The Rockford Files. Season 2, Episode 2. "The Farnsworth Stratagem"

The Rockford Files. Season 2, Episode 2. "The Farnsworth Stratagem"

The majority of Season One episodes were about Jim working alone as private investigator. This one is about Jim working as part of a team as a con man. It's a huge con, too, and it's a lot of fun but - as an episode - it lacks the sting of the tales from Season One. Does it mean a shift in the show's format?

It's also an episode where Jim is working for one of his friends instead of a client. This happened a few times at the very end of Season One, and it was also the basis of the Season Premiere. Is that also a shift in the show's format? Something, maybe, designed to make Jim seem less 'mean spirited' (because he's always bickering over money and stuff?). At least this time the friend is not some random new character, it's a character we've seen in many episodes.

As a rule I don't like PI/Cop shows where the hero works for a buddy instead of a client. It always seems to me like lazy storytelling, and it always smells like something that a network, rather than a show's creator, wants to happen.

However...

This is a fun episode. Jim's recurring buddy Becker has been conned out of money for an investment in a hotel (sorta) and Jim (very cleverly) figures out a way to get back at the bad guys. It's big. Loud. Way over the top. And it's a hoot. The scam/episode gives plenty of screentime to the character of Angel (who appeared briefly in Season One and was fantastic) and the story gives Jim's father a part of play as part of the gang. Noah Beery Jr. and James Garner have fantastic chemistry but, in season one, the dad was reduced - too often - to a character who showed up and scolded/showed concern. That's fine. But enough is enough. Both Season Two stories so far have expanded him and - of the two - this is my favourite. He doesn't get as much screentime here, as in the Premiere, but it's more fun/interesting to see Rocky pitching in as part of gang working a big con.

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