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Hill Street Blues

1981 – 1987Show7 seasons146 episodesTV-14

CrimeDrama
90
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.2Metacritic–9.2Rotten Tomatoes97%88%

A nostalgic, tense drama series about everyday modern life and crime, with standout performances and characters.

Good for friends night · binge-friendly · drop-in friendly

Skip it if you want to half-watch while scrolling

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for scares, warmth or laughs.

Shows with

Episodes

7 seasons · 146 episodes · best: S2E11 "Freedom's Last Stand" 8.7

Episodes

7.9
8.1
8.0
8.0
7.7
7.9
7.8

Story

Let's be careful out there.

A realistic glimpse into the daily lives of the officers and detectives at an urban police station.

Feels like

  • Gritty Police Procedural
  • Ensemble Character Study
  • Pioneering Realism
  • Moral Ambiguity
  • Urban Decay Atmosphere
  • Complex Institutional Dynamics
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Classic TV Drama
  • Societal Mirror

Cast

24 of 552 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Gregory Hoblit, Christian I. Nyby II, David Anspaugh
Written by
David Milch, Anthony Yerkovich, Steven Bochco
Produced by
Scott Brazil, Gregory Hoblit, Jeffrey Lewis
Music by
Mike Post

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

January 15, 1981 · May 12, 1987 · Ended

First aired
January 15, 1981
Last aired
May 12, 1987
Status
Ended
Length
7 seasons · 146 episodes
Age rating
TV-14
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Drug Use, Sexual Content
Genres
Drama, Crime
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
7 countries

Tropes

SWAT Team, Vomiting Cop, Orgy of Evidence +9

  • SWAT Team
  • Vomiting Cop
  • Orgy of Evidence
  • Cheek Copy
  • The Rustler
  • Christmas Episode
  • Dirty Harriet
  • Crapsack World
  • Out with a Bang
  • Internal Affairs
  • My Beloved Smother
  • The Missus and the Ex

12 of 99 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Hill Street Blues?"

Questions about Hill Street Blues

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Hill Street Blues?

In the United States, you can rent or buy Hill Street Blues from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It streams in 6 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is Hill Street Blues worth watching?

90
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 90 (IMDb 8.2 and Rotten Tomatoes 97%). Critics rate it higher (97 out of 100) than audiences (87).

Is Hill Street Blues okay for kids?

TV-14ViolenceStrong languageDrug useSexual content

Better for older viewers: it's rated TV-14 in the United States for violence, strong language, drug use, and sexual content, and the viewing guide lists it for adults.

How long does it take to watch Hill Street Blues?

119 h

About 119 hours: 146 episodes in 7 seasons of about 49 minutes each, aired from 1981 to 1987.

Is Hill Street Blues plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (10 of 10) and dialogue centrality (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does Hill Street Blues use?

SWAT TeamVomiting CopOrgy of EvidenceCheek CopyThe RustlerChristmas EpisodeDirty HarrietCrapsack WorldOut with a BangInternal AffairsMy Beloved SmotherThe Missus and the Exand 87 more

TV Tropes lists 99 tropes for it, including SWAT Team, Vomiting Cop, and Orgy of Evidence.