) & Asten's findings seem to pint to murder which the DA act on. However the next morning Quincy takes a look at Ryan's body & comes to a different conclusion that could ruin Asten's reputation & set Arkoff free...

Episode 18 from season 3 this Quincy story was directed by Robert Douglas & I have to say that Double Death is one of my very favourite Quincy episodes. It has everything that makes the show so great for me, it has a good storyline with lots of mystery elements, Quincy turns detective to solve a crime using his medical & forensic skills, the regulars character's are spot on, at fifty minutes it moves along at a nice pace, the eventual outcome is in the balance right up until the end, the case provides a very personal edge for Quincy & it's hilariously funny at times. The scenes when Quincy meets the apartment manager are pure gold, the apartment manager never says anything other than 'yeah' & it becomes a funny running gag. Sure the script makes sure Quincy ask's questions that could simply have 'yeah' answers but it's still very funny & a true classic Quincy moment. Then there's the scene towards the end when Quincy visits a seedy strip club complete with 70's porn music, a go-go dancer on stage & a black jive speaking DJ! Really funny stuff but an important factor is that you laugh with it rather than at it, one of the funniest episodes from Quincy's entire eight season run I would say. Then there's the subplot about Quincy having to rescue Asten's reputation in court from a rushed autopsy & while there's never any doubt that he will it gives the episode another good angle as it involves character's who any fan of the show will be familiar with. All in all Double Death is a very good, very funny & very entertaining Quincy episode which I throughly recommend.

I must admit I didn't think the go-go dancers looked that nice & for a strip club they kept too many clothes on. As usual the episode is well made & shot but rather bland & forgettable, it's competent but little else. The acting is good in this one & it's always great to see Klugman on top form trying to find the truth & the scenes with him & the apartment manager (played by Frank Campanella who appeared in five Quincy episodes as a guest star) who only says 'yeah' are very funny.

Double Death is one of my favourite Quincy episodes, it's very funny & there's a great mystery plot as well that Quincy has to use his skills to solve. It's all here, everything that made the show so great, definitely recommend.