Cagney & Lacey, Season 4

In earlier seasons there was ongoing character development, but Season 4 introduced stronger story arcs spanning multiple episodes. While the shows continued to introduce a case that was solved within each episode, not only did Cagney and Lacey’s ongoing problems in the workplace become more emphasized, but also their relationships and private lives also took on greater importance. In Season 4, there are emerging stories about the cocaine addiction and recovery of Cagney’s boyfriend and colleague, Sgt. McKenna (“Insubordination” and “Hooked”, Lacey’s surgery to remove a lump in her breast (the two-part “Who Says It’s Fair”), Cagney’s development of an increasingly serious relationship with McKenna, ending with her mulling his marriage proposal (“Happily Ever After”), Cagney’s suing a commanding officer for sexual harassment (“Rules of the Game” and “Con Game”), and Lacey’s being taken hostage (“Heat”), causing her family such stress that her son ran away a few episodes later (“Taxicab Murders”). This was the first full season after the near-cancellation, and the added time and additional slate of episodes allowed the show to shine and truly develop both the two main characters and the supporting cast.