The First 48 Season 28 is the gift that keeps on giving—because it just brought one of the show’s most popular detectives back for a guest appearance. Somewhat.

The biggest quirk of the long-running A&E series is that it has never aired in chronological order, for a wide variety of reasons. Most notably, episodes have legal and production hurdles they have to clear before they can be broadcast. As a result, fans sometimes complain that a new episode features a case that actually occurred years ago. But what some see as a problem is an equal opportunity, because it often means getting to enjoy the returns of officers that viewers thought they’d never see again.

That’s what happened in The First 48 Season 28, Episode 5, “The Wrong Girl,” which included a surprise appearance by Detective Chase Calhoun. Those folks who keep up with Tulsa Homicide outside of the show know that Calhoun has been out of the unit for some time, having been promoted more than once and now a Lieutenant. But thanks to the show’s production process, fans got to see Calhoun at another homicide crime scene. Making it even better was that the lead detective on the case was Detective Max Ryden, who had first appeared with Calhoun in the Season 19 episode “Monster.”

“The Wrong Girl” only included Calhoun for a few minutes, which meant anyone who tuned in late missed the majority of his screen time, and it likely disappointed viewers who know how much he brought to the show (and continues to bring to the department). But it was wonderful to see him on The First 48 again, even in relatively brief fashion. He earned his place in series history, and he’s also one of the best success stories ever to play out through it. The fact that he’s been recognized as much as he has is no surprise.

Of course, this isn’t the first time Calhoun has popped up on the show after he stopped being a full-time cast member. Most memorably, the episode “Unforgotten: Darrin” was devoted to Calhoun’s first case as the lead homicide detective. But his reappearance is a reminder that The First 48‘s production constraints can also be a huge asset. In any given week, fans can step back in time and reconnect with officers that they still love, from Chase Calhoun to Dave Walker (Season 22’s “Friends and Enemies”). Detectives may move on from The First 48, but they’re never truly gone.

The First 48 airs Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. on A&E. Previous episodes are streaming on the A&E app, as well as select episodes on Hulu, Peacock, Pluto TV and other providers.

Article content is (c)2020-2025 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.