This week on Plot Patrol, host Duncan McCauley interrogates the TV cop procedurals that dominated the ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s, miracle crime labs, rule-breaking “loose cannons,” and cases wrapped up before the final ad break.

Joined by former LAPD Lieutenant Alvarez, Duncan breaks down what these shows got right about the grind and emotional toll of police work, and what they got wildly wrong, from instant lab results to dramatic interrogations and consequence-free rule-breaking. The episode also explores how these series shaped public expectations of justice and policing. Comfort food or copaganda? According to Ray, it’s a bit of both; just don’t treat it like a training manual.