Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Dana Elcar, Andrew Duggan.
A delightful episode, where the mechanics of the plot are the only weak link. Most of the screentime is just the guys and it’s 10/10 stuff in a 8/10 episode.
The chemistry between the two men has never been stronger. And the two scenes that bookend the episode (both concerning a war over which tv channel to watch) are genuinely very funny. And very warm, too. Not abrasive. There’s a lot of affection here, as well as friction.
And right through the episode the scenes with the two men sparkle. Whether funny or serious, these scenes are flawless.
Equally flawless is the method used to get the duo involved in the story. It takes several scenes to accomplish, and gives plenty of scope for character building. Of the two it is Hardcastle that benefits most. We learn a lot of him in those opening scenes, and in the story itself.
And the story? Well, it’s okay. Not great, but acceptable. Unfortunately, there are several moments of questionable logic as the story unfolds. Getting the tale from A to B to C is frequently done in unsubtle and unconvincing ways. A shame, because had the storytelling been subtle or smarter it would have made for a truly great episode.
As it is, the episode is good. But flawed. The reason to watch is to watch the characters interact and grow before our eyes. And you’ll have plenty of laughs along the way.
