07.00 Due South
08.00 The Avengers
10.30 Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Due South. Season 3, Episode 3. "I Coulda Been A Defendant" First time I saw this episode I didn't like it very much. Yet, repeated viewings have made it into one of my favourite episodes. The story isn't really up to much (brother tries to kill brother, yadda, yadda) so, on first viewing, it's rather bland. Thing is: the episode has some fantastic performances and - quite possibly - the most visually/aurally stylish climax that they show ever delivered. On first viewing I really liked that aspect of it, but over the years since it has come to haunt my imagination and remains one of the coolest things I have ever seen in a television show. Ever.
A good Samaritan runs from the TV cameras that captured his good deed. Fraser and Kowalski give chase and, when they spy a gun, they arrest the guy. Turning him into even more of a celebrity. Turns out that he is in the Witness Protection Program. His own brother is the agent that put him there. And, would you believe it, it was the brother that actually did the crime (more or less). It's a Rainman type of scenario. But never mind. In the end, there's a climax in the pouring rain. And I mean pouring. Never has there been a downpour like this. And our heroes are out in it, fighting for their lives in a pitch gun battle, while Dire Straits/Brothers In Arms dominates the soundtrack.
See this once and you will never forget it.
The Avengers. Episode 134. "Have Guns- Will Haggle" Most really good Avengers episodes are high-concept ones. The ones that are easily described in one sentence and revolve around something really unusual. This isn't one of those. It's an average story with only a few Avengers touches.
Lots of high-tech guns have been stolen. And a bidding war follows the theft. Steed (easily) poses as a bidder, while Tara is captured and used as a target for the demonstration. It could be any sixties spy show. And when you can say that about an Avengers episode, you know it's a fairly bland one.
It does have some nice touches. The chief baddie is a frightfully posh, very sexy lady and Steed's rival bidder for the weapons is dangerous but he and Steed conduct very civilised conversations (even after an attempt on Steed's life). It's all very cool. But there's just not enough of it.
Tara switches outfits and wigs with wild abandon (due to behind the scenes production problems) and looks fantastic in every scene. She gets captured easily, it is true, but she acquits herself wonderfully when it matters. As we wait for the duel to start, the viewer is breathless hoping that Tara runs for the same gun as her rival and not to the one that has been left out for her. After the signal is given to run, the camera cleverly hides from us what she is doing, then reveals to us (and him!) that she is right behind him and ready to beat the living tar out of him just as he reaches for his weapon. You go Tara! It's a cheer-out-loud moment in an otherwise dull episode (Apart from a cool car chase earlier on, where Tara shows off her excellent driving skills.)
Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Episode 5. "The Werewolf" One of my favourite episodes. The whole thing is set on a cruise ship so it feels very different to all the other episodes. It's also got some great guest stars. And it's a ton of fun from start to finish.
Christmas at INS and Tony learns (at the last minute) that he cannot go on a working cruise. He is crushed. Carl isn't. He gets to go instead. It's a Single's Cruise. Carl's not too chuffed about that aspect (or with is bubbly cabin-mate: Richard Gautier) but he makes the best of it. Until he (and several crewmembers) witness what can only be a werewolf running amok on the ship. There then follows one of the best Kolchak investigations/situations. He and the passengers are trapped at sea. The captain (a superb Henry Jones) and crew know what is going on, but - of course - they won't tell anybody and they hate Kolchak for knowing. Our hero pulls together a band of helpers (unusual for this show) and they help him find the necessary tools to finish the werewolf. Nita Talbot is the best of the bunch. She's got spark and great chemistry with Darren McGavin. For once the woman working with Carl isn't passive, this lady gets in the trenches (distracting people so Kolchak can get important stuff done) and the episode is all the better for it.
As is always the case with Kolchak episodes, the killing sprees are fast and violent. The action scenes don't look like anything else on TV at the time or since. The activity is fast and (mostly) a fair distance from the camera. It looks, to be honest, like a camera crew filming a real werewolf attack on another deck, or at the other end of the hallway, or whatever. It just looks real. A great compliment for any series about supernatural killers.
Rounding out the great cast is Eric Braeden. We get to see the Bad Guy in this one. Braeden is the werewolf. But, unlike previous killers on the show, he is not a deliberate murderer. In fact, as the story unfolds we are inclined to feel sorry for the man and the hand that fate dealt him.
It's a fast-moving, violent episode with a strong story. And several comedy highlights. Carl pretending to be the Captain's son is a personal favourite of mine. Leading to the great line: "And stop pretending to be my son!"
Highlight? Kolchak (werewolf on a cruise ship, where do you hide?)
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Fri, Nov 21, 08 - Due South, Avengers, Kolchak
