The following contains spoilers for The First 48 Season 23, Episode 13, "Back Street," which debuted Thursday, June 8 on A&E.
The First 48 Season 23 has become a milestone run for the A&E show. Just three months after Tulsa Homicide set a series record, "Back Street" features Tulsa's Detective Jason White working his 100th homicide case. It also demonstrates why the show is still on and how Det. White has become an integral part of it. If this were a scripted procedural, the 100th homicide would be a very special episode with dramatic stakes and some emotional subplot. In reality, Det. White does what he's always done all along, and because he doesn't make a big deal out of it, neither does The First 48.
He's not the first detective to reach the 100-case mark on the show, even in his own department. Det. Michael Zenoni hit his 101st homicide in Season 17, Episode 8, "Knock Knock." Zenoni summed the accomplishment up perfectly then: "I don't think of it as a badge of honor," he said. Seven and a half years later, Det. White gets to cross that career line in an episode that likewise highlights him, but his storyline turns out a little differently.
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Jason White has featured in some of The First 48's best episodes. That's because not only does he work hard, but he's brought his personality to the show and engaged with the show. Viewers feel like they know him, and that is also something that comes across in this episode. He can be tough when he needs to be, but he's also empathetic, personable and finds the silver lining in a really dark profession. Furthermore, his partnership with Det. Ronnie Leatherman was one of the series' best matchups: dependable, a little reserved, but also incredibly entertaining and super-effective.
But the number-one thing Det. White has always extolled on the show is teamwork, and that's what this episode comes down to. While he gets the lion's share of the screen time, the investigation requires some help from other units within the Tulsa Police Department and a few outside agencies. Unlike "Knock Knock," which put Det. Zenoni at the forefront because he had to drive that case, "Back Street" sees Det. White give the credit to his colleagues. When he calls it one of his top cases, it's obvious he's taking more pride in the unit than in anything he's just done, and that's typical Jason White.
Props must also be given to Tulsa's underrated Sergeant Nathan Schilling, as the episode highlights how much he brings to the unit. The First 48 viewers know Schilling for his wizardry with cell phones and cameras, but he's also a leader in Tulsa Homicide, and not just because of his rank. "Back Street" shows how he helps handle the crime scene, how he dialogues with White and how he's the one who finds the big break in the case. Schilling deserves more props for his detective skills and the example he sets; maybe he'll get them after this episode.
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Aside from Det. White's accomplishment, though, "Back Street" serves as something of a turning point for Tulsa Homicide, and thus for The First 48 -- because the success of the show really does rest with Tulsa. Other than Schilling and Det. Reggie Warren, none of the folks that fans are used to get more than a few moments of screen time. And that's a little frightening, because they've become so beloved. Det. White even discusses his own future with the unit near episode's end, declaring that he won't make it to 200 homicides and will be lucky to reach 150. But it's hard to think of the unit or the TV show without Jason White. He has a connection with the audience, whether they're a fan or a critic, and he's gotten a lot of people thinking about their perception of cops.
The case highlights some of Tulsa Homicide's newer faces, most notably Det. Lacy Lansdown -- the first female homicide detective to be shown in Tulsa since Det. Dianna Baumann retired. It's strange to see her riding alongside White instead of Det. Leatherman. It's also a bittersweet reminder that most of the people who made Tulsa so popular are gone, with the exception of Justin Ritter. Will the show be as memorable in a year or two? It's hard to say, but one can also look back to Season 21 when Sgt. Dave Walker retired and Lt. Brandon Watkins quickly won fans over. "Back Street" is a sign that The First 48 is changing again, moving into its third era. But foremost, it recalls how lucky viewers are to have spent any time with Jason White.
The First 48 airs Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. on A&E.
