I'm watching the Season 6 prequel mini-sode, which is available as an extra on the Season 5 DVDs. The mini-sode intermixes scenes from Lem's sad little excuse for a funeral (he was not given a police funeral with a motorcade and scores of officers paying their respects because he died in disgrace), his murder at the hands of the callow Shane Vendrell and his participation in an interdepartmental arm wrestling competition.
Clearly, Lem is my favorite character on the show. I think his three closest colleagues are named the Bald Fella, the Redneck and 'Stache -- so great is my inability to focus on other characters when Lem is on screen. When Shane murdered him, tears streamed down my face. But this mini-sode was even crueler to me as the viewer than the actual episode in which he died. There is something wrenching about seeing someone at his zenith (in good stead at work, with his three best friends and colleagues, beloved by everyone in the office for winning a competition, everyone chanting his name when he won) cut together with scenes of him dying like an animal at the hands of his best friend, his name tarnished and his reputation sullied. You deserved better, Lem.
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