A shot caller's revenge mission results in West Division going head to head with an entire gang. Harmon and Diaz join forces with an elite squad to intercept a major drug shipment.
The Long Beach Police Department believes a message will be sent by going on tactical alert against every known member of East Barrio. However, they can't control what that message is or how it is delivered. It's all based on their responses in the field. This decision was made. It's meant to showcase the police taking seriously the murder of a young boy caught in the crossfire. Lasman wants this child's loved ones to know they cared about his life. They did everything to provide justice for this tragedy. That fuels them. And yet, it disrupts all the work the police have done to rebuild their image in the community. Harmon and Lasman argue about their connections to the neighborhood. They each have a perspective on policing they are passionate about. Lasman views this night as just the beginning. However, it's the same exact tactic that police have been using for decades. They go over-the-top in a show of force to demand order. They had discretion on when and how to go against these offenders. They weaponize that intelligence to make a point. They offer no explanation either. It's just meant to disrupt the gang operation. No one will remain in custody long. Lasman believes they can prevent further bloodshed by keeping everything contained within their holding cells. The message doesn't stay there though. Moreover, an entire community is blamed for the actions of a few criminals. Harmon wants to go after those responsible. She works the case in pursuit of answers. It still results in further tragedy. She doesn't have much influence within the department. As such, her pleas largely fall on deaf ears.
Harmon leaned on Smokey to capture Maniac. He provided just enough clues for her to remain committed to that investigation. He was then blamed by East Barrio for failing to keep Maniac safe. And so, his family and businesses are targeted. He stepped out of line. Now the bosses have to send a message. Again, it's familiar tactics meant to keep everyone in line. It's order through intimidation. The gang operates that way. The police respond similarly. Harmon can't allow things to continue in this dysfunction like they always have. She hopes to train Diaz to do better. His mother is grateful that Gabriel was transferred. She appreciates what Harmon has done for their family despite hating cops. Harmon can only do so much. She identifies the criminals who robbed Smokey and assaulted his daughter. It was already too late to do anything about them. As such, Smokey becomes the criminal on the run. The vindictive nature of the police now targets him. Even then, Harmon has doubts about a case being made against him for the actions that led up to the tactical alert. So again, everything that happened was completely pointless. She's devastated. Meanwhile, Lasman is running high believing he has accomplished something great. This is his version of maintaining order. Harmon is comforted by Koyama. He presents a new opportunity to go after Smokey. That sets up the finale effectively. The tension and effect of this episode probably would have been better without that final tease. It would have allowed the personal defeatism to linger just a little longer. That echo would have been powerful. As is, it's less effective because the show doesn't allow the moment to breathe.
The show focuses squarely on the partnership between Harmon and Diaz. They present as multi-dimensional characters. Bishop, Lasman and Koyama are other faces in law enforcement. However, they follow broad outlines of the job. They offer just enough opportunities or obstacles. The narrative thrives through the dynamic between training officer and her new rookie. The possibility is given that they may be moving on elsewhere. That would fundamentally change the show though. And so, the narrative builds up that promise only to take it away. It's too important to remain as is. Harmon cannot transfer to the drug unit. She has earned the promotion. She delivers results. Yet Bishop is punishing her for how she achieves things. Harmon doesn't think about the political ramifications of her actions. Bishop expects her to be grateful. She still has a job. It's not the one she wanted. Harmon was already grappling with what her recommendation would be for Diaz's future. She ultimately decides he belongs on probation. He needs to go back to square one. He takes too many risks running into dangerous situations. He's often trying to be brave instead of smart. He's grateful for all that she has taught him. It's more than just how to be excellent on the job. He has reflected on his life because of Harmon's guidance. He expresses that gratitude. Yet he was shot because he went rogue. Sure, that eventually led to Smokey's arrest. Diaz was lucky. He can't always count on that. That's especially true given how the season started. Delgado's murder motivated everything. Harmon wants to avoid the same outcome with her new rookie. And so, she makes peace with staying to ensure it's done right.
It's still annoying to watch the show express the possibility of more while fully acknowledging it isn't going to happen. A reality exists in which the basic formula evolves over time. Early on, Diaz states he has 60 days on the job. That's why the performance review is scheduled. He can't get out of it despite being shot. In fact, he has to immediately head back on patrol despite those lingering injuries. He basically accepts by handing over the get out of jail free card back to Harmon. This was a difficult decision. One in which he's still not sure how he can improve. Harmon is certain of her actions. She knows how to thrive in this job. She's being punished too. Diaz wishes to assign resentment to Harmon's behavior. She explodes at Lasman believing he's responsible for blocking her promotion. The two of them have butted heads repeatedly. He now presents himself as an ally protecting her. He's dismissive of how she engages on the job and how she has trained Diaz. Mistakes were made. That's possibly the only way to justify Diaz being placed on probation. It requires personal accountability. He doesn't know how to arrive at that point despite embarking on his next shift with Harmon. The two have to trust each other completely. That dynamic should be constantly evolving. They don't know what they'll face on the job. It's gotten more perilous because of the decisions made above them. They face the consequences. They still maintain agency. They are responsible for what happens next in their own lives. It's just abundantly clear the narrative wanted a dramatic ending full of twists to torture the characters. It doesn't present as a natural extension of all that has come before. That's unfortunate but doesn't lesson the impact of the story throughout the season.
