TURNER AND HOOCH: Episode 1.3: Diamonds Are Furever

The third episode of TURNER AND HOOCH, “Diamonds Are Furever,” is the best one so far. In this episode, Scott Turner’s partner, Jessica Baxter, is trying to find a suitable backup partner for Turner and Hooch. Turner desperately wants to join the “T-squad,” the U.S. Marshall version of the cool kids’ club. Jessica is totally against this and encourages Turner to team up with Xavier, which doesn’t work out. A big case involving a diamond heist arises and Turner volunteers his and Hooch’s services to try to track down the thief.

To help better the chances, and against his wishes, Trent Havelock allows Turner and Hooch to help. Hooch, being the lovable crazy dog that he is, doesn’t help Turner’s chances with the “T-squad,” which leads to them getting kicked off the case. Afterwards, Turner goes to Erica, the K-9 unit trainer, for help. Due to her crush on Turner, she gladly helps with teaching Hooch some new tricks. Afterwards, Turner teams up with Baxter and manages to track down the diamond thief before the “T-Squad.” After catching the thief, The T-Squad comes and takes the credit again, and Jessica is assigned to desk duty because her baby’s almost due. The cliffhanger end, however, is that Turner’s former girlfriend comes back into the mix, setting up for some more drama down the road.

The episode plays out very similar to a high school comedy with a twist of using detectives and dogs. Thematically, it keeps the solid divide of good vs. evil with good triumphant against evil, the power of humility, support for the Pro-Life movement, and a support of loyalty. However, there is still gun and action violence that helps drive the show and deliver action sequences. What makes this episode stand out is the actual Christian representation and acknowledgement that occurs within this episode. During a press conference, Baxter gives a medal of St. Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, and the military, to Turner because she’s been confined to desk duty due to her pregnancy. This is something that hasn’t happened in either of the prior episodes, with a direct acknowledgement of God and his power, or at the very least one of His celestial servants, an angel.

Despite MOVIEGUIDE®’s concerns about TURNER & HOOCH, the third episode brings the program’s moral worldview closer to a Christian, biblical worldview. MOVIEGUIDE® still advises caution for younger children for TURNER & HOOCH: Diamonds Are Furever, because of some gun violence, bullying and name calling. However, there is some hope for the series and the direction its creators have decided to take it.