7.8/10855 votes#1 - Pilot (1)
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/19/1986
Here we meet the three major players of the series: Lt. Mike Torrello, head of Chicago's Major Crime Unit(MCU); Ray Luca, a young hood about to make his mark on the underworld; and David Abrams, an idealistic public defender trying to bury his Mob-connected roots. As the story unfolds Torrello is working with to bring down members of Chicago's underworld while Luca is taken under the wing of Manny Weisbord; one of Chicago's most powerful crime figures. As events proceed Torrello and Luca each become aware of the other's existence. Torello realizes that there is a new player that he must bring down.
Director: Abel Ferrara
Writer: David J. Burke, Chuck Adamson, Gustave Reininger
7.8/10133 votes#2 - Pilot (2)
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/19/1986
Here we meet the three major players of the series: Lt. Mike Torrello, head of Chicago's Major Crime Unit(MCU); Ray Luca, a young hood about to make his mark on the underworld; and David Abrams, an idealistic public defender trying to bury his Mob-connected roots. As the story unfolds Torrello is working with Abrams to bring down members of Chicago's underworld while Luca is taken under the wing of Manny Weisbord; one of Chicago's most powerful crime figures. As events proceed Torrello and Luca each become aware of the other's existence. Torello realizes that there is a new player that he must bring down.
Director: Abel Ferrara
Writer: N/A
8.3/10106 votes#3 - Final Transmission
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 9/20/1986
With Torello's MCU hunting a psychopath, Luca plots jewel heists and the takeover of a sports-gambling operation.
Director: Leon Ichaso
Writer: Richard Christian Danus
8.3/1099 votes#4 - Shadow Dancer
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 9/27/1986
Torello gains a major advantage when one of Luca's burglars is connected to a robbery-homicide of a coin collector's wife. Torello finds out Julie is pregnant.
Director: Leon Ichaso
Writer: N/A
8.5/1093 votes#5 - The Saint Louis Book of Blues
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 9/30/1986
Mobsters support Luca's nationwide gambling scheme. A publicity-seeking sheriff hampers Torello's arrest of one of Luca's men.
Director: Leon Ichaso
Writer: N/A
8.3/10101 votes#6 - The War
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/7/1986
A book intercepted by Torello jeopardizes Luca's nationwide gambling operation. The Torellos meet with tragedy.
Director: Leon Ichaso
Writer: N/A
7.5/1096 votes#7 - Abrams for the Defense
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 10/14/1986
Attorney Abrams falls for a reporter helping him defend a tenant accused of assaulting a slum landlord.
Director: Aaron Lipstadt, Michael Mann
Writer: N/A
8.0/1093 votes#8 - Pursuit of a Wanted Felon
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 10/28/1986
Conflict ruins the Torello's weekend trip. Luca situates in Las Vegas. Bigots target Abrams's relationship with Susan.
Director: Aaron Lipstadt
Writer: N/A
8.1/1090 votes#9 - Old Friends, Dead Ends
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/4/1986
Torello confronts his new friend, now laundering money for the Mob. Federal investigators indict Luca and Bartoli.
Director: Bobby Roth
Writer: N/A
8.0/1086 votes#10 - Justice Hits the Skids
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/11/1986
Devastated by Kehoe's death, Torello stonewalls Breitel's federal investigation. Abrams joins the MCU on the street.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.8/1090 votes#11 - For Love or Money
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/5/1986
Divorced Torello finds comfort with Inger. The Crime Unit nabs Luca's jewelry-heist team. Torello's best friend supplies the Mob with capital.
Director: Bobby Roth
Writer: N/A
7.7/1084 votes#12 - Hide and Go Thief
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/12/1986
Indelli and Krychek must deal with a tense hostage situation. Torello travels to Indiana to make his move on Frank Holman.
Director: Francis Delia
Writer: N/A
7.7/1069 votes#13 - Strange Bedfellows
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 12/26/1986
Holman ideintifies Torello as a dirty cop to Breitel. After an attempt on his life, Luca takes refuge in Florida.
Director: Francis Delia
Writer: N/A
8.4/1090 votes#14 - Fatal Crossroads
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/9/1987
Torello is subpoenaed to testify for Luca. An enraged Abrams jumps to Torello's defense. Luca orders Torello and Abrams killed.
Director: Gary Sinise
Writer: N/A
8.2/10100 votes#15 - Torello on Trial
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/16/1987
Breitel brutally cross-examines Torello. Acquitted Luca moves to Las Vegas. Torello gets a new assignment.
Director: Gary Sinise
Writer: N/A
8.1/1073 votes#16 - The Kingdom of Money
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/30/1987
Torello and Krychek join the Federal Task Force planning to raid Luca's new gambling business in Las Vegas.
Director: Michael Mann, James A. Contner
Writer: David J. Burke
8.2/1073 votes#17 - The Battle of Las Vegas
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/6/1987
To take over Las Vegas casinos, Luca murders the head of a resort-workers union to put his own man in the position.
Director: Aaron Lipstadt
Writer: N/A
8.1/1095 votes#18 - The Survivor
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/13/1987
Torello falls in love with a Justice Attorney's former wife, only to find out that the attorney has been molesting his adopted daughter. Molestation charges jeopardizes the Unit's investigation of Luca.
Director: Alan Myerson
Writer: N/A
8.2/1073 votes#19 - The Pinnacle
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/27/1987
Luca's greedy ploy to take over another casino puts his entire gambling empire in jeopardy.
Director: John Nicolella
Writer: N/A
8.4/10102 votes#20 - Top of the World
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 3/6/1987
Luca's jubilation over his growing business turns to fear that his associates are setting him up. Luca's insatiable lust for violence proves his undoing when he rapes Pauli's girlfriend. Pauli testifies for the prosecution in Luca's trial.
Director: Michael Mann
Writer: N/A
8.1/1087 votes#21 - Ground Zero
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 3/13/1987
After his murder mistrial, Luca clashes with a crime kingpin over plans to split up control of the sinking Luca gambling empire. Pauli changes his mind and rescues Luca from Torello as they hide in a house in the desert, a target site for nuclear testing.
Director: Peter Medak
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of Crime Story Season 1
Every episode of Crime Story Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Crime Story Season 1!
The hard-boiled saga of hair-trigger cop Lieutenant Mike Torello and his obsessive pursuit of ruthless gangster Ray Luca.
Genres:CrimeDramaAction & AdventureMystery
Network:NBC
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Pilot (1)" is the best rated episode of "Crime Story" season 1. It scored 7.8/10 based on 855 votes. Directed by Abel Ferrara and written by David J. Burke, Chuck Adamson, Gustave Reininger, it aired on 9/19/1986. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "Pilot (2)".