The best episodes of Murder in the First
Ranked by viewer rating, highs first. Lit marks on the season rail place this list across the run. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it.
- 01
SFPD Detectives Terry English and Hildy Mulligan are quickly thrust into the middle of a brutal onslaught as two students open fire on a school bus in the middle of the city. San Francisco's finest must work quickly in order to put an end to one of the deadliest shootings in recent history, as one gunman is captured, and the other escapes.
- 02
It's six months later, and the whole world is watching as tech genius Erich Blunt is put on trial for the murder of his flight attendant, Cindy Strauss. Meanwhile, Terry decides to start making amends for his behavior after the death of his wife. Hildy begins reconnecting with her ex-husband, Mike, and soon must confront the temptation to rekindle their romance.
- 03
After a key witness in the Cindy Strauss murder case turns up dead, Terry and Hildy set out to find the truth before it undermines the prosecution's case. Meanwhile, Erich Blunt's famed attorney, Warren Daniels, sees this as an opportunity to prove his client's innocence.
- 04
As the trial against Erich Blunt reaches a dramatic conclusion, attorney Warren Daniels considers the bold move of calling his defendant, Blunt, to the stand. Meanwhile, Terry begins to suspect that a previous investigation may have had significant holes that could change everything. After a series of impassioned closing arguments, both sides brace for the final verdict.
- 05
In the aftermath of the Blunt verdict, the Homicide Department investigates a new death involving a drug-addicted socialite and her playboy husband. As they pursue that case, Terry and Hildy also discover that key witnesses from the Kevin Neyers case have recanted their original statements. The inspectors must uncover the truth while keeping their investigation a secret from their superiors.
- 06
As Inspectors Terry English and Hildy Mulligan begin their investigation into the death of Erich Blunt's flight attendant, Cindy Strauss, Terry must also deal with the recent death of his wife and the arrival of his sister-in-law. The investigation takes an unexpected turn when the results of Cindy's autopsy reveal a shocking secret.
- 07
Despite the advice of his lawyer, Warren Daniels, Erich Blunt escapes for a drug- fueled weekend with his adoring CTO, Ivana West. Meanwhile, Terry and Hildy must deal with the repercussions of Hildy's officer involved shooting. As Hildy confronts the prospect of losing her job, Terry works to help his partner get out of trouble.
- 08
Tensions mount as the manhunt for the missing shooter proves to be more difficult than expected. Terry is promoted to acting Lieutenant, which he soon discovers comes with responsibilities more taxing than he anticipated.
- 09
Terry and Hildy find themselves investigating people within their own department. Jamie digs into Dustin's past in an effort to better understand his actions. Meanwhile, Suger searches for answers as someone close to him disappears, then makes a shocking discovery.
- 10
The truth about Navarro leads Terry and Hildy to Mexico, as an angry Suger prepares for war. Jamie's casework takes her to Pleasantville, and a particularly painful event from Dustin's childhood. Raffi's investigation into Suger takes an unexpected turn.
- 11
Junior reveals new details which may finally give Hildy and Terry the upper hand in their investigation, while the Trial of Dustin Maker begins with opening statements. Meanwhile, an unlikely source provides Suger with startling new information regarding his sister.
- 12
Terry and Hildy's investigation is dealt a lethal setback, forcing them to close their case. Raffi's loyalty comes into question, while a cautious Suger contemplates the future of Potrero. The stress of the trial takes a dramatic toll on Jamie's personal life.
- 13
While Jamie deals with the fallout from her tirade, witnesses take the stand in the case against Dustin. When threats are made against her family, Hildy vows to take down The Union once-and-for-all.
- 14
When a junkie is murdered in the Tenderloin district, SFPD detectives Terry English and Hildy Mulligan are shocked to discover the case may be related to the city's youngest billionaire, tech genius Erich Blunt. But Terry's ability to focus is troubled as his wife battles stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
- 15
The Inspectors search for clues that might link various suspects, including Erich Blunt, to Cindy Strauss' death. Meanwhile, Hildy is confronted by a young witness from a past investigation who worries for his mother's safety after she is physically abused by her new husband.
- 16
To change the world's opinion of him, Erich Blunt takes a lie detector test to prove his innocence. Meanwhile, Hildy and Terry discover that a past suspect's alibi does not check out. They must get to the bottom of this before it unravels their case against Blunt.
- 17
Raffi fears Hildy's continued investigation of the grow house murder will blowback on a case of her own.
- 18
The pressure ratchets up on Terry and Hildy to discover who's behind the cop-killings. Jamie comes out swinging, making an unexpected move in her defense of Dustin. Navarro reunites with his brother, who has been recently released from prison. Meanwhile, an anonymous tip gives Raffi a potential connect for her case against Suger.
- 19
Season three kicks off for Homicide Inspectors Terry English and Hildy Mulligan when an all-star quarterback is murdered in the middle of a crowded club in front of his pop star girlfriend. D.A. Mario Siletti and his wife are involved in a tragic car accident that could end his career and his marriage. And an untimely diagnosis threatens Hildy's future.
- 20
In this thrilling season finale, Terry and Hildy race to close one of their most complex cases. A new grisly murder hits close to home for the inspectors. Siletti learns his victory in court comes with a substantial price.
- 21
Inspectors English and Mulligan are fully immersed in the tangled web of trying to solve the Kevin Neyers murder. As they investigate possible suspects one by one, they discover a series of shocking secrets on their pursuit of eventual justice.
- 22
As the city reels from the school bus tragedy, newly appointed D.A. Mario Siletti promises justice for the victims. Terry receives new evidence about the recent death of a cop, leading him to believe it may have been of a more insidious design. Meanwhile, the body of a young Chinese gang member found in an urban grow house, leads Hildy into the dangerous world of drugs and gang politics.
- 23
Terry and Hildy take a high-ranking officer into custody, while Suger faces a new and unexpected threat to Potrero. Meanwhile, Molk uncovers unsettling information about a potential prostitution ring.
- 24
As the hunt continues for the prime suspect in the Normandy Parker case, an anonymous tip forces Terry into an officer-involved shooting that sets off public uproar. A desperate Siletti reluctantly hires DUI defense attorney Alfred Arkin, but withholds essential trial information. Hildy gets good news for her future, and she and Terry cross a line together.
- 25
In the season finale, Terry and Hildy are gloves-off as they race to close in on a murder suspect, while Fatty B lobbies to take Potrero in a new direction. The Trial of Dustin Maker reaches a climactic verdict.
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