While Krebs represents a welcome addition, wily quick change artist Major Descoine (Guy Boyd), who is introduced a few episodes later ("Steele Framed"), is another matter. He'll get away the first time only to return towards the end of the season ("Elegy in Steele") to bedevil Holt and Steele again (much like the slippery Murdoc in producer Lee David Zlotoff's MacGyver). As usual, Steele continues to derive mystery-solving inspiration from cinema classics like Casablanca ("Red Holt Steele") and The Man Who Knew Too Much ("Steele Sweet on You"). Romance between the two continues, as well, but the detectives are too professional to rush anything.

The second season also provides Holt with more clues about Steele's mysterious past, like his stints as "The Kilkenny Kid" ("Steele Knuckles and Glass Jaws") and "The Great Savini" ("High Flying Steele"). As for Steele, he gains a slick new means of transportation: a 1936 Auburn Speedster ("Love Among the Steele"). Guest stars include future primetime staples Delta Burke and Jane Kaczmarek ("Altared Steele"), Jeffrey "Principal Rooney" Jones ("A Steele at Any Price"), and (briefly) Miguel Sandoval ("Steele Eligible"), who will go on to work with writer/producer Glenn Gordon Caron (Moonlighting) on Medium. --Kathleen C. Fennessy