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Swift Justice
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Swift Justice is an American detective drama television series created by Dick Wolf and Richard Albarino, broadcast for one season (13 episodes) on UPN from March 13 to July 17, 1996. James McCaffrey stars as former Navy SEAL Mac Swift, a private investigator fired from the NYPD. He receives support from his former partner Detective Randall Patterson (Gary Dourdan) and his father Al Swift (Len Cariou).
Critics noted the series' emphasis on violence, specifically in the pilot's opening sequence, drawing comparisons to The Equalizer (1985–1989) and Die Hard (1988). UPN canceled the program after receiving complaints from viewers, advertisers, and critics for its stark depiction of violence. Wolf considered the cancelation a mistake due to good ratings. Further, it was praised for its visuals and McCaffrey's performance, but often criticized as being either too violent or formulaic.
Highest-rated episodes all ranked
- 01Where Were You in '72?Swift learns the latest person under his protection was involved in a bank heist to support IRA activities
- 02No Holds BarredPregnant college girl Allison enlists Swift to find her missing boyfriend, college wrestler Palo Montega. Swift discovers that Palo's fanatical instructor, Dillon Brock, has other plans for Palo when he forces him to compete in a cage match that leaves only one contestant standing. Knowing that Swift is getting close to finding Palo, Brock sets a trap and Swift becomes Palo's next opponent.
Cast
Episodes by season
Season01
- S01E01Out on a LimbMarch 13, 1996—Ex-cop turned PI Mac Swift works outside the normal law enforcement routine on cases too hot for the standard justice system. While still on
- S01E02PilotMarch 20, 1996—Swift goes undercover to retrieve a young boy from his dangerous, white supremacist father, Stone Paxton, who has taken the child from his e
- S01E03Sex, Death and Rock 'n' RollMarch 27, 1996—Mac helps a rockstar's wife escape his clutches
- S01E04SupernoteApril 3, 1996—Swift is approached by Rita Vicks, a beautiful treasury agent concerned over the disappearance of her partner, Bo Maxey, who has neared obse
- S01E05Where Were You in '72?April 10, 1996Swift learns the latest person under his protection was involved in a bank heist to support IRA activities
- S01E06Takin' Back the StreetApril 24, 1996—When Mama Em, a neighborhood matriarch and old friend of Swift's father, is gunned down for trying to organize her community against a drug
- S01E07No Holds BarredMay 1, 1996Pregnant college girl Allison enlists Swift to find her missing boyfriend, college wrestler Palo Montega. Swift discovers that Palo's fanati
- S01E08HorsesMay 8, 1996—Swift helps a horse breeder avoid selling out to a business tycoon.
- S01E09Bad MedicineMay 15, 1996—When research scientist Bud Wertheim dies under suspicious—but apparently natural–circumstances, his friend and colleague Jessie McKenna enl
- S01E10Isaiah's DaughterMay 22, 1996—An Amish man, Isaiah Zook, travels to New York to search for his runaway daughter Sarah but is quickly overwhelmed by the city. Paterson hap
- S01E11The HazeJuly 2, 1996—Patterson asks Swift to watch over a woman somehow involved in his latest case.
- S01E12StonesJuly 10, 1996—Swift and Paterson clash on issues of strategy when cases they are working on collide. Paterson, under pressure from his superiors, may have
- S01E13RetributionJuly 17, 1996—A serial killer escapes and goes after those who put him away: Swift, Patterson and a criminal profiler.
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NetworkBest UPN showsMore from the same network, ranked by rating.
GenreBest crime shows & filmsThe top of the crime pile, across both mediums.
GenreBest drama shows & filmsThe top of the drama pile, across both mediums.








