Detective Hal Vukovich (Lance Henriksen)

Character Analysis

Detective Hal Vukovich is the Riggs to Traxler's Murtaugh, minus one '80s mullet and several degrees of frantic. Whereas Traxler is thoughtful and experienced, Vukovich is a little thoughtless in his approach to the job. He stops trying to call Sarah after a few messages rather than keeping at it, and it's Traxler who has the breakthrough to use the news media to reach out to Sarah.

Vukovich also says things around Sarah that you probably shouldn't say to someone who has been through such traumatic experiences: "He was probably on PCP. Broke every bone in his hand. He wouldn't feel it for hours. There was this guy once—You see this scar?" Remember, he says this right after Sarah has just watched a video about someone who won't stop until she's dead. It's neither the time nor the place for personal anecdotes, Vukovich.

Whereas Traxler is serious about his job, Vukovich finds some humor in the messed-up stuff he has to deal with. He particularly enjoys Silberman's lazy brand of psychoanalysis:

VUKOVICH: That guy, Silberman, cracks me up. Last week, he had a guy in here burned his Afghan. He screwed it first—

TRAXLER: Ed, shut up!

We don't want to be too hard on the guy, though. He comes through when it counts. After Traxler is injured by the Terminator, Vukovich attempts to kill the assailant and protect his boss. Sure, he fails epically, and the Terminator kills him, too, but good for you all the same, Vukovich. Your heart was in the right place.