Quincy M.E. (TV Series) A Loss for Words (1983) User Reviews

A crusade and a murder mystery

[rayoflite24 · 7/10 · 31 January 2016]

A Loss for Words begins with a young industrial worker (Sean Kelly) being instructed by his boss (Ramon Bieri) to do some welding, but he is unable to read the posted warning signs and ignites the torch in a highly flammable area which blows up the warehouse killing him. When it is later revealed that the victim was illiterate and the owner knew it, this raises suspicions of arson and murder for an insurance payout and Quincy's (Jack Klugman) friend, Arnold Chatham (Gerard S. O'Loughlin), who works as a field investigator at the coroner lab is called in to investigate. During the investigation, Quincy begins to realize that Arnold is keeping a well-guarded secret of his own.

While adult illiteracy is the main theme and focus of this episode, I still thought that there was enough thrown in to make it reasonably well-balanced and interesting. Unlike some of the other Quincy episodes where we have a social issue addressed with no crime or an investigation featured, this story does combine both elements which I appreciated. I wish that all of the social crusade episodes had been handled in this manner! Another positive is that Gerard S. O'Loughlin returns in another guest starring appearance as a Columbo style investigator and again he fits in pretty nicely. I actually wouldn't have minded him becoming a cast regular, but I suppose this would have detracted too much from Quincy investigating and saving the day.

Overall this is a pretty decent Season 8 episode which features both a social crusade and a murder mystery, so there should be something in it for everybody!

OK moralistic episode.

[poolandrews · 5/10 · 10 January 2008]

Quincy M.E.: A Loss for Words starts early one morning as nineteen year old manufacturing worker Timmothy Hurley (Sean Kelly) is told by his boss Mr. Droyden (Ramon Bieri) to weld some metal, unfortunately due to being unable to read the warning signs Hurley lights the blow torch in a flammable area which blows him & the factory to kingdom come. After the autopsy Los Angeles corner Quincy (Jack Klugman) confirms that Hurley died from massive burn injuries & after an extensive field investigation by Arnold Chatham (Gerald S. O'Loughlin) it becomes clear Hurley died because he could not read the warning signs, after some investigation of his own Quincy is shocked to discover how widespread the problem of illiteracy actually is in America...

Episode 14 from season 8 this Quincy story was directed by Georg Fenady & as far as one of the preachy heavy-handed moralistic episodes go A Loss for Words isn't too bad. A Loss for Words actually reminds heavily of another Quincy story from season eight called Guilty Until Proved Innocent (1983) two episodes ago with it's basic plot about a factory/warehouse being blown up as the basis to tackle a moral issue. A lot of Quincy episodes which based themselves around a moral issue have dated pretty badly & have become very irrelevant when viewed today but A Loss for Words does tackle a problem which is still widespread in the year 2008, namely illiteracy & not being able to read. It's said that schooling isn't what it should be these days & I would suspect that illiteracy is still much more common than it should be, I mean just look at some of the comments which are left on the IMDb reviews section & message boards as I'd say that on it's own proves most people can't even construct a proper sentence! Besides the moral issues & how not being able to read can affect someone A Loss for Words also has quite a decent mystery angle to it with Quincy & field investigator Chatham trying to nail Droyden for murder.

The explosion at the start looks really cheap but otherwise this is Quincy as usual, it's competently made but with no sense of style. Most episodes of Quincy are a little far fetched at times but A Loss for Words really takes the cake, I'm not being funny but how could a man who has a high profile job with lots of responsibility as a field investigator examining crime scenes & the like manage to keep his job without being able to read? I'm sorry but are we meant to believe that there hasn't been a single instance in Arnold's whole career until now that hasn't called for him to read some sort of paperwork or memo or a persons name or anything like that on the spot? Also one has to say that to get a case involving a man who died because he can't read is a bit of a coincidence, isn't it? The acting is alright but like always the regulars are much better than the guest stars.

A Loss for Words is an OK Quincy episode, it's watchable, it's better than a lot of season eight & it's moral story actually still has some relevance in todays society which is not always the case with these types of Quincy episodes. A decent episode but not any sort of classic.

Another Soapbox Episode

[andy-higgins-819-78648 · 20 May 2015]

Quincy morphed from show about solving a crime to a show that became a soapbox for Jack Klugman's social causes. Klugman began to assert more control over the show as it progressed and it became more and more "preachy". Quincy used to be a good show about solving a murder. Eventually the murder (or accidental death) became a vehicle for Jack to spend 40 minutes spewing his liberal rhetoric. Seasons 7 & 8 were the absolute worst.The rest of this review is just designed to fill up space to meet the 10 line minimum. The rest of this review is just designed to fill up space to meet the 10 line minimum.The rest of this review is just designed to fill up space to meet the 10 line minimum.

Quincy on the soapbox...once again.

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 30 June 2013]

There were two main sorts of episodes on "Quincy"--those which are focused primarily on crime investigations and those which were simply soapbox pieces which addressed about various social issues. Generally, these social issues programs were weaker and often they came off as preachy and annoying. While "A Loss for Words" involves the investigation of an arson, this is really secondary--the main thrust of the show is on adult illiteracy. And, like so many of the social issues shows, there really isn't much Dr. Quincy in the show.

An additional weakness in this show is the way the show takes a cheap shot at a teacher. While it is true many kids do graduate who cannot adequately read, why JUST blame one teacher? What about the other teachers, lousy neighborhoods, a school system or principals that won't allow teachers to fail students, parents who would rather sue than accept that their child is failing and many other factors?! As a retired teacher, it just seemed like a cheap shot--and too simplistic an answer to a complex problem.

Finally, I did have to laugh at the portion where Lt. Monahan was angry at the arson investigator (Gerald O'Laughlin) for rushing to judgment--something Monahan seems to do in every other episode!! Unintentionally hilarious.

Jack Klugman should have just started a competitor to 60 minutes...

[AlsExGal · 5/10 · 14 January 2024]

... because at this point mystery is not the point, forensic science is not the point. Instead it is usually some social issue that is in the spotlight.

A possible case of arson is initially mishandled because a lead investigator is illiterate, with his assistant admitting to Quincy that she has been covering for him by reading reports for him. The day that the initial report came in, the assistant was out, thus the mishandling of said report.

There's much discussion of literacy programs for adults, functional illiteracy, etc. But the mystery - and Klugman as Quincy for that matter - are not a big part of the episode. The loose ends are tied up rather hastily, with even the resolution having to do with literacy, which makes the whole episode seem improbable.

Completely Ludicrous !!!

[bac-96806 · 1/10 · 13 January 2024]

OK, it's possible that a young kid can't read, but a grown man who is an investigator going all those years not reading? And not picking it up along the way? And the unlikely coincidence that he and the victim both can't read? As soon as those words came out of the investigator's mouth, I turned off the TV, I felt like screaming. Seasons 7 and 8 were enough for me to also dislike seasons 1-6 and the whole ludicrous series. OK, it's possible that a young kid can't read, but a grown man who is an investigator going all those years not reading? And not picking it up along the way? And the unlikely coincidence that he and the victim both can't read? As soon as those words came out of the investigator's mouth, I turned off the TV, I felt like screaming. Seasons 7 and 8 were enough for me to also dislike seasons 1-6 and the whole ludicrous series.