 " A Many Splendored Thing " received generally positive reviews . It was identified by The Baltimore Sun as one of the ten best episodes of the series . Sun writers David Zurawik and Chris Kaltenbach particularly praised the creative pairing of Ned Beatty and Julianna Margulies , of whom they said , " somehow it is as touching a love story as you could want " . The Washington Post television reviewer Tom Shales strongly complimented the episode , especially for its serious and unflinching approach to disturbing and twisted events like the Forman murder : " Homicide is more than a superb cop show ; it 's a helpful guide on dealing with the madness of the modern world . It 's Attention Television – a program that grips one 's attention and rewards it . " The Atlanta Journal @-@ Constitution writer Drew <unk> said the episode " shifts deftly between the underbelly of cop work and the surprising moments of light that leak into these detectives ' lives " . Greg Paeth of The Cincinnati Post called it " another stunning installment of a cop drama that defines the genre " , and particularly praised the " perfect " performance of Ned Beatty . Baltimore Sun writer David Bianculli called the episode superb and said Adrienne Shelly left a " stunning impression in her performance . Bianculli said it left him " hungry for the next episode , " adding , " Personal plea to NBC : Please , please renew this series . " 
