Nearly 30 years ago, primetime audiences watched in stunned silence as an hour of sheer dread unfolded on screen, in what could only be described as a commuter’s worst nightmare. Widely regarded as one of the finest hours in television history, the Homicide: Life on the Street episode “The Subway” turned passive viewers into emotionally wrecked witnesses by the time the credits rolled.

Season 6, Episode 7 opens outside the Baltimore Police Department’s Homicide Unit on a beautiful morning, following a cluster of people navigating the hustle of their daily commute. Among them is John Lange (played by Vincent D’Onofrio), rushing to catch his train. As he sprints past buskers and fellow commuters, he slips from view until it is too late. The horrified reactions of the surrounding crowd make it instantly clear to viewers that something terrible has happened to the young professional.