"Baby Rattlesnakes" is the first episode where Anita Gillette stars as Dr. Emily Hanover--the lady that Quincy marries part-way through season eight (more evidence the series jumped the shark when it introduced this new character, so to speak). However, and this is really weird, Gillette ALSO starred as Quincy's dead wife in a flashback episode several seasons earlier! Talk about weird casting. But, also talk about bad casting, as Dr. Hanover is like a second Quincy--angry, loud and on a rampage for justice! Now, with two Quincys in the episode, it's a bit hard to take!!
My wife refused to watch this episode with me. Why? With the title, she thought it would be about snakes...and she hates snakes! However, snakes have nothing to do with the episode. It's more a metaphorical reference to a new nest of nasty thugs being raised by society--young gang-bangers out to prove their manhood.
When one of these young hoods is accused of a drive-by shooting that killed a young girl, Dr. Gillette and her probation officer friend (Gregory Sierra) go on a preaching rampage to convince everyone that the young man is misunderstood and innocent. And, at the same time, a jerk politician (John Randolph) is trying to play up the case in order to get re-elected. In the middle is Quincy--who Dr. Gillette incorrectly assumes is on the politician's side. However, Quincy is soon won over to Dr. Hanover's side--mostly because he's infatuated with her nasty Quincy-like style! Overall, the show is about as much fun as gargling with razors because it is just too preachy. Sure, I am in favor of saving inner city kids who can be saved, but this came on so strong I was starting to side with the law & order politician because I found the Quincy/Hanover duo so annoying!