Episode 4 is action-packed as Harmon and Diaz follow a risky tip. We also learn more about Harmon’s sister.

The episode opens with Officer Delgado’s funeral. Harmon does her best to remain stoic, especially around her peers. After paying their respects, she and Diaz receive a domestic dispute call at a motel. A woman allegedly threw a hot substance on a naked man after a confrontation over unpaid cocaine. In the chaos of the arrest, the man, a parolee nicknamed Creeper, offers info he overheard about the East Barrio gang. Rumor has it they’re planning a major move soon. Harmon, seeking answers to Delgado’s killer’s whereabouts, presses the woman for more. She guides them to another sex worker who partied with the gang the night before.

Later, Diaz inquires about Harmon’s sister. She reveals she was an officer but left the force due to injuries sustained in a car pursuit accident.

The rest of the episode is one prolonged action sequence, as Harmon and Diaz chase the East Barrio tip. Diaz begins having second thoughts. This is where Harmon challenges him to either have her back 100% or not. He agrees and they descend into action. This is where the budget and extended capabilities of streaming shine. The action scene is tense and cinematic, with the added flare of the body camera footage displaying a real-life take. It gives the viewer a less polished, Hollywood format. The action is more realistically violent. Every cop show has guns and seeks to push the limit, but something about On Call makes it appear less gimmicky and overblown. 

A tense moment with Harmon delves into her inner moral code. Under extreme duress, she could have elected to satisfy her personal feelings and enact what many would deem excessive force. Instead, she opts for the high ground, honoring the badge and those impacted by its actions. It’s a poignant moment that reveals Harmon’s integrity and why her idea of justice may conflict with her colleagues.

Overall, this episode delivers moving the story forward. Feeling like the shortest episode so far, it’s a pivotal narrative shift midway through the season. 

Rating: 8.5/10