Adam-12 (TV Series) Log 12: He Was Trying to Kill Me (1969) User Reviews

"You just said it, Partner"

[The_Light_Triton · 9/10 · 17 February 2020]

My older brother is a police officer, and I've heard him tell stories similar to this episode's story (Some are even more disgusting) and it's sad to think that child neglect isn't anything new.

A call directing Malloy & Reed to an apartment complex unearths a sad discovery - a 6 year old girl stealing milk from a cat dish to feed her 10-month old sister. Over the next few days, the officers untangle a web of lies & revelations that would drive a parent to anger.

The episode also reveals the callous nature of Malloy and why it's safer for him to be the way he is. While Reed is exceptionally angry with the suspects for child neglect (Going as far to using the word "damn" while writing his report) Malloy remains calm while Reed voices how it makes him upset that 3 grown adults don't care about 2 little children, to which Malloy calmly says "We'd better get started on those reports" which is Malloy's way of saying "Get used to this."

This one's a bit tough to watch.

A Powerful Episode, Adam 12 at Its Best

[verbusen · 10/10 · 3 May 2007]

A Powerful Episode, Adam 12 at Its Best, thats how I would summarize what I just watched. The synopsis is inaccurate by the way, the baby is not dead but one could just assume it could have happened with a 6 year old to care for it, that was just way too real for 1968 TV. Can I confess that at times Adam 12 makes me cry? Well it does, probably because of my own past but I hate to see anyone as sweet and innocent as the girl in this episode who is to fend for herself with no adult to care or feed her and on top of that, has to care for a baby as well. I know the feelings the girl had also for her mother, I unfortunately was visited by the police as a child in an utterly neglected household and I would always fear losing my mother just like the little girl does. Yes, if you thought Adam 12 was a corny Jack Webb vehicle that was out of date being made 40 years ago, I suggest you look at some of the recent headlines where the 2 year old lives for days alone in the house until Police arrive. Like they say in this episode "how can 3 adults not care for those kids?" Its amazing but its very true. In my case my mother died when I was 13 and I lived with my older half brother (my father could'nt support me, he was a wreck as well at that time). It was hell up until that time, insanity comes to mind if I'm looking for a word, just like the mother in this episode seems insane. This stuff does happen, and Adam 12 had the guts to tell it in a very powerful way not just for its time, 1968, but within a half hour format. This show should have won several Emmies, its a shame that it didn't.

Child Neglect As Well As Emmy Award Neglect

[chashans · 10/10 · 29 August 2023]

Probationary rookie Officer James A. Reed continues to learn not just the ways of the job, but also the ways and truths of the world. Viewers of Adam-12 go along for the ride. This is quite a powerful episode as well a very sad one at that.

Malloy & Reed are called to an apartment building where they discover a six year old child home alone, fending not only for herself, but for a younger sibling. The Officers nearly miss the younger sibling as it's resting on blankets in the apartment's bathtub.

Set Direction does a terrific job at creating a neglected apartment, home to neglected children. The furnishings are sparse and broken. The babysitter - a portable TV - doesn't provide a picture. Most disgusting, the tiled wall of the bathtub where the baby sleeps, is swathed in disgusting filth.

The acting is above and beyond from everyone. Milner and McCord, of course, are terrific. That's the usual. The guest cast is superb. The Mother is lost in self-absorbed insanity. The Father is a mass of fist, obviously always aimed at the Mother. The Boyfriend is slimey yet seemingly possibly actually concerned. The Neighbor is perfectly nosey yet worried. Truly wonderful is little actress, Dawn Lyn as six year old Charlie. Child actors are usually a 70/20/10 variant. 70% can't act whatsoever. 20% are passable. 10% completely knock it out of the park. In this case, Dawn Lyn is just wonderful. She also brings out great tenderness in both Martin Milner and Kent McCord's performances.

Very well written and directed. An excellent production of Adam-12. Another episode which not only should have been nominated for an Emmy Award, but that should have easily won that Emmy Award.