There's a lot to like about this episode. Stuart Margolin puts in one of his best performances as Jim Rockford's old prison buddy Angel Martin. This time Angel asks Jim to help him get back $2,000 Tom Little (yet another old San Quintin acquaintance) owes him. When Jim agrees (for half the money!) he is swept into a mob turf war between Marty Fishette (the very very good Frank Campenella) and Chester Sierra (Ray Danton, who played Don Felipe in a 1961 episode of "Maverick") involving forged checks and $30,000. Jim figures the only way out of the mess is for Angel to die and for him to pull a briefcase con.
In this episode we learn Angel once wrote for the Quintin Courier (hence his newspaper background) his real name is Evelyn and he deserted under fire in Korea. Angel and Dennis Becker meet for the first time and it's pretty funny. Dennis immediately smells prison on Angel, who's just nervous being around cops to begin with. There's also a GREAT eulogy to Angel at the funeral, which Angel has apparently written himself.
There's a curious moment involving Beth Davenport, even though she isn't in this episode. Jim is staying at her house cat sitting. But for some reason he's sleeping on the couch (knowing his previous relationship with Beth, this seems quite odd!). Garner's brother Jack appears with a mustache and his hair grayed in the funeral scene.
There's also a fine moment in which Jim wonders why he's put up with Angel's antics and seems to give up on him, saying there's no reason he should stay involved and help. Angel responds with a moment of rare sincerity: "Yes there is. Because you're my friend."
The Angel-Rockford relationship is cemented.
In this episode we learn Angel once wrote for the Quintin Courier (hence his newspaper background) his real name is Evelyn and he deserted under fire in Korea. Angel and Dennis Becker meet for the first time and it's pretty funny. Dennis immediately smells prison on Angel, who's just nervous being around cops to begin with. There's also a GREAT eulogy to Angel at the funeral, which Angel has apparently written himself.
There's a curious moment involving Beth Davenport, even though she isn't in this episode. Jim is staying at her house cat sitting. But for some reason he's sleeping on the couch (knowing his previous relationship with Beth, this seems quite odd!). Garner's brother Jack appears with a mustache and his hair grayed in the funeral scene.
There's also a fine moment in which Jim wonders why he's put up with Angel's antics and seems to give up on him, saying there's no reason he should stay involved and help. Angel responds with a moment of rare sincerity: "Yes there is. Because you're my friend."
The Angel-Rockford relationship is cemented.