Lethal Weapon season 3 episode 5 “Get the Picture” saw the series move past the shocking death of Riggs and focus on the Murtaugh/Cole partnership. Lethal Weapon wasn’t the first buddy cop action movie but it was a flawless execution of the premise. The story saw a suicidal, wild card cop named Riggs (Mel Gibson) teaming with Danny Glover’s straight-laced family man Murtaugh. The chemistry between the two leads, the kinetic action, and solid script saw the first Lethal Weapon become an action classic.
Screenwriter Shane Black (The Predator) originally penned a much darker script for Lethal Weapon 2 - which ended with Riggs’ death - but the resulting sequel upped the action and comedy instead; it also added Joe Pesci as the fast-talking Leo Getz. Later sequels focused more on the comedy but suffered from mediocre scripts. The movie franchise ended with 1998’s Lethal Weapon 4, though different iterations of Lethal Weapon 5 have been mooted by both Shane Black and original director Richard Donner over the years.
Instead, Riggs and Murtaugh received a reboot in the form of the Lethal Weapon TV show. The series debuted in 2016 with Damon Wayans playing Murtaugh and Clayne Crawford as Riggs. While it hardly reinvented the formula, the show was an entertaining riff on the movies that did surprisingly well in the ratings. Crawford was later fired following season 2 due to behind-the-scenes issues and Riggs was killed off. Seann William Scott (American Pie) was brought on as new character Wesley Cole, which added a new dynamic to the show.
The first few episodes of the third season were informed by Riggs’ demise with Murtaugh, in particular, having a hard time dealing with his friend’s passing. By the time of Lethal Weapon season 3 episode 5 “Get The Picture,” the show had fully shifted focus to the Murtaugh and Cole partnership. The show was wise to take a little time making this transition since it was initially difficult to picture the show without Riggs. That said, Wayans and Scott bounce off each other nicely and this episode gives them both plenty to do.
Lethal Weapon season 3 episode 5 “Get The Picture” finds the duo investigating a brutal art heist. Meanwhile, Cole deals with the fact his ex-wife Natalie (Maggie Lawson) is moving on with a new partner and Murtaugh is blackmailed by his teenage daughter once she learns he kept his boat - despite telling his wife he got rid of it. In many ways, “Get The Picture” is a standard episode of Lethal Weapon, but it’s maybe the first time it feels like it’s moved on from Riggs’ shadow. Murtaugh and Cole feel like proper partners in this episode, and it proved their relationship had glued.
Lethal Weapon season 3 episode 5 was a fun showcase for the chemistry between Scott and Wayans. Sadly for fans, season 3 was the final year of the show. Lethal Weapon went through arguably more drama offscreen than on, but it was still a fun ride while it lasted.
Next: Lethal Weapon: How Riggs Died (& Why Clayne Crawford Was Fired)
