"GUN PLAY" Shot in the Butt February 14, 1997

by
Gordon Hom

This week's NASH BRIDGES takes on a self-righteous tone as Nash takes vengeance on the lowlifes responsible for wounding his daughter Cassidy. It's difficult to believe that the chi-chi private school that Cassidy attends would have the kinds of problems of weapons in the classroom that an inner city school might have. It's not that private schools are immune to these problems, just highly unlikely and improbable. The socio-economic class here is distinctly upper middle class, and the student gun dealer Brian van Pelt is a spoiled rich kid. Why is this kid selling guns? This all seems to be a pretext for NASH BRIDGES to make some kind of anti-gun statement.

The defining characteristics of the policeman is his "tools of the trade," that is specifically - the cop's gun and car. On NASH BRIDGES, there is careful attention lavished on both. The 'Cuda is a beauty, and Nash's gun is heavily customized. It seems almost hypocritical for any convincing anti-gun message amongst these fetishized tools. Contradictions abound. In "Gun Play," gun dealer Timothy Gage sells a customized .44 Magnum revolver to gang leader Striker, playing upon Striker's infatuation with weaponry. Nash later takes this gun and threatens to kill Gage for wounding his daughter. Even the car is included. Rival gang member Quick drives a red Z28 Camaro which Joe Dominguez admires. An attractive woman in red walks by (noticed by Evan Cortez), emphasizing the lust for the red car. The red Camaro and the yellow 'Cuda face off in a chase over the San Francisco hills. The infatuation with guns and cars in NASH BRIDGES does not make for any convincing messages about responsibility. How are we to take this message with the victim shot in the butt? NASH BRIDGES would like to have its cake and eat it too.

Amidst this lame main story, the other back stories take a rest from last week's wild roller coaster ride. It was revealed last week in "Knockout" that Nash has been sleeping with Whitney, only to find out she is still married to a dentist. Exit Whitney for awhile? - but she's sure to return. In "Gun Play" Cassidy's new boyfriend Freddie appears to be some sort of street hustler, helping gambler Nick with winning tips. Freddie's appeared in a previous episode as a car detailer when Nash's car gets stolen. Nash the dashing policeman doesn't fare well as the overprotective father/hen as this episode indulges a lot of screen time on family life. The women in Nash's life continue to be uncomfortable and prickly for poor Nash.

For more, see synopsis for Episode 26

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