Calderone’s Return: Part 1 – The Hit List brings the focus back to the lingering shadow of the pilot’s central villain. This episode ramps up the personal stakes for Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs while delivering tense action, emotional weight, and a shocking loss that reverberates through the Vice squad.
The episode opens on a deceptively calm surveillance detail that quickly establishes the show’s signature blend of procedural work and sudden, explosive violence. Crockett and Tubbs sit in a hotel room, monitoring drug dealer Felix Castranova in a Miami hotel. Crockett, preparing for his divorce hearing later that morning, casually shaves while the pair banter lightly over coffee. Through telescopes, they observe Castranova and his companion sharing a relaxed breakfast. The scene carries an almost voyeuristic, The Conversation-style intimacy, with the team using early-80s tech to eavesdrop on the unsuspecting targets. Relief comes when Switek and Zito arrive to take over the watch, allowing Crockett to head to court. What begins as routine quickly unravels: shortly after the handover, an assassin strikes with ruthless efficiency outside the building, gunning down Castranova, his bodyguard, and chauffeur. This not only launches the hit list plot but underscores how fragile even routine operations can be in Miami’s volatile drug underworld, setting a tone of paranoia about who to trust.
Esteban Calderone, the ruthless drug lord from the pilot, is seeking to reclaim his empire in Miami. To clear the path, he has dispatched a cold, professional assassin known as the Argentinean (Jim Zubeida, apparently a real-life championship marksman whose authenticity adds a layer of menace). The hitman has been working through a list of eight targets and there are only two left to go. When the squad discovers Crockett’s name sits at the bottom of the list, the threat becomes intensely personal. Tubbs pieces together the connection through linking the killings back to Calderone.
The episode picks up speed as the team learns of the danger. Lt. Lou Rodriguez (Gregory Sierra) takes the threat seriously, placing Crockett in protective custody and personally escorting him to pack essentials. Rodriguez spots the glint of a rifle scope from a nearby rooftop and heroically pushes Crockett out of the line of fire. The bullet meant for Sonny strikes the lieutenant instead, leading to the revelation of Rodriguez’s death at the end of the episode. This moment marks a turning point for the series, stripping away one of the squad’s steady anchors and upping the danger levels.
Crockett’s personal life adds another layer of strain. His ongoing divorce from Caroline (Belinda Montgomery) tops and tails the episode. At the start it looks like they have worked through their issues, much to the disapproval of their lawyers. In the end, the threat to Crockett forces a raw realisation that things will never work out with his estranged wife, underscoring how his undercover existence has eroded his home life. These quieter scenes provide welcome character depth, showing the vulnerable man beneath Crockett’s pastel-suited cool.
Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas growing comfortably into their roles. Johnson’s Crockett balances swagger with visible frustration at being sidelined and genuine sorrow over Rodriguez’s sacrifice. Thomas’ Tubbs steps up with determination, driving much of the investigation while offering quiet support to his partner. The rest of the squad are given the most to so far this season with Gina, Trudy, Zito, and Switek present throughout the episodes and full involved in the investigation.
Miami Vice’s signature cinematic quality is full on display here. Neon-lit nights, sleek vehicles, and humid Miami streets create an atmosphere thick with paranoia and impending violence. The assassination sequences stand out there well edited tension, while Zubeida’s comfort with firearms ups the sense of danger. The direction by Richard Colla keeps the pacing brisk, alternating between high-stakes chases and more introspective moments without losing momentum.
The introduction of the Argentinean assassin brings a professional, almost clinical edge to the threat. Zubiena’s portrayal emphasises precision and detachment, making him a counterpoint to some of the more flamboyant criminals. His connection to Calderone (with flashback reminders of pilot) ties everything back to unfinished business, setting up the second chapter of this two-parter.
The climax sets up a bold escalation: with the assassin neutralised but Calderone still at large in the Bahamas, Crockett and Tubbs decide to take the fight offshore (clearly an inspiration for Bad Boys II), ending on a note of determined resolve. This two-part structure allows the story to breathe while delivering immediate payoffs, such as the lieutenant’s death and the deepening bond between the partners. With news that the new film will be based of episodes from the first season, you get a feeling that this one will most likely serve as the source material.
Calderone’s Return: Part 1 does a great job of humanises the heroes through loss and personal turmoil while keeping the action stylish and engaging. The episode’s blend of thrills, character development, and a major status-quo shift (something that’s rear in this style of television) that leaves you feeling that no one is truly safe is expertly handled and leaves you wanting more.
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