The Pilot episode sets up the background for what's to come and how the family ended up getting involved with the FBI and what each member of the family's role is in being "backup" for their father, Danny (Peter Dobson). This is an ensemble piece, but is seen through the eyes of Chance (Michael Angarano). The voice of the Narrator is supplied by David Faustino (Married...with Children) as the Older Chance as we are hearing the story told years later through his recollection of the cases the family were involved with. This one was on taking down a Mob Boss. This was also the first time that I took notice of Melora Hardin who would then go onto The Office. She plays the mother, Barbara.

The bottom 2 ScreenCaps took place at Saint James by the Sea Episcopal Church in La Jolla. Across the street is the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (Not shown in picture).

The case involved taking down a shady Stock Broker firm that was swindling innocent people out of their life savings by pushing bogus stocks onto them. The tension here wasn't so much the unscrupulous people pulling this off, it was the fact that Danny was "tempted" to stray from his marriage in order to get in deeper with his mark. There are so many innuendo's with that last line that I'm not gonna even try to explain to you.

This episode was the first time I ever saw Frank John Hughes at work doing the whole acting thing. He would have a recurring role on the show as Danny's partner.

The bottom 2 ScreenCaps took place at Camino De La Costa in La Jolla, which has a killer beach literally just 10 feet from the house. I go there from time to time.

Chance (Michael Angarano) and Ruby (Antoinette Picatto) are witnesses to a murder of a City Councilman who has ties to the Russian Mafia. Now the Hitman is after the two kids who are the only ones that can identify him. Celeste (Cameron Richardson) has a dance recital that is just about the most bizarre dance ever. It's just...weird...but funny.

The case revolves around Spiro (Shaun Toub) who Danny (Peter Dobson)could never nail for murder charges back in 1985 but was sent away on lesser charges. Present day, Danny's current case involves George Evans (Alan Blumenfeld) and in an effort to get close to his mark, uses Chance by getting him onto the Little League team to play along side George's son. Unbeknownst to Danny, the Umpire of the League turns out to be Spiro, who had relocated to San Diego to start a new life with his son who is also on the team.

The bottom ScreenCap took place at Corvette Diner. At one point in time, this was the most happening spot in San Diego. The original location for the diner is no more. They have relocated to another spot with a completely remodeled look, which absolutely bites. It looks like any other chain resturant now. They didn't keep with the theme of the 50's. Shameful. Don't let the above link fool you. The new location is using the outside facade as well as interiors of the old diner to lure people.

The introduction of Danny's brother Frank (Stephen Lee) who is serving time for murder, blackmails his way out of Prison to help Danny put away the "Enforcer" who is making his way up the ladder or success by killing off Bookies. There wasn't a whole lot of sets used for this episode as the majority of the scenes took place in prison or in the backroom of a ice cream parlor for illegal poker games.

Case involving a sting operation with Ruby entering a Beauty Pageant to get closer to Gabrielle Vega (Alex Meneses) who runs a clothing line and hires illegal immigrants south of the border to work as cheap labor who also ends up dead. Chance poses as a photographer for the San Diego Union Tribune as his cover to do recon and surveillance of all parties involved. As the family tackles this end of the operation, Danny (Peter Dobson) and Brooks (Frank John Hughes) head to Mexico to track down the Coyote that is smuggling people into the US. Overall this was a pretty enjoyable episode with everyone getting involved in breaking the case.

The bottom ScreenCap took place at Western Metal Supply Co., which would one day become famous to sports fans around the world when it was incorporated into the facade of Petco Park, home of the Padres. The scene was clearly filmed before Petco Park was reality.

I had forgotten what an emotional roller coaster this particular episode was. It's been so long since I've watched the series, let alone this episode, so when it played out, I had the same feeling and gut reaction to it, just like the first time when it originally aired. The episode starts off pretty lighthearted with Chance inviting his friends over to a pool party for some fun and sun and to celebrate his Birthday. But then it gets very real, very fast...

*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*

Spoiler (hover to show)

...when Brooks (Frank John Hughes) gets gunned down from out of nowhere at a gas station. We are led to believe it's tied to a drug deal/sting operation that Danny and Brooks were in the middle of. But as Danny uncovers the trurh about who shot him, it makes Brooks death all the more senseless. To find out that it was just a gang initiation for a 13 year old kid just infuriates me because sad to say, this happens more often than not. The reaction of those that knew and loved Brooks comes across very well. All the actors did a fantastic job here and the writing for Our Mister Brooks was by series creator Shaun Cassidy. Yes, THAT Shaun Cassidy. This episode gets the very rare 10 Star Rating.

Frank John Hughes & Peter Dobson


Melora Hardin & Peter Dobson

The bottom ScreenCap took place at the Coronado Bridge. Well not at the bridge per se. The bridge was used as the backdrop. It was also used as a "prop" on Season 1 of Veronica Mars in a major way and not just as scenery either.