Here comes Waxer, busting a fist through the french doors, wearing a cheap knock-off version of the "Beat it" jacket, looking like an angry Michael Jackson.
Turns out Kenny owes six grand, but has a cash flow problem and is in desperate need of time.
Time's up however, and Waxer takes his payment by shooting the TV into smithereens and commandeering Dad's jag from the driveway. Waxer's sidekick wangles the deal by saying it's the keys for the car or they're taking Noreen to the prom. He's a terrible actor by the way.
Dad goes to call the police, despite Kenny's frantic pleas not to.
Enter young Hanson and his mentor Charlie.
They're debating the finer points of policing. Hanson's young, inexperienced, and already showing neon signs of heroism. He has a high moral code, and he's not afraid to get on his high horse and ride.
He's also got a temper, and a reputation that precedes him. Charlie fills us in on the fact that Hanson already broke the noses of his two previous partners. He goes in hot and ready to kick tail (badly over dubbed where their mouths clearly state "ass".)
Charlie brings up the elephant in the room - Hanson's extremely youthful visage. He has a baby face, and it's the button everyone likes to push. He then mentions knowing Hanson's dad, another sore point for our young rookie, and one that shapes him for the entire series.
A call comes in and off they speed, dousing Hanson in hot coffee as they go.
The jokes start about Hanson's youthful looks, with cracks about how he looks like Ducky from "Pretty in pink" and is allowed to drink coffee until 10pm. Since he graduated top of his class in the academy and recently completed domestics, Charlie lets him take the lead trying to talk to Kenny.
Hanson goes in with the softly-softly approach telling Kenny it's not against the law to be afraid and generally playing good cop. Kenny won't tell him spit and Hanson replies with one of my favourite lines in the early series, "But what happens if they come back?"
I think it's the way Johnny Depp delivers it. Hanson's not cowed by Kenny's attitude, In fact he seems to know exactly where this scared kid is coming from, perhaps stemming from his bullying issues that crop up in later episodes and were touched upon briefly in the conversation with Charlie in the panda, about him being such a good target. Kenny takes off, and Hanson merely watches him go.
After a couple of quips Charlie lets Hanson drive, and there's a store robbery in process. Charlie's suspicion sensor is activated by the car and so they pull up beside and the chase is on!
Lights and sirens, boxes flying and Charlie's clinging to his seat for dear life.
"You said we were in pursuit, I'm pursuing!" screams Hanson driving hectically down a one way street.
Mid-arrest (and after Charlie reminds Hanson to pull out his gun!) Charlie goes to call it in, the radio being damaged during their mad dash. The criminals start taunting Hanson about his age, and the fact he doesn't look old enough to be a cop. A fight ensues, two of the criminals escape in the police car, a gun shot goes off in the tussle, scaring Charlie who races back to find Hanson getting the better of one crook and smacking him repeatedly off the front of his own car. In the confusion Charlie ends up with a broken nose, making Hanson three for three with giving his partner's free rhinoplasty.
Back at the station Hanson's getting ribbed from all sides, there's only Charlie sticking up for him in the locker room. Summoned to the Captain's office, Hanson goes expecting to be chewed out. He's reassured he's a good but too angry, too much of a liability, nobody wants to ride with Tom anymore. The captain introduces Hanson to the Jump Street chapel initiative, an undercover unit operating out of a chapel for young looking cops in Hanson's predicament to bust High school kids. Hanson doesn't like the sound of it but reconsiders once he learns it's either Jump Street or desk job until he looks old enough to be taken seriously as a cop.
We get another mention of Hanson's dad, and then we get a sentimental moment of Tom playing saxophone (weird instrument choice for him) and he remembers a call from his dad. Finally Hanson arrives at the chapel and meets Penhall and Ioki. There's many a joke about Hanson's hair and the fact he looks like he could be on the student council.
He goes to see Captain Jenko, a 60's hippie type, and really laid back. Hanson doesn't take well to this. He prefers rules. And order.
Hanson prefers coffee and omelettes for breakfast but Jenko assures him these are out. As part of the "Pepsi Generation" he's going to survive on pizza, soda and potato chips from now on. Jenko then commits the cardinal sin of calling him sport before introducing Hanson to Hoffs.
There's a bit of a spark here, and it seemed like they were heading for Hanson/Hoffs for the majority of season 1 before it slowly petered out.
Penhall kickstarts Hanson's first field operation by throwing a bottle at Jenko's van, before letting Hanson make the buy after some teasing and briefing. Jenko says "Ya dig?" a lot. It could almost be his catchphrase. Hanson's given strict instructions not to make a bust.
However the buy doesn't go down smooth, Jase is too condescending and trigger happy, pulling a gun on Hanson who's temper gets the best of him after a crack about his age, and he takes him down and arrests him .
Kenny Weckerly is robbing things whilst doing his paperround, desperately trying to raise the money he owes.
In the chapel parking lot, Penhall gets a few shots in at Hanson before admiring the mustang. Hoffs lets us know that Hanson's screw up turned out well in the end, as Jase had committed murder earlier.
The group are sharing their progress at various high schools in the chapel, none of them doing anything remotely taxing, and Penhall gets in another dig about Hanson screwing up the night before. He gives as good as he gets, their arguments are quite petty. Jenko hands him a folder, and Hanson's got his first undercover assignment at a high school.
Split Decisions - Steve Winwood
The Finer Things - Steve Winwood
Back in the high life again - Steve Winwood
Take it as it comes - Steve Winwood
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