User Reviews

"Final Ransom" is a very good episode of "Barnaby Jones", though the ending wasn't completely satisfying.

The guest villain is Doyle, played wonderfully by Gary Lockwood. Lockwood had already been on several previous episodes of the series and always seemed to play the most vicious and interesting criminals.

The story begins with Doyle phoning Mr. Bentley to say that he'll return his kidnapped daughter...for $10,000. Now here's the kicker...the child had been kidnapped a decade earlier! So, either Doyle was lying and taking advantage of a grieving family OR Doyle somehow was unavailable to ransom off the kid...which turns out to be the case, as he was arrested for a different crime!

As far as the girl knows, her parents are her biological parents. But, in reality, her mother was Doyle's accomplice...and when she didn't hear from him, she decided to raise the child herself. Little does she realize that not telling her daughter and husband will result in major tragedy.

This is one of the more heart-wrenching and effective episodes. Jedidiah (Mark Shera) is better here in hid fifth episode, though I do wonder why Barnaby told Jedidiah to phone the police while Barnaby gives chase at the end! But that didn't bother me. What bothered me was the big confrontation scene between Doyle and the faux mother...it was badly done. See it and see what I mean. The same, by the way, can be said about Barnaby's final comment, which, in hindsight, was pretty dumb....and I agree with Jedidiah's assessment of the new family.

Although the players in the "Final Ransom" episode approach their work in fine fashion, particularly the ever-dependable and despicable villain Gary Lockwood and the sweet little girl Stacey Baldwin, the story, which is centered around a long-delayed kidnapping and ransom demand, is an unusually bleak story that leaves one feeling depressed and possibly even devoid of hope. Essentially there are no winners and most of the principals come out worse for wear. It can be unsettling for a viewer when an episode of a dramatic TV series features a targeted and victimized child as the centerpiece of the action.

The locales include a scenic residential enclave in an idyllic mountainous oak and deciduous woodland, which serves to make the ending even more stark and disturbing. As mentioned by another reviewer, Barnaby's parting commentary is a tad difficult to fathom and maybe too rosy, but at least he didn't utter it to any of the adversely affected parties.

Although there are some developments in the story that are not totally logical and practical, the episode is well-played, well-directed, and moves swiftly.

Beyond that, let me add that Lt. Biddle is a curiosity, seemingly even having a split personality. Maybe because he is just plain overworked; but Biddle seems to be a pal who is wholly supportive of Barnaby's visits and requests for help in some episodes, and in others expresses irritation, exasperation, and even contempt for our hero.

For this one, at least, watch at the risk of finishing up just a little morose.

True, this is a re-working of a popular and controversial story on MANNIX about a year earlier, but just as good. Excellent writing wins out.

One thing for certain, it's a sweet mystery for Barnaby and JR. It deals with a shady guy named Doyle (best played by Gary Lockwood) involved in the kidnapping of a girl --some ten years earlier!

He returns after all these years, and apparently still holding onto his victim, now demanding a full ransom for her safe return. How can that be?

One incredible storyline, written by Mann Rubin, who originally wrote this for MANNIX, with a couple of tweeks here and there. It would have been kinda' neat if producer Quinn Martin used the same cast! --but that's too much to ask for. Rubin wrote six episodes for the show, also linked to MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. Mel Damski, a relatively new director at the time, did a fine job with the guest stars, and Lockwood, without question, a standout here. Mel soon became a regular director for LOU GRANT, later ALLY MCBEAL and PICKET FENCES.

I agree with the last reviewer, it's a fairly bleak story, especially with the likes of a victimized child, but worth giving it a watch; definitely a new slant for the series. 10 Stars.

Look for popular actress Jenny O'Hara (as Angie), who appeared five times on the show, later co-starring in MY SISITER SAM.

SEASON 5 EPISODE 5 remastered CBS dvd box set.