Diagnosis: Murder (Season 5)

A tangled web of mystery. Classic 'whodunit' suspense.

Dr. Mark Sloan is a good-natured, offbeat physician who is called upon to solve murders.

Murder Blues (Episode 1) 9.0
Writer: Lee Goldberg
Air date: 1997-09-18
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: Steve becomes embroiled in political intrigue after the murder of a city councilman's wife appears to be part of a larger political strategy. Steve investigates two mayoral candidates, the councilman and the chief of police, as well as a rogue detective and his partner, all with strong motives.
Open and Shut (Episode 2)
Writer: Jacquelyn Blain
Air date: 1997-09-25
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: Mark investigates when a teenage girl is murdered after threatening to reveal her affair with her older lover, a newly appointed state Supreme Court Justice.
Malibu Fire (Episode 3)
Writer: Gerry Conway
Air date: 1997-10-02
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: A Malibu Hills fire is the backdrop for rising tensions between the residents; a disgraced stockbroker, a naturalist, a worried father, and a land developer. A worried Dr. Sloan deals with his own parental fears when Steve helps fight the fire.
Deadly Games (Episode 4)
Writer: Jeff Peters
Air date: 1997-10-09
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: Community General is already under increased security, with a high-profile criminal hospitalized, when an important businesswoman is brought in. Mark suspects her security guard has deadly intentions.
Slam-Dunk Dead (Episode 5)
Writer: Lee Goldberg
Air date: 1997-10-16
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: Jesse's new part-time job as trainer of the pro basketball Mustangs turns deadly when he's accused of murdering a star player.
Looks Can Kill (Episode 6)
Writer: Craig Tepper
Air date: 1997-10-23
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: Dr. Sloan investigates a plastic surgeon when an actress's death apparently results from an infection contracted during surgery.
Fatal Impact (1) (Episode 7)
Writer: J. Larry Carroll
Air date: 1997-10-30
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: Mark and Amanda are assigned to the task force investigating an airplane crash. An adversarial FBI agent and Russian mobsters make their assignment more difficult.
Fatal Impact (2) (Episode 8)
Writer: Jacquelyn Blain
Air date: 1997-10-30
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: Steve and Ron lead the chase for the stolen nuclear material.
Must Kill TV (Episode 9)
Writer: Lee Goldberg
Air date: 1997-11-06
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: The Sloans run into plenty of industry politics when they investigate the death of television network executive, Rachel Woodrall. Seamy revelations about Woodrall's college sorority lead to the killer.
Discards (Episode 10)
Writer: J. Larry Carroll
Air date: 1997-11-13
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: Jesse finally reunites with his father. After they narrowly elude an assassin, Jesse begins to realize his father isn't the accountant he's always claimed to be, but rather a spy. The Travis's attempt to discover who's sending the killers.
A Mime is a Terrible Thing to Waste (Episode 11)
Writer: Lee Goldberg
Air date: 1997-11-20
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: A dead mime leads to an investigation of a crooked auto dealer. Randy Wolfe, a woman who's apparently an expert at everything, leads the investigation while continually annoying Steve.
Down and Dirty Dead (Episode 12)
Writer: Barry Van Dyke
Air date: 1997-12-11
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: A motorcycle stunt driver has a fatal accident while filming an action video. Steve investigates.
Retribution (1) (Episode 13)
Writer: Lee Goldberg
Air date: 1998-01-08
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: When Steve is shot and falls into a coma, Mark does all in his power to find the assailant, even threatening a suspect with bodily harm. Mark finds himself the prime suspect when Steve's alleged attacker, Gordon Ganza, is murdered and all clues point directly towards Dr. Sloan.
Retribution (2) (Episode 14)
Writer: Lee Goldberg
Air date: 1998-01-15
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: This episode takes place four months after Mark was convicted of murder. Steve is slowly recovering from his wounds and Mark is still rotting in prison. While Mark endures the taunts of fellow death row inmate Malcolm Trainor, Steve and Tanis Archer launch a rogue investigation to find Ganza's real killers.
Drill for Death (Episode 15)
Writer: Robin Madden
Air date: 1998-01-22
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: A hospital emergeny preparedness drill turns deadly when an unpopular and ambitious nurse is found dead amid the chaos with an eccentric artist the only witness.
Rain of Terror (Episode 16)
Writer: Craig Tepper
Air date: 1998-01-29
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: A spat between a girl and her boyfriend leads to an apparent murder, leaving the girl and her mother with a dead body, just as dinner guests Mark and Amanda arrive. Panic sets in, when the body disappears, the power goes out, the roads are impassable, and the attacks begin.
Baby Boom (Episode 17)
Writer: Jacquelyn Blain
Air date: 1998-02-05
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: A madman charges into a Lamaze class with a bomb, claiming that a fertility doctor was cheating him. Everything is complicated further when said doctor turns up dead.
Talked to Death (Episode 18)
Writer: Joyce Burditt
Air date: 1998-02-26
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: Ratings seeking stunts by TV talk show hosts Darren & Mary has tragic results.
An Education in Murder (Episode 19)
Writer: Jacquelyn Blain
Air date: 1998-03-05
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: When a rash of deaths at a high school revolve around one 'helpful' young girl, Dr. Sloan risks his own life to uncover the murderer.
Murder at the Finish Line (Episode 20)
Writer: J. Larry Carroll
Air date: 1998-03-26
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: Dr. Sloan investigates to find out who's behind the death of a driver in a speedway crash.
First Do No Harm (Episode 21)
Writer: Ernest Kinoy
Air date: 1998-04-16
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: When a young girl is rushed into the hospital in need of immediate treatment, but dies due to a HMO's negligence, Dr. Travis and Community General are sued for negligence. Dr. Sloan must choose between his ethical convictions and the hospital.
Promises to Keep (Episode 22)
Writer: J. Larry Carroll
Air date: 1998-04-23
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: The Matthews family is reunited after years apart. Here, Ryan and Tess Matthews come to LA to help Kate when she's in trouble with a con man.
Food Fight (Episode 23)
Writer: Jacquelyn Blain
Air date: 1998-04-30
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: Dr. Travis gets involved in the treacherous and deadly trade of catering when he oversees the annual charity banquet.
Obsession (1) (Episode 24)
Writer: Lee Goldberg
Air date: 1998-05-07
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: Dr. Sloan insists that a man he helped condemn to death for a series of bombings is guilty, even after a post-execution explosion.
Obsession (2) (Episode 25)
Writer: Lee Goldberg
Air date: 1998-05-14
Runtime: 45 min
Overview: Three months after the execution of Lewis Sweeney, explosions are still rocking the LA area every four days. The unpopular Dr. Sloan continues his efforts to nail Carter Sweeney for the bombings.