Back on patrol, the rift between Harmon and Diaz comes to a head. When Diaz's family is threatened, Harmon realizes she must break her own rules to fix it.
Delgado's murder was the inciting incident of the series. It motivated Harmon into action. She needed to catch the man who killed who former trainee. She accomplished that task. That occurred at the halfway point of the season. As such, it was easy to assume that more complications would emerge with that particular story. They appear in the form of Diaz's brother being targeted in prison. Apparently, he was under the protection of East Barrio. Harmon and Diaz disrupting their operation has now put a price on Gabriel's head. The family spirals as they don't know what to do. Diaz's mother completely distrusts the cops. She blames them for ruining her son's life. Gabriel was proud of his younger brother deciding to join the force. He saw him as much stronger than he ever was. Diaz continues to prove himself in the field. He is distracted by this latest family drama. So much of it is just being introduced now. He's reckoning with the consequences on his family by wearing the badge. Harmon knew immediately he was the first in his family to enter this profession. Her backstory is different. Her older sister was a cop too. And yet, she also gets defined by a tragic past. Harmon's sister was injured on the job. That forced her into retirement that ultimately resulted in addiction. Harmon is done trying to appease the woman who caused her so much pain despite it being her sister. It's heavy stuff she has to juggle alongside everything else. It's mostly just in setup mode though.
Resolution is provided for the tension within West Division about Harmon. Diaz didn't know if he could trust his partner. Even when he says he does, he still has lingering doubts in the back of his mind. He can't ignore them. Harmon sees them clearly too. She has to come clean in order for her partner to better understand her. She wasn't responsible for Lasman's former partner being fired. She intervened to stop bad policing. She didn't report it. She wasn't the only one who witnessed it either. She simply became an easy target because she didn't go along with the cover-up. That resulted in more people being fired and Lasman losing a promotion. People continue to resent her for that. As such, she's alienated. But again, she didn't do anything wrong. She knows when to stay within the boundaries of the law. She pushes the line on occasion. She always has a reason. Her instincts are typically right. Sure, she and Diaz have a chaotic shift where they handle parents performing an exorcism on their daughter, a confused hospital patient nearly causing a traffic accident, and a bipolar man lighting himself on fire. Harmon even notes the ridiculousness of all of this happening at once. Moreover, Diaz is filled with immediate regrets over what could have been done differently. Harmon needs him to know that things would have been worse if they weren't there. The presence of the police naturally escalates things. Diaz understands that perception. He has to be careful navigating it all. He must decide which battles are worth pursuing. Right now, he's stuck knowing his brother won't accept the help he can provide for him through his new connections with law enforcement.
Harmon and Diaz listen to each other. They each have ongoing problems within their families. They offer solutions. It's difficult for them to open up. It's more challenging to accept help. Yet they rely on each other on the job. That trust extends to their personal lives. It's dangerous to return to Smokey to call off the hit on Gabriel. Harmon does so anyway. She has to try. She must see if there is any possibility of taking this burden off her partner. She was responsible for using the information given to her in capturing Maniac. She deserves to be blamed. Smokey would rather Harmon suffer through others going through turmoil. He isn't willing to help. Diaz is asked to keep a level head. It's impossible because his family is in danger. Gabriel has already been attacked once. The next time will be fatal. Diaz promised not to transfer him to protective custody. Gabriel views that as dishonorable. He doesn't want to betray the bonds he has established throughout his life. That's not who he wants to be. He belongs in general population. He had protection for awhile. Now, he's completely defenseless. Everyone just has to wait for the fateful call delivering news of his death. It's inevitable. It can't be stopped. Diaz is just expected to keep working. He aides Harmon as they mourn a suffering dog with a fatal injury and break up a party after three people overdose. It all hits close to home. That extends to Harmon too. She has a complicated history with her sister. She looked up to Jen. She copied her every move. But now, she's unrecognizable as an addict living on the streets. Harmon wants to help but she's at a loss for what to do next.
Harmon believes arresting her sister may be the only way to save her life. Being in jail will force her to get sober. She has broken out of every rehab facility her family has sent her to. She has never been willing to commit to a life without drugs. That resulted in numerous bad decisions that wrecked her family. They refuse to give up. Harmon can't forgive her sister for everything that happened. She still wants to help. She can't sit idly by as she slowly kills herself. She too is waiting for the call delivering the inevitable news. Harmon and Diaz help each other. They see things clearly from a new perspective. They aren't caught up in the personal dynamics. They listen to the concerns they have. They provide solutions that can actually be implemented in both situations. For Jen, that means taking her to a community safe house where the people are committed to getting her clean. For Gabriel, a transfer to another facility outside of the reach of East Barrio may be possible. These moves may not promise any improvements. They are actions that can be taken. The partners step up. They see the influence the job has on them. They never lose sight of who they are along the way. Their personal lives can't be ignored. They deal with complex human issues while also providing a public service. They don't strive for appreciation. They just need recognition from those who understand. This partnership thrives in that way. It's the two officers against the world. It's an insular story. Yet that allows things to hit more personally. That's significant while also complimenting the run time of each episode.
