An Unfriendly Radiance (Quincy, M.E.)
| An Unfriendly Radiance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Episode Quote
"He died of a small injury—but his blood refused to clot. That doesn’t just happen."
~ Dr. Quincy
Episode Overview
An Unfriendly Radiance originally aired on **April 29, 1977** as Season 1, Episode 5 on NBC. Quincy investigates a car accident victim whose autopsy reveals dangerously elevated radiation exposure—prompting a dive into corporate secrets at a nuclear facility. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Table of Contents
Episode Synopsis
Quincy is summoned on his day off after Sam phones him from Danny’s reporting unusual autopsy results: the deceased, Donald Bigelow, sustained only a minor head wound, yet his blood lacked normal clotting ability. Toxicology reveals massive radiation exposure instead of expected trauma. As Quincy and Monahan dig deeper, they uncover that Bigelow worked at a nuclear testing facility and may have been exposed to radiation deliberately while being silenced. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Plot Summary
- Donald Bigelow’s car veers off the road—he dies at the crash scene.
- Quincy discovers his blood’s inability to clot consistent with radiation poisoning.
- Ray Sanchez, who was with him, is arrested for manslaughter.
- Investigation reveals Bigelow was paid to testify before heading to Mexico.
- Quincy links his death to radiation exposure at the plant, not accident injury.
- Monahan arrests corporate figures responsible for the cover-up.
Main Cast
- Jack Klugman as Dr. R. Quincy
- Robert Ito as Sam Fujiyama
- John S. Ragin as Dr. Robert Asten
- Garry Walberg as Lt. Frank Monahan
Guest Cast
- Joby Baker as Donald Bigelow
- James Wainwright as Arthur Lanz
- Ronald Joseph as Ray Sanchez
- Melinda O. Fee as Addie
Case File Summary
Victim: Donald Bigelow, nuclear technician Cause of Death: Radiation-induced coagulopathy masked as accident Major Issue: Corporate cover-up at nuclear facility
Forensic Science Insight
- Autopsy revealed blood-clotting failure unexplained by minor head trauma.
- Radiological tests confirmed high-dose radiation exposure—indicating a deliberate smothering of evidence.
- The forensic sequence adhered closely to actual pathology protocols. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Themes & Tropes
- Corporate malfeasance – workplace negligence and cover-up
- Occupational hazards – worker safety and whistle-blower protection
- Forensic justice – science as a tool to the truth
- Moral versus bureaucratic conflict – Quincy versus corporate and police pressure
Reception & Ratings
The episode holds an IMDb rating of **7.4/10** from over 10,000 votes. Reviews commend its fast‑paced intrigue and strong forensic framing, although some criticize the radiation premise as sensational. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Trivia
- Casey Kasem makes a cameo as Sy Wallace in Danny’s bar. This was noted in IMDb trivia. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
The QME Episode Laws in Action
According to the four guiding principles of the series:
✅ Law 1 – Truth & Justice: Quincy refuses to accept the accident ruling and exposes the corporate wrongdoing that killed Bigelow.
✅ Law 2 – Social & Ethical Issues: Chronicles whistle-blower danger, occupational safety in nuclear facilities, and corporate responsibility for workers.
✅ Law 3 – Sensitive Handling of Controversy: Addresses radiation poisoning and corporate secrecy with restraint and factual clarity.
✅ Law 4 – Scientific Accuracy: Blood clotting anomalies, radiation biomarkers, and forensic logic are grounded in real-world medical norms.
← Valleyview • An Unfriendly Radiance • Hit and Run at Danny’s Season 2 Overview: Full Episode List
See Also
- Quincy, M.E.
- List of Quincy, M.E. episodes
- Forensic pathology
- Radiation poisoning in media
- NBC
- 1977 in television
External Links
- [IMDb – An Unfriendly Radiance (tt0681755)]