Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast
Episodes:	55
Year:	1987
Country:	United States
Seasons:	3
Seasons Breakdown:	(1) 22, (2) 22, (3) 11
Category:	Crime
Colour:	Yes
Format:	Series
Company:	WITT THOMAS PROD/CBS
Creator:	RON KOSLOW & GEORGE R.R. MARTIN
Run Time (mins):	60
Language:	English
Type of Show:	Live Action
Status:	Ended
Broadcaster:

Summary

Beauty and the Beast (BATB) was a romantic fantasy drama that, in its first two seasons, centred on the evolving relationship between Catherine Chandler, an accomplished, idealistic attorney, and Vincent, a mysterious figure who is half‑man, half‑beast. The dynamic between them formed the emotional core of the series. However, during the third and final season, the show underwent a major shift following the departure of Linda Hamilton, who portrayed Catherine. With her exit, the narrative moved away from its romantic foundation and adopted a more action‑driven, procedural tone.

Vincent, despite his fearsome appearance, possessed a deeply gentle nature. Abandoned as an infant because of his physical differences, he was discovered, raised, and educated by a man known simply as Father, the reclusive leader of a hidden community living in the tunnels beneath New York City. Vincent first encountered Catherine when he found her in Central Park after she had been brutally attacked and left for dead by a gang of thugs who had mistaken her for someone else. He brought her to the tunnels, nursed her back to health, and although she was initially frightened of him, admiration soon grew into profound affection.

As their bond deepened, Catherine discovered that she and Vincent shared a psychic connection, he could sense her emotions, especially when she was in danger. Her relationship with him prompted a revaluation of her life’s direction, leading her to leave her prestigious private‑sector law career and join the District Attorney’s office under Joe Maxwell.

The first two seasons offered an uneven but distinctive blend of storytelling. Some episodes followed straightforward crime‑drama structures, with Catherine pursuing criminals and Vincent intervening when danger escalated. Others leaned heavily into romantic fantasy, exploring their slow‑burn relationship, so slow, in fact, that the first season’s cliff‑hanger revolved around whether the two would finally share a kiss.

By the start of the third season, the series faced a narrative challenge. Catherine, now pregnant with Vincent’s child, was kidnapped by Gabriel, a powerful crime lord she had been investigating. She was ultimately murdered, though not before giving birth to her and Vincent’s son. Devastated by her death, Vincent embarked on a mission to avenge her and reclaim their child. His path eventually crossed with Diana Bennett, a brilliant but unconventional police officer assigned to Catherine’s murder case. Over the course of the season‑long arc, Vincent and Diana formed a partnership, and a tentative friendship, as they worked together to bring Gabriel to justice.

Cast

Asst. DA Catherine Chandler LINDA HAMILTON, Vincent RON PERLMAN, Father ROY DOTRICE, Diane Bennett JO ANDERSON, Deputy District Attorney Joe Maxwell JAY ACAVONE, Edie REN WOODS, JOHN MCMARTIN, Elliot Burch EDWARD ALBERT, BEAH RICHARDS, TONY JAY, Kipper CORY DANZINGER, ARMIN SHIMERMAN, Mouse DAVID GREENLEE, IRINA IRVINE, Mary ELLEN GEER, JAMES AVERY, KAMIE HARPER, MARICE LEEDS, Mark LEWIS SMITH, Gabriel STEPHEN MCHATTIE, William RITCH BRINKLEY, Zach ZACHARY ROSENCRANTZ.